NEGenWeb Project
Hall County
WILLIAM J. BURGER.-Few of the older residents of Doniphan are better known or more highly valued as good and upright citizens, than William J. Burger, who came very early to Hall County and for years has been prominent in its business affairs. While Mr. Burger has been mainly interested in the stock business, he has been successfully connected with other lines since 1880, when he assisted in laying out the town of Doniphan, he has resided here and has been identified with its remarkable development.

Mr. Burger was born in Cedar County, Missouri, February 12, 1844. His parents were James L. and Nancy (Goodwin) Burger, the former of whom was born in Tennessee, in 1812, and the latter in North Carolina, in 1811. Of their eight children, William J. was fifth in order of birth, the others being as follows: Tolbert, who died in Cedar County, Missouri; Halbert H., who died at Glenwood, Iowa; Caroline, deceased, was the wife of Robert Craig; Mitchell, who died at Red Oak, Iowa; Margaret, the wife of Thomas Young, lives in Hastings, Iowa; George E., who died at Doniphan, Nebraska; and Diantha, the wife of Martin White, died near Glenwood, Iowa. James L. Burger moved from Tennessee to Missouri, and from there to Mills County, Iowa, where he secured one hundred and sixty acres of government land under the pre-emption law, to which he subsequently added until he owned over three hundred acres. He improved his land and became a substantial citizen of Mills County, serving acceptably in township offices on many occasions. In 1862 he went to Colorado, where he spent one year, going then to Nebraska and buying a farm in Cass County, near Plattsmouth, where his death occurred in 1868. He was a democrat in his political views, and both he and wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church.

William J. Burger attended the district schools in boyhood and grew up on his father's farm. In 1862 he accompanied his father to Colorado where they were associated in the cattle buisness (sic) for two years. In the fall of 1864 he came to Hall County and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres and had a ranch on the freight road-the government trail-that ran form (sic) Nebraska City to Plattsmouth and thence to Denver, this ranch lying at an important junction. The Burgers suffered from Indian depredations as did other neighbors, who, at that time, were few and far between. On July 24, 1864, the Indians made a raid through this section, and conditions were so bad during the next few years that in the spring of 1868 Mr. Burger moved with his family to Plattsmouth, remaining there until 1870. Once more the family settled on the farm in Hall County and lived there until 1879, when, as noted above, removal was made to Doniphan. Mr. Burger immediately started a sale and livery stable and in 1880 embarked in the mercantile business, this enterprise was continued under the firm name of W. J. Burger & Son until recently when they sold out. For a number of years Mr. Burger was active also in the grain business but stock has been his main interest and reliance, and his name still is a leading one in the industry. He is a large employer of labor, keeps only good, standard stock, feeds for market and aims to annually ship two cares of cattle and there cars of hogs. He owns five hundred and fifty acres of hogs. He owns five hundred and fifty acres of fine land, having the greater port (sic) of it under cultivation.

November 24, Thanksgiving Day, 1864, Mr. Burger was united in marriage to Miss Martha Creason, who was born September 25, 1845, near Burlington, Iowa, a daughter of John and Abagail (Hillman) Creason, natives of Ohio. They were farming people and moved to Mills County, Iowa, later to Nemaha county, Nebraska; removing then to Hall County where their death occurred. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Burger: Charles A. and Rose B., both of whom are deceased; Flora A., who is the wife of Benjamin Scudder, of Doniphan; William, Frank J., and Emma, all of whom are deceased; Martha Jennette, the wife of Arnold Herrell, of University Place, Lancaster County, Nebraska; Albert D., associated with his father in the mercantile business at Doniphan; James F., deaceased (sic); and Mary M., the wife of H. S. Knapp, of Lincoln, Nebraska.

At present Mr. Burger is independent in his political sentiments, but he was interested in the early days of the Populist party in that organization. For Years he has served as a justice of the peace and for two terms was on the board of county commissioners. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. During the World War he was a willing and liberal contributor to the various movements and a hearty supporter of the government after war was declared.

[A picture of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Burger is on page 845.]

Transcribed by Larry Coates