Michael Livingston Burch was the son of Alfred Littleberry Burch [1811-1894] and Sarah L. S. Parrish [1810-1854.] He married Eliza Augusta Dasher December 23, 1870 and together they raised seven children to adulthood.

According to his obituary in the Times-Journal newspaper: "Practically all business houses in the city were closed during the funeral in honor of his noble life. Mr. Burch was born and reared in Laurens county, moving to Dodge when quite a young man and having resided here fifty years or more. When about sixteen years old he lost his right arm and was therefore not eligible for service in the army during the war between the states. For a number of years he taught school. After moving to Eastman he conducted a business and took an active interest in social and political affairs. He was for some time the owner and publisher of the Eastman Times which was consolidated with the Dodge County Journal in 1888. In 1893 he became a partner with E. T. Gentry in the publication of the Times - Journal for about a year. He was Ordinary of Dodge county four years, was county school superintendent 11 years, and was justice of the peace of Lee's district a number of years until his health required that he give up this position.

In early life he became a member of the Baptist church, and always took an active part in the affairs of this institution. He was clerk of this association 20 years and its moderator four years. He was a charter member of the Eastman Baptist church. He was a deacon of this church to the day of his death.

Mr. Burch was a man of rugged honesty and the highest integrity, ever uncompromising in behalf of what he believed to be right, and he has left to his family and the people among whom his useful life was spent an influence for good, the power of which cannot be estimated."