Robert Jones Burdette
Encyclopedia
Robert Jones Burdette was an American
humorist
and clergyman who became noted through his paragraphs in the Burlington (Iowa) Hawkeye.
, and received a secondary education in Peoria, Illinois
During the Civil War
he served as a private in the 47th Illinois infantry. In 1869 he became night editor of the Peoria Daily Transcript and afterward was associated with other newspapers. He joined the staff of the Burlington Hawkeye in 1872, and his humorous paragraphs soon began to be quoted in newspapers throughout the country. With the encouragement of his first wife, the former Caroline S. Garret of Peoria, he began speaking in public. Consequently, he made a number of successful lecture tours. His lecture, "The Rise and Fall of the Mustache," was delivered well over three thousand times during a 30-year period. He also wrote the poem "Orphan Born," as well as "My First Cigar". He was sometimes referred to as the Burlington Hawkeye Man. In 1884, he left the Hawkeye to replace Stanley Huntley as the staff humorist for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
widow active in the Temple Baptist Church and various civic organizations. She was a founder of Alpha Phi Fraternity, author of several books, and a philanthropist.
During his final years, the couple lived in Pasadena, in a home on Orange Grove Boulevard, where he died in 1914.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
humorist
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and clergyman who became noted through his paragraphs in the Burlington (Iowa) Hawkeye.
Early life
He was born in Greensboro, PennsylvaniaGreensboro, Pennsylvania
Greensboro is a borough in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 295 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Greensboro is located at ....
, and received a secondary education in Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he served as a private in the 47th Illinois infantry. In 1869 he became night editor of the Peoria Daily Transcript and afterward was associated with other newspapers. He joined the staff of the Burlington Hawkeye in 1872, and his humorous paragraphs soon began to be quoted in newspapers throughout the country. With the encouragement of his first wife, the former Caroline S. Garret of Peoria, he began speaking in public. Consequently, he made a number of successful lecture tours. His lecture, "The Rise and Fall of the Mustache," was delivered well over three thousand times during a 30-year period. He also wrote the poem "Orphan Born," as well as "My First Cigar". He was sometimes referred to as the Burlington Hawkeye Man. In 1884, he left the Hawkeye to replace Stanley Huntley as the staff humorist for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Ministerial career
He became a licensed minister of the Baptist church in 1897, and took charge of the Temple Baptist Church at Los Angeles, California, in 1903, and was made its pastor emeritus in 1909. His first wife had died after 16 years of marriage, and he was married in 1899 to Clara (Bradley) Baker (1855-1955), a PasadenaPasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
widow active in the Temple Baptist Church and various civic organizations. She was a founder of Alpha Phi Fraternity, author of several books, and a philanthropist.
During his final years, the couple lived in Pasadena, in a home on Orange Grove Boulevard, where he died in 1914.
Legacy
A collection of his writings, edited by Clara, was published in 1922 under the title Robert J. Burdette: His Message.Partial list of books
- The Rise and Fall of the Mustache and other Hawkeyetems (1877)
- Hawkeyes (1880)
- Life of William Penn (1882)
- Innach Gerden and Other Comic Sketches (1886)
- Chimes from a Jester's Bells (1897)
- Old Time and Young Tom (1912)
- Gems of Modern Wit and Humor with stories and introduction by Robert J Burdette (1903)
External links
- My First Cigar – humorous poem by Burdette.
- Many Robert J. Burdette stories read in Mister Ron's Basement Podcast (now indexed), including the entire ninety-two minute long Rise and Fall of the Mustache lecture from 1877