The Burgess Families of Ray County, Missouri

ISAAC L. BURGESS.

Isaac L. Burgess was born in 1844 in Independence, Jackson county, Missouri. He is a brother of H. C, and T. J. Burgess. In 1855, he moved with his parents to Johnson county, Missouri. He learned the trade of wagon-maker under his father, who was a skilled workman. In 1861, he enlisted in company G, ist Missouri cavalry, Colonel Gordon's regiment of General Joe O. Shelby's brigade, Confederate army, and served until the fall of 1864. He fought bravely and well, taking part in the following engagements: Carthage, Springfield, Prairie Grove, Helena, Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee. After returning home from the army, he went to the Rocky Mountains and spent one year there, and again returned to Ray county, and engaged in farming, which he continued for two years; after which he resumed his trade in Richmond, Missouri, and has followed it ever since. He is an excellent workman and has a large trade; the people liberally patronizing him because of his industry, energy and superior workmanship. Mr. Burgess is a member of the order of Knights of Honor. He is a worthy gentleman, prompt to meet every engagement reliable, honest, and honorable. January 10, 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Walker, an intelligent, amiable lady, of Ray county, Missouri. They have two children, Charles F., born February 11, 1871, and Lulu, born February 17, 1874.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY C. BURGESS.

Henry C. Burgess was born in Independence, Jackson county, Missouri, in 1845. In 1859, he, with his parents moved to Johnson county, Missouri, where they remained until in 1863, when they removed to Richmond, Ray county. Mr. Burgess, in his youth, learned the wagon maker's trade, working at the business with his father, until the latter's death in 1878, when he and his brother, Thomas J. Burgess, took charge of the shop and business, and have since, as before, had an extensive trade. He, in partnership with his brother, does a general blacksmithing and wagon making business. They also repair wagons, buggies and farm implements, as well as manufacture both, wagons and buggies. They are superior workmen, and their work is equal in every particular to that made in eastern shops. They employ generally, from five to eight workmen. The subject of this sketch is a son of Thomas N., who was born in Madison county, Kentucky, about the year 1812, and died in Richmond, Missouri, in 1878. His mother's maiden name was Couchman: she, also, was a native Of Kentucky, and was born in 1815; died in 1874. The shop and residence of his brother, T. M. Burgess, were destroyed by the cyclone of June 1, 1878. Two of the family died from injuries received, and five others were seriously wounded. The house, shop and contents were utterly destroyed. The brothers, however, nothing daunted, began anew after the disaster, and have succeeded admirably. Henry C. Burgess is a member of the Christian Church, and also of the Knights of Honor. He is an industrious, energetic, and worthy gentleman, and fully merits the success he has achieved, as well as the esteem in which he is held by his fellow-townsmen.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

THOMAS J. BURGESS.

The subject of this sketch is a brother of Henry C. Burgess. He was born in 1860, in Jackson county, Missouri. His parents moved to Richmond, Ray county, in the fall of 1863, and here Mr. Burgess has ever since resided. He was educated at Richmond College. When about thirteen years of age he commenced to learn blacksmithing, working under different persons, till the death of his father, when he and his brother succeeded to the business, which is fully described in connection with the biographical sketch of Henry C. Burgess. Mr. Burgess is yet quite young, but he is a skilled artisan, and being intelligent, prudent and persevering, his future is full of promise.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

W. P. BURGESS.

William P. Burgess is a native of Ray county, Missouri. He was born October 31, 1840. Received his education in the district schools, and remained at home, working on the farm, until he attained his majority. His father, William G. Burgess, was a native of Tennessee. He came to this county in the year 1839, and died here, October 3, 1858. Our subject enlisted in the Federal army February 3, 1862, company D, 6th Missouri cavalry, commanded by General Catherwood. Re-enlisted on the 27th of February, 1864. He was in no regular battles, but was engaged in several skirmishes. He received his discharge from the service January 11, 1866, and returned to his home in this county. Mr. Burgess is living on the old homestead with his mother. The farm (section twenty-seven, township <fifty-four, range twenty-eight comprises eighty acres of land, all in cultivation, and improved with comfortable and convenient buildings. Mr. Burgess is engaged, to a considerable extent, in raising good breeds of live stock. The farm is well adapted to that business. He has a fine, thrifty orchard of one hundred and fifty trees, of good varieties of fruit. His mother, Mrs. Sarah Burgess, was born February 27, 1810. She is living with her son on the old homestead. Mr. Burgess is a thrifty, enterprising farmer, and a good citizen.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.