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 ILLIAM BURGESS, Supervisor of Mattoon
Township, and a resident of Mattoon, has
been engaged there in the boot and shoe
business since the spring of 1860, when he established a factory and gave employment to eight men.
He has of late years almost abandoned the manufacture of this article of wearing apparel, and turned
his attention to the sale of ready-made work, in
which he has built up a good patronage, and realizes an income which provides comfortably for himself and family. Mr. Burgess, in common with a
large proportion of the successful business men of
this county, spent his early years on the other side
of the Atlantic. He was born in North Moulton,
Devonshire, England, Oct. 12, 1827, and is the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Parkins) Burgess, natives
of the same country, where the father followed the
business of a builder and contractor the greater
part of his life. Both parents spent their entire
lives in their native country, the mother dying in
1881, and the father in 1884. Henry Burgess was a man of considerable prominence in his native county, and carried on a large business, giving employment to from eight to twelve men, and was Secretary of the Old Union of North Moulton. Both parents belonged to the Church of England. Of the eleven children of the parental family, eight grew to mature years and seven are now living, namely: Ann, Mrs. Kerslake; Henry, William, Francis, John. Michael, and Elizabeth, Mrs. Frayne. Our subject spent his younger years mostly in school, and when ten years of age commenced to drive a team on a farm, and afterward engaged in hauling goods for a store which was kept by his mother. At fourteen years of age he was apprenticed to learn the boot and shoe trade, at which he served six years. His employer then gave him his time, and going to South Moulton he hired out for one year, receiving one shilling per week and his board. During the six years of his apprenticeship he had only received his board, and his parents furnished his clothes. In 1849 he started to do for himself, and determined to try his fortunes on another continent. Bidding adieu to his friends, on the 3d of May, 1849, he embarked on a sailing-vessel from Liverpool, and after a voyage of four weeks found himself in New York City. From there he proceeded to Syracuse, where he worked at his trade a year, and the.u, in company with others, engaged in the co-operative boot and shoe business. After the first year, the two foremen stole the proceeds, and the concern was forced to suspend operations. Our subject then went to Courtland County, N. Y., and worked as a journeyman shoemaker five weeks, and after being employed at various other places in the Empire State, in 1855 decided to re- cross the water and visit the home of his childhood. After a stay of thirteen months, he returned, greatly refreshed in body and spirits, and took up his residence in Wellsburg, Pa. After seven weeks he proceeded to Corning, N. Y., thence to Dundas, Canada, and from the Dominion to the State of Michigan, and thence to Indiana, finally arriving in Decatur, Ill., in 1857, and was variously employed until May, 1860, when he made his first permanent entrance into this county. Mr. Burgess after getting a good foothold in business, and feeling justified in establishing Domestic ties, was united in marriage, Nov. 26, 1862, to Miss Agnes Evans, of Mattoon. Mrs. B. was born in London, England, and is the daughter of S. R. and Mary Ann (Scully) Evans, also natives of England. Of her union with our subject there are two children living, Mary E. and Emma F. The family residence is a tasteful structure, pleasantly located, and is the resort of many friends of our subject and his estimable wife. Mr. Burgess, after becoming a naturalized citizen, identified himself the Republican party, and has been prominent in local affairs since coming to Mattoon Township. In 1875 he was chosen Alderman of the Second Ward, and in 1883, having removed, was elected Alderman of the Fourth Ward, and is now serving his third term in that position, having been for four years Chairman of the Committee on Streets, Alleys and Drainage. He was elected Township Supervisor in 1887, and in the discharge of his public duties has acquitted himself with credit, and to the satisfaction of his fellow townsmen. He is a stockholder and one of the Directors of the First National Bank of Mattoon. His wife and daughter are members and regular attendants of the Congregational Church. |
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