James M. BURGESS

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census, 1870, , Mercer, Illinois.

• Census, 5 Jun 1880, Millersburg, Mercer, Illinois.

• Census, 5 Jun 1880, Millersburg, Mercer, Illinois. ⁷²
1) James Burgess, white, male, age 38, married, blacksmith, born in Kentucky, father born in Virginia, mother born in Virginia.
2) Amelia Burgess, white, female, age 37, wife, married, keeping house, born in Missouri, father born in Kentucky, mother born in Kentucky.
3) Augustus Burgess, white, male, at 17, son, single, work on farm, at school, born in Illinois, father born in Kentucky, mother born in Missouri.
4) Willard Burgess, white, male, single, appretice blacksmith, at school, born in Illinois, father born in Kentucky, mother born in Missouri.
5) Eugene Burgess, white, male, age 11, son, disabled, at school, born in Illinois, father born in Kentucky, mother born in Missouri.
6) Ruth, white, female, age 5, daughter, born in Illinois, father born in Kentucky, mother born in Missouri.

• Obituary: Times Record, 15 Aug 1918, Aledo, Mercer, Illinois. ⁷¹
JAMES M. BURGESS
Was born in Pulaski county, Kentucky, June 16, 1841, and died at his home in Millersburg, Illinois, in the late forenoon of August 10, 1918, aged 77 years, 1 month and 16 days.
When he was about thirteen years of age, his family moved from their home in Kentucky to Peoria county, Illinois, settling in the vicinity of Princeville. Four years late he became apprenticed as a blacksmith at that place and completed this apprenticeship after locating at Millersburg.
In 1862 he was married to Amelia A. Bethuram. To this union were born five children, Arthur A., who died in 1899; Willared H., of Kilbourn, Wisconsin; Henry E., of Aledo; Ruth E. Minteer of Duncan township and Enda M. Lingafelter of Rock Island. Ten grandchildren survive him. His wife preceded him in death, having passed away in the month of July in 1906. Of a family of ten children, two brothers survive him, both of whom reside in Peoria county. Within five years after his marriage he built the housethat has beenhis homestead ever since.
The trade that he learned in his youth has been his life business. He has been a man of industry. The ring of his anvil counld be heard as long as his aged and weakened arm could swing a hammer. He made no mistake in his choice of a trade for in its pursuit was his real pleasure.
For many years he has battled with disease. Few people know of the contest that he waged with iron courage but losing effort. Some three years ago he banked the fire in his forge. It was no longer a question of being able to work. The struggle was to even live and it so continued until death came not as a victor but as a welcomed relief.
The life of James Burgess has been bounded by the affairs of his community. Its people will remember him as a man of honesty, truthfulness, and morality.
The funeral was held at the Millersburg M. E. church at 2:30 p. m., August 12th, Rev. R. W. Fox of the Presbyterian church conducting the services.
In the cemetery but a short distance from his home a fifty years, his body rests in the family lot.

• Gravestone: Millersburg, Mercer, Illinois, , Oakridge Cemetery. ⁷³

James married Amelia A. BETHUREM, daughter of James C. BETHUREM and Nancy R. DEBORD, on 3 Jun 1862 in , Mercer, Illinois. (Amelia A. BETHUREM was born on 6 Jan 1843 in , Montgomery, Missouri, died on 19 Jul 1906 ⁷⁰ and was buried in Millersburg, Mercer, Illinois, , Oakridge Cemetery ⁷⁰.)