B. C. BURGESS. There are few men in business circles who show as much fitness for their avocation in that they are wide-awake, experienced, reliable and energetic as B. C. Burgess, the prominent miller at the old Watkin Mill, the most historic mill in Missouri. He was born and reared in North Carolina, his birth occurring June 8, 1833.
He is the son of Emsley and Nancy (Cavness) Burgess, both natives of the Old North State. There the father resides at the present time, but the mother is deceased. Some of the early members of this family served in the War of 1812. Until thirty years of age our subject remained in his native State, and then moved to Indiana and made his home in Indianapolis. In 1870 he came to Springfield, Missouri, and embarked in the carpentering trade, following the same up to 1891, when he bought the mill he now owns. He was a resident of Springfield for twenty-eight years and became well known in Greene County. He showed considerable taste for mechanics when young and followed that in connection with other occupations until he engaged in milling. He had a water mill, the same having been put in in 1840, but in 1893 Mr. Burgess put in other power. The capacity of this mill is twenty barrels per day and the brands are straight. The country around is supplied with flour from this mill, and an excellent grade of flour is turned out. Mr. Burgess has two sets of double rollers of the latest make and by his honorable, upright career has developed a large and desirable trade.
In politics he advocates the principles of the Republican party, and socially he is a Mason, a member of Hanks Lodge No. 128, N. C. He is a member of the Methodist and Mrs. Burgess is a member of the Christian Church. He was married in his native State to Miss M. C. Macon, of North Carolina, and three children have blessed this union: Thomas W., David F. and Lucretia E. The latter is now deceased. She was the wife of Robert Garrett, of Highlandville. Mr. Burgess is the owner of a small farm of eight acres and he has a reservoir of about two acres. The water that operates his mill comes from springs and there has been a canal cut that brings the water a mile. He is succeeding well in his business and his integrity and reliability rank high. He has a bur for grinding corn, also a carding machine, and is prepared to do all kinds of work in his trade.