Robert Leander "Rob" Burkhart was the 2nd of three sons, and the 4th of six children born to Leander Columbus and Melissa Ann (Davidson) Burkhart, who had arrived in the township of Albany, in the Oregon Territory in 1847. Robert was born on Nov 10, 1864, after Oregon had become a state and he was raised with a strong faith in God and a good education, as were his brothers and sisters. In 1885, he attended Armstrong Business College. For a while before any of them married, Robert, William Chester and Bessie shared a house together in the Price - Syracuse areas of Linn County, per the US Census of 1900. They were all attending college at this time. Rob was interested in animal husbandry. It was during this time that "Rob", as he liked to be called, met and courted Miss Marguerite Alderson, a teacher, and they married in a lavish ceremony in Salem on Jan 17th, 1901. He then built them a home and began breeding registered Jersey cattle that became known throughout the Northwest, at first, and then the country. Marguerite commenced to raising prize winning roses and, as they traveled to England and throughout pre-World War II Europe, she brought back her favorite varieties of roses which she planted around the beautiful home that Rob commenced to build for his loving wife in the early 1920's, calling it Maple Lawn Place for the Maple trees which had stood for over 75 years, their starts having been brought from back East by Rob's grandfather, John Burkhart. The house was completed in 1923 located just off of the then Burkhart-Salem Road, later changed to Albany-Salem Road. They were now known throughout the world for their prize winning Jersey cattle and many breeders from other countries came to see Rob for counsel regarding the breeding and raising of cattle and to purchase calves from their prize winning herd. Marguerite raised prize winning pure bred chickens which she also sold throughout the world. Rob was also a long time member of the International Order of Odd Fellows, Albany, Oregon chapter, receiving a 50 year pin, engraved and presented to him in 1891. The couple had no children. They traveled quite extensively throughout Europe and their trips to the Holy Lands were quite important to them because of their faith in God. They brought back numerous momentos and antiques from their many ventures, especially as the war seemed to be more of an inevitability. Many of the countries they visited no longer exist due to political changes after World War II. Rob died on November 7th, 1946 following three months of growing heart complaints. He was just 3 days short of his 82nd birthday. Marguerite began to spend her time cataloging their numerous treasured possessions after that, creating a complete manifest of their entire household, as she felt lost without her husband of 45 years. Rob was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Albany and Marguerite continued to live at Maple Lawn Place until she passed away just 8 days prior to her 88th birthday. She is buried by Rob's side at Riverside Cemetery in Albany, but Maple Lawn Place, donated to the City of Albany to become the Burkhart Museum, has yet to become so. Most of their possessions are gone and the house is used on occasion for meetings. It is such a sad ending to such a lovely story.

Update: Maple Lawn Place is now being used as a pre-school. I think my great, great aunt and uncle would like that as, although they loved children, they could never have any. I think they would be happy that Maple Lawn Place is filled with the sounds of happy children.
11 October 2013