In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1840
From History of Ray County, Mo. (1881)
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 History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.