~Page 1312~

GEORGE BURGET

The venerable and highly honored citizen of Fayette county whose name appears at the head of this review, well deserves a place among the prominent citizens of the county, not only because of his long association with its prosperity and advancement, but also by reason of his being descended from a race which has from the very beginning been a powerful factor in our country's progress and have proved themselves to be true Americans and patriots.

George Burget was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, on June 24, 1832, being the son of Joachim and Clarisa (Patterson) Burget, both parents being natives of New York state. The birth of his father occurred in December, 1799, and he lived until the year 1846, when he passed away. The mother survived him for several years and died at Rockford, Illinois, after giving birth to six children, three of whom are still living. Both parents were of Baptist persuasion and were devout members of that church. The father was a Whig in old-time politics and was actively interested in the political affairs of his day.

It is rare in this country, composed so largely of families who have not kept a record of ancestors nor shown the interest that is manifested in other lands in the history of families, that the progenitors of a man can be traced so far back as can those of Mr. Burget's, for his line runs straight back beyond the time when the Dutch occupied New York. In that long distant past two brothers, Joaiakim and Conrad Burget, in Holland, decided to try their fortunes in the new world, and after sailing the then long and wearisome voyage, reached New Amsterdam, where New York City now stands. Both brothers liked the new country, prospered and remained. They were men of sturdy old Dutch stock, with its accompanying sterling qualities. Conrad married, but had no children. Joaiakim also married, and one of his children, William, was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Thus early the family were eager to declare their patriotism and William Burget was a soldier in the war of 1812. It is but natural, then, to find the descendants of this early fighter engaged in the struggle between the North and the South during the Civil war. Mr. Burget enlisted on August 14, 1862, in Company F, Thirty eighth Iowa Regiment, under Capt. J. F. Rodgers and Lieut. Henry Shoemaker. He was in many engagements, seeing active service constantly. During the siege of Vicksburg the position his regiment held, in this nineteen days’ service, ending on the 4th of July, was so strenuous and exposed that three hundred of his regiment died; and on the 12th of the month, when activities were renewed, only seventeen were able to go to the front. Mr. Burget was one of the number, and went into battle, though greatly exhausted. He was in the storming of Fort Blakely, which occurred three hours after Lee's surrender, his regiment being at that time ignorant of that great event. On June 30th he was discharged, in Clinton, Iowa, and returned to his farm. He draws a well deserved pension. His brother died in the service.

Of his two sons, one met his death through an accident in a mill at Rockford, Illinois, when but seventeen years of age. His remaining son, William, was born in Iowa and after attending common school in his township, took up farming and now owns a fine farm, on which he is prospering. He was married to Lucinda Voskell in 1897.

Mr. Burget has lived on the farm which he now occupies since before the war, a splendid farm of one hundred and fifty-eight acres. On this he enjoys a pleasant and very comfortable old age after a life full of activities of many kinds."

~Transcribed for Fayette Co IAGenWeb by Evie Lamb