Biographical Sketch of Thomas L. Burgess, Jefferson County, Missouri

>From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and 
Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing 
Company, 1888.

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Thomas L. Burgess, a merchant of North Crystal, is a native of Jeffer-
son County, Mo., where he was born March 1, 1854 the only son of Eli
and Caroline Burgess, natives of Missouri and Virginia, and of German 
and American ancestry.  Thomas L. Burgess remained on the farm where he
was reared until twenty-one years of age.  About the year 1875 he was
appointed agent of the Iron Mountain Railroad, at Bailey's Station, 
continuing in that capacity for nearly three years.  He was next em-
ployed as a clerk and manager of the general store of B. H. Selmeyer,
at what was then Crystal Station, now known as Silica; he remained for
a short time and secured a position as night car accountant at Bismar-
ck, on the Iron Mountain Railroad, where he worked but twenty days.
After this he secured employment on the St. Louis & San Francisco Line,
as telegraph operator, which vocation he followed but a short time. He
then went to Piedmont, Mo., where he acted as assistant agent for the
Iron Mountain Railroad for about six months, and from there went to
Fulton, Ark., as telegraph operator, holding a day position.  Here his
stay was short, and he next located at Crocker, Mo., in the capacity of
night operator on the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad, holding the
latter position about eighteen months, when he went to Lebanon and was
employed in the same capacity.  From the latter place he was sent to
Tulsa, I. T., as operator and agent for the company, remaining about 
two and one-half years, and having charge, also, of the Red Fork Sta-
tion.  Venita was his next stopping place, as relief agent, where, 
after two months, he was appointed permanent agent, remaining there al-
together about eight months.  November 26, 1886 he was united in marr-
iage to Miss Justine M. Hug, a daughter of Stephen Hug.  She was born
in Alsace, France, September 16, 1856.  They have one child, Thomas B.,
born November 17, 1887.  Mr. Burgess is a member of Shekina Lodge, No.
256, A. F. & A. M., and is also a member of Copestone Chapter, No. 33,
of De Soto.  His wife is a member of the Catholic Church.  In political
matters he is a Democrat.  October 8, 1887, he erected a handsome, two
story residence and a commodious store building in North Crystal, where
he has since been conducting a general merchandising business, and is
doing a good trade.  He is held in high esteem by a large circle of
acquaintances. 

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