BURGESS, John

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, p 162

Hon. John BURGESS, County Clerk of Buffalo County, Alma, was born 26 May 1829 
in Scotland. [The 1880 Census of Alma, Buffalo County, Wisconsin, p 325 B, 
lists John BURGESS, age fifty, County Clerk, born in Scotland to parents who 
were also born there, consistent with his year of birth and occupation given 
in this biography.] When he was twenty-four years of age [1853?] he embarked 
for America and landed in New Orleans [New Orleans parish, Louisiana]. He 
did not make a permanent location until 1856, when he settled in the Town of 
Nelson, Buffalo County, Wisconsin, and until his election to the position of 
County Clerk, his time has been occupied farming. Although not an 
office-seeker, Mr. BURGESS has held quite important positions. He was a 
member of the State Legislature in 1864, and has been Chairman of his town 
four years.

In 1860 John BURGESS married Rachael EVANS, a native of Pennsylvania. [The 
1880 census gives John's wife as "Rachel," thirty-seven years of age, born in 
Pennsylvania (about 1843 from her age) to parents who were both born in 
Wales.] John and Rachel EVANS have six children [all born in Wisconsin; 
approximate birth years calculated from 1880 census ages and added]: (1) 
Ann Jane, census lists oldest child as "Martha J.," born about 1862; (2) 
William A., born about 1864; (3) George E., born about 1866; (4) Hattie, 
census lists as "Hattie A.," born about 1868; (5) Mary, census gives name as 
"Mary A.," born about 1870; and (6) John, born about 1868. Mr. BURGESS has 
for many years been a member of the United Presbyterian Church. [Submitter 
is not researching these surnames. The information included in brackets is 
added only to support the information given in the biography before 
submitting it to this website.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly