Charles was the son of Stephen T. Burgess and Elizabeth Bentley. He was born 2 September 1843 in Tomkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky. Charles had three siblings, Sara, Plesent and Jessie. In the 1860 Census, Charles’s father was probably not alive.
In 1864 Charles served in the Civil war as a private in company F, First Tennessee mounted infantry. U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
| Name | Charles M Burgess |
|---|---|
| Enlistment Age | 18 |
| Birth Date | 2 Sep 1843 |
| Birth Place | Kentucky |
| Enlistment Date | 8 Mar 1864 |
| Enlistment Rank | Private |
| Muster Date | 21 Mar 1864 |
| Muster Place | Tennessee |
| Muster Company | F |
| Muster Regiment | 1st Mtd Infantry |
| Muster Regiment Type | Infantry |
| Muster Information | Enlisted |
| Muster Out Date | 22 Jul 1865 |
| Muster Out Information | Mustered Out |
| Side of War | Union |
| Survived War? | Yes |
| Last Known Residence Place | Stevens County, Washington |
| Death Date | 26 Feb 1928 |
| Death Place | Hunters, Washington |
| Burial Place | Hunters, Washington |
| Cemetery | Greenwood Cemetery |
| Additional Notes | Wife: Rachael L. |
| Title | Index to Compiled Military Service Records; Civil War Veterans Buried in Stevens County by Roger W. May; Report of Adjutant General State of Tennessee |
Source: Ancestry.com
Charles married his sweetheart, Rachel Williams, aka Rose, at Independence, Kansas, in 1866 according to his obituary, however the official date was in 1871.
| Name | Chas M Burggess |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Age | 25 |
| Birth Date | abt 1846 |
| Marriage Date | 30 Jul 1871 |
| Marriage Place | Montgomery, Kansas, USA |
| Spouse | Rechael S Williams |
| Film Number | 001404520 |
Source: ancestry.com
The couple had a large family:
- 1. Rosetta, born 1866 in Kansas City, Kansas, died 1935 in Colfax, Washington. She was married to Thomas Adams and they had 4 children. Second marriage to Thomas Elliott, they had one child.
- Stephen Henry born 1871 in Kansas, died 1940 in Spokane, Washington. He was married to Carrie Crook, they had 1 child. Second marriage to Anna Woodcock.
- Ida born in 1875, no other information available
- Loretta Rachel born 1876 in Iowa City, Iowa, died 1909 in Peach, Lincoln, Washington. She was married to William Lee Brannan and they had 4 children.
- Anna born 1878 in Iowa, died 1936 in Hunters, Stevens County, Washington. She was married to Peter Wayne Heber, they had 3 children.
- Mary Florence born 1880 in Iowa, died 1953 in Spokane, Washington. She was married to Charles Waters and they had 7 children.
- Charles Andrew born 1882 in Iowa, died 1958 in Spokane, Washington. He was married to Mary Glasford Gildersleve and they had 4 children.
- Edith Martha born 1885 in Springfield, Oregon, died 1928 in Colfax, Washington. She was married to Ed Hickman and they had 2 children.
- Myrtle born 1890 in Stevens County, Washington, died 1963 in Spokane County, Washington. She was married to Arthur Owen and they had 3 children.
- Robert born 1891 and died 1976 in Washington. He was married to Zelva Little and they 10 children.
- Pearl born 1894 and died 1982 in Washington. She was married to Thomas Andrews Lantzy and hey had 2 children.
In 1880, Charles and his family lived on a farm in Pottawattamie, Iowa. According to the federal census, Charles was illiterate. His parents supposedly were from Virginia and Tennessee.
| Name | Charles M. Berges |
|---|---|
| Age | 37 |
| Birth Date | Abt 1843 |
| Birthplace | Kentucky |
| Home in 1880 | Waveland, Pottawattamie, Iowa, USA |
| Dwelling Number | 192 |
| Race | White |
| Gender | Male |
| Relation to Head of House | Self (Head) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse’s Name | Rachel L. Berges |
| Father’s Birthplace | Virginia |
| Mother’s Birthplace | Tennessee |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Cannot Read | Y |
| Cannot Write | Y |
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| Charles M. Berges | 37 |
| Rachel L. Berges | 28 |
| Roseta Berges | 12 |
| Stephan H. Berges | 8 |
| Ida F. Berges | 5 |
| Rachel R. Berges | 4 |
| Anna Berges | 2 |
| Florence M. Berges | 4/12 |
In 1884 Charles and his family settled in Roseburg. A year later, in 1885, my husband’s Great Grandmother, Edith was born.
A photo of Edith Martha Burgess Hickman, taken a day after her wedding in 1906 in Washington.
In 1890, Charles and his family settled in Gifford, Stevens County, Washington. The last child, Pearl, was born in that county in 1894.
Charles died 26 February 1928 in Stevens County, Washington.
Source: The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington • Sun, Feb 26, 1928Page 20
His widow Rachel received his Civil War Pension.
Source: Ancestry.com
Charles’s death certificate poses more questions than answers.
According to the informant on Charles’s death certificate, his parents Stephen Burgess and Elisabeth Bently were from Ireland. In the 1880 census Charles gave the locations as Virginia and Tennesee. The informant was one of his children. There is a lot of unknowns about Charles’s parents. There is more than one couple with the names Stephen Burgess and Elisabeth Bently who lived in the same vicinity in Kentucky. That makes it even more confusing. Looking at the facts I have gathered for them, I even made mistakes and will have to correct them.
Charles is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Hunters, Steven County, Washington. You can find him on Find A Grave!
I always like to include a map. Charles lived many places, from Tompkinsville, Kentucky to Kansas City, Kansas, to Waveland, Iowa, to Springfield, Oregon to Gifford and Hunters, Washington.
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