ANDREW BURGLAND

Andrew Burgland, who is engaged in the manufacture of packing pails in West Pullman, as a member of the firm of Burgland & Shead, was born in Jonkoping County, Sweden, on the 28^th of March, 1846, and is a son of John and Anna Christine Burgland. He was reared upon the old homestead farm, spending the days of his boyhood and youth midst play and work. During the summer months he aided in the labors of the field, and in the other departments of farm work, while in the winter season he attended the public schools, receiving a fair education. He lived in his native land until twenty-two years of age, when, in 1868, he bade adieu to home and friends and sailed for the New World. He first took up his residence in Moline, Ill., where he sought and obtained a position in a pail factory, being thus employed for six years. On the expiration of that period he went to Bay City, Mich., where he engaged in the same business. Six years later we find him in Defiance, Ohio, where he established a pail factory in company with F. J. Shead, his present partner, carrying it on for eleven years.

In January, 1894, Mr. Burgland came to West Pullman, and on the formation of the firm of Burgland & Shead established the pail factory, which is now numbered among the leading industries of this place. About one hundred workmen are employed in the shops in West Pullman, and they also have a branch factory at Cairo, Ill., where employment is given to thirty men. The capacity of the former is thirty-five hundred pails per day, and they enjoy a well-established business, having an extensive trade, which is constantly increasing.

Mr. Burgland resides at Hyde Park. He was married in 1871 to Ellen Nelson, a native of Sweden, and to them have been born four children who are yet living, all daughters, namely: Ellen Julia, Anna, Belle and Maud. One son, Andrew, died in infancy. The parents of our subject came to America in 1867, and located in Moline, Ill., where they still reside. For fifty years they have traveled life’s journey together, and on the 24^th of June, 1894, the worthy couple celebrated their golden wedding. They had a family of five sons, of whom Andrew is the eldest; Swan is engaged in business in Moline; Oscar is a lumber contractor of northern Michigan; Otto is engaged in the jewelry business in Osawatomie, Kan.; and August is a jeweler of Osage City, Kan.

Mr. Burgland of this sketch was reared in the Lutheran Church, but at present is connected with no religious organization. He is quite a prominent Mason, and belongs to Defiance Commandery, K. T.; Lake Erie Consistory of Cleveland, Ohio; and the Order of the Mystic Shrine. He also holds membership with the Royal Arcanum and the National Union. He exercises his rights of franchise in support of the Republican party, and although he is not a politician he is actively interested in the growth and development of his party. He began life in America as a common laborer, but before leaving Moline he was receiving the highest wages paid in the pail factory at that place and has steadily worked his way upward, until he is now at the head of a large factory. He has made the most of his opportunities in life and may truly be called a self-made man.

– Submitted by SSherri Hessick on June 27, 2008.

DISCLAIMER:  The submitter is not related to the subject of this biography nor is she related to anyone mentioned in the biography.