Bostwick F. Burgess

As printed in 1896

OSTWICK F. BURGESS, the popular sheriff of Putnam count) Ohio, was born in Mercer county, Pa., P'february 18, 1846, the son of Archibald and Agnes Burgess. Archibald Burgess is supposed to have been born in Pennsylvania in 1803, and met a violent death near Columbus Grove, Ohio, June 1869, having been crushed by a train of cars. His wife, whose maiden name was Agnes' C. Brownlee, was born in Scotland, in 1 8 1 1, and died in November, 1848. The following are the names of their children: James W., a farmer of Missouri; Alexander, manufacturer and dealer in lumber, in Oregon; Elizabeth, wife of John A. Nicholas, a prominent farmer of Putnam county, Ohio; Robert, resides at Ottawa; Andrew J., resides in Arkansas; Bostwick F., subject of this biography; William C., of Richland county, Ohio; Charley, a resident of Ottawa; Mary, widow o! Robert Spalt; Letitia, wife of John Cummins, a farmer of Marion county; John and Agnes —the last two deceased. Archibald Burgess was twice married, his second wife being Mrs. Martha D.o is, by whom he had two children, Dora, wile of Charley Muntz, and Ellen, who died in childhood. By occupation Archibald Burgess was a farmer. In an early day he purchased from the government 200 acres of land in Pleasant township, Putnam county, the greater part of which he cleared and to which he made additions at different times, until he became one of the largest owners of real estate in his part of the county. Fie w;as a man of great industry, gave much attention to agriculture and was noted as a breeder of tine stock, especially sheep.

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1866, with Miss Rebecca Norton, a well-known teacher of the count) if Putnam. Shortly after his marriage, Mr Burgess, with no capital but a stout heart and w.lling hands, began the battle of life as a farmer and in due turn succeeded in securing a good home in Pleasant township, where he remained for a period of twenty-six years His place at this time consists of 170 acres of ' finely improved land, lying in sections 15 and 22, and in addition to agriculture he pays considerable attention to stock raising, in which he has met with well deserved success. For a number of years past Mr. Burgess has been active in political work, and in 1893 was elected, by the democratic part, to which he has belonged since his twenty-first year, to the office of sheriff, the duties of which he has discharged in a most satisfactory manner to the present time. He is now candidate for re-election. He has always taken an active interest in educational matters and for.a period of seventeen years was a member of the school board. Fraternally he is a member of the F. & A. M., K. of P. and G. A. R.

To Mr. and Mrs. Burgess have 'been born six children, viz; Eva A., wife of George Gcttman, a farmer; Cora, wife of O. ! Smith, deputy sheriff of Putnam county; Maggie A., died when eight years of age; Francis N, his only son; Zella L., deceased, and Zora. The two eldest daughters were among the successful teachers of the county, leva having taught five years and (.'ora eight years. Zora, the youngest daughter, is unusually well accomplished, particularly in music. She is an excellent performer on the piano, and has a splendid voice, finely cultivated. She has been well educated in both public and private schools, ami is a great favorite with all classes of people, young and old.

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Pleasant township. This was the family home for many years, and here Joel Norton, the grandfather, died, and it was on the same place that John Norton departed his life in May, s866. Mrs. Norton's parents were natives of Ireland,, and came to this country at a very earl)' date. She died at her home in Putnam county, about the year of 1850, aged thirty-eight. The names of the children of John and Elizabeth Norton are as follows: Melissa j., wife of J. \V. Fuller; Elizabeth deceased; Rebecca A., wife of our subject; Rosetta and Violette, twins, the former the wife of George 1. Best, of Allen county, Ohio, the latter, wife of John Com. of the county of Putnam; Margaret, the youngest child, is the wife of David T. McCullough, of Gilboa. By a second marriage Mr. Norton had a family of five children, Sarah, Joe! John Hiram and an infant daughter, all dead except Hiram, who lives near the town of Halida. The maiden name of the mother of these children was Elizabeth Frost.

As printed in A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all th (1896). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.