Howard Sylvanus Birch

Howard Sylvanus Birch, the son of Russell Keeler Birch & Ella M Raymond, was born at Clifton Park, NY in 1888.  He took various jobs to support his family from a farm hand to a laborer at a refrigeration company to a nightwatchman at a dry goods store.

He was married twice and first wife died shortly after giving birth to their son.  His first wife was Emma J Kinns, the daughter of Joel R Kinns Jr & Ella S Burke. Their children were Sybil Alfreda, Martha E & Russell Kinns Birch.  

His second wife was Catherine Dorwood who was previously married to a fellow Scotsman named Robert Smith. She died at Normal, Illinois in 1984 where she had located to live with her daughter from her first marriage.

courtesy of Dan - Find A Grave

Schenectady Gazette, 15 Nov 1921
Mrs Emma Kinns Birch, 33 of Alplaus, wife of Howard S Birch, died Sunday afternoon in her home of pneumonia. A prayer service will be read from the home tomorrow at 1 o'clock. The funeral will be held at 3 o'clock from the Methodist Episcopal Church at Jonesville of which she was a former member, Rev Thomas M Bishop of the Alplaus Union Methodist Episcopal church, assisted by Rev H G Banks of Jonesville, will officiate. Burial will be in the Methodist cemetery at Jonesville. Prior to her marriage, Mrs Birch was a teacher in the Jonesville Methodist Episcopal Sunday school. She was born in the town of Clifton Park, March 10, 1889, and lived there until her marriage in 1914. Besides her parents and husband, she leaves a brother and sister and three children, Sibyl, five; Martha, three, and a son Russell K, who was born in December.

courtesy of Dan - Find A Grave

Schenectady Gazette, 30 Sep 1963
Birch Dies at 74; Rites Tomorrow
Howard Sylvanus Birch, 74, of Mohaw Avenue, Alplaus, was pronounced dead on arrival of natural causes at Ellis Hospital Saturday. Born at Elnora Dec 20 1888, he was a night watchman at the Wallace Co for about 20 years.  He had lived in the Alplaus area for 43 years and was a member of the Alplaus Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Catherine Smith Birch; three daughters, Mrs Charles Bopp Jr of Rexford, Mrs Leo G Blum of Schenectady, and Mrs Anthony Sterba of Normal, Ill; one son Russell K Birch of Schenectady. Also 10 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. The funeral will be held at 2 pm tomorrow at Alplaus Methodist church with Rev James Beskin officiating.  Interment will be in Jonesville Cemetery. Friends may call at the Baxter Funeral Home 7 to 9 tonight.