Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 223. C. D. BURKHART, JR. The farmer is the basic producer. Patience and industry are his salient characteristics and upon them are founded civilized life. To this useful occupation C. D. Burkhart, Jr., has devoted his energies and through his well directed efforts has aided in making Linn county one of the most productive sections of Oregon. He was born November 28, 1864, in Albany, this state, and is a worthy representative of one of its oldest families. His parents were C. D. and Caroline (Goff) Burkhart, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Howard county, Missouri. The grandfather, John Burkhart, served in the War of 1812 and merit won him the rank of colonel. After the restoration of peace he was made drill-master of the state militia of Tennessee and in 1847 came to the Pacific northwest, settling on a donation claim one and a half miles east of Albany, Oregon. He lived on the ranch until his demise in 1856 and his widow passed away in 1882. Their son, C. D. Burkhart, Sr., was reared in Tennessee and there resided until 1846, when he started for the territory of Oregon, making the long and perilous trip in a covered wagon drawn by oxen. He arrived at his destination in 1847 and secured a donation claim southeast of Albany, in the vicinity of the tract of six hundred and forty acres which his father afterward cultivated. After building a log cabin on the claim he returned to the east for his parents, whom he met en route, and turned back with them. He relinquished the first claim and took up another near Albany. He was diligent, thrifty and systematic and as the years passed was able to increase his holdings, eventually becoming the owner of a valuable ranch of nine hundred acres. He had large herds of cattle and horses, and wheat was his principal crop. He was a man of progressive ideas and a leader in the development of Linn county. Of the Albany Lodge, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, he was a charter member. Mr. Burkhart was a passenger on the steamship Republic, which was wrecked at the mouth of the Columbia river in 1878, and his life at various other times was fraught with dangers and hardships. He had the vigor and courage of the typical frontiersman and in the early days drove fine herds of beef cattle to the mining camps of California. Death summoned him May 1, 1881, and the mother passed away August 1, 1892. In their family were fourteen children, four of whom survive: Fred, who lives in Salem, Oregon: C. D., Jr.; Selina, who is the wife of B. McFeely and resides near Salem; and Samuel, who is deputy sheriff of Marion county and lives in Salem. C. D. Burkhart, Jr., acquired a public school, education and also attended a college at Albany, Oregon. Reared on the homestead he received practical training in agricultural pursuits and for five years he cultivated a tract of one hundred and sixty acres near Albany, selling the place in 1900. In order to educate his children he moved to Eugene and for nine years was employed in the excelsior mill, remaining in the city until 1911, when he located on the John F. Kelly ranch on section twenty-three, township fifteen, south, range three, west. It comprises three hundred and twenty acres and is situated six miles northeast of Coburg, Mr. Burkhart operates the place in partnership with Mr. Kelly and has a flock of three hundred sheep. He farms one hundred and sixty acres, raising hay and grain and brings to his work an intelligent, open and liberal mind, while the methods which he employs are the expression of the latest scientific research along agricultural lines. He has always manifested a deep and helpful interest in projects for the advancement of his district and is esteemed throughout Linn county. Mr. Burkhart was married December 17, 1885, to Miss Lola Froman, a native of Linn county, Oregon, and a daughter of Isaac and Eliza (Henderson) Froman. Her parents were born in Illinois and in 1851 came to Oregon territory on their wedding trip. Her mother was but sixteen years old and Mr. Froman was a young man of twenty-one. They traveled in a "prairie schooner" drawn by oxen and were six months in making die journey to the Pacific coast. The father located on a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres, situated four miles east of Albany, and spent the remainder of his life on the ranch, bringing the land to a high state of fertility. He passed away November 14, 1922, at the advanced age of ninety-two years, and the mother's demise occurred in September, 1907. To their union were born twelve children: Jerome, who is living in Canada; Mrs. Belle Dawson, whose home is in Albany, Oregon; Frank, also of Albany; Ralph, a resident of Portland, Oregon; Horace, of Harrington, Washington; Grant, who is serving as assessor of Linn county, Oregon; David, who resides in Albany; Lola; George, who makes his home in Canada; Mary, the wife of T. C. Waller, who operates her father's old donation claim; James, who is also living in Canada; and Dewitt, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Burkhart have two children, Zeila and Veri, who are natives of Albany and graduates of the Eugene high school and the State Normal School at Monmouth. Both are instructors in the grammar schools in Oregon. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2012 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.