| George Washington Burris | 80th Ohio Voluntary Infantry |
| by Bethany Warthen |
George Washington Burris (or G.W. Burress) was born to Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Burris on December 1, 1840. He was born and raised in Delaware and Coshocton counties. Before enrolling in the army in 1862, George worked on the family farm. At the age 22, he entered the army for a term of three years service. He became a solider in the 80th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company B, organized at Camp Meigs, near Canal Dover in Tuscarawas County. He enrolled in the army along with his father, Jerermiah and his brother John. Both his father and brother served for almost a year before George joined them at Camp Sullivan. During George's tenure in the war, his regiment took part in several conflicts, including battles at Corinth, Raymond and Jackson, Mississippi, the siege of Vicksburg, and battles at Salkahatache, SC, and Bentonville, NC. He completed his military career during Sherman's March to the Sea. He was mustered out on May 29, 1865 in Washington, D.C. by the War Department. During the war, the highest rank he reached was corporal.
Upon returning from the war, George married Mary E. Coder on February 21, 1867 in Coshocton County. In 1869, they had a son named Landon. According to the 1870 census on Linton Township, George owned real estate valued at $600 and his personal estate was worth $200. During the 1870s, he worked as a store clerk and his wife worked as a homemaker. In addition to their son Landon, I believe Mary's younger sister Tammy may have lived in their home as well. George died on October 2, 1911. He isburied in Burnside Cemetery located in Genoa Township. At some point GW Burris was affiliated with Otterbein College. Although his name appears on the monument in front of Towers, his name does not appear on the roster of students. This leads me to believe that he was neither a student or a faculty member. It is possible that he was employed by the university, but again I was unable to locate any information that substantiates this claim.
Bibliography