George VanBurgess

by Rachael E. Martin, Club #25 Historian

George Van Burgess became a charter member of Club 25 in 1911, along with his older brother William Burgess. The brothers were 10 years apart with George, who called himself G. Van Burgess, being 45 and William being 55 when Club 25 was founded in 1911.
 

The Burgesses came from Janesville, Ontario, and moved in 1856 to Palo, Michigan, where G. Van was born in 1866. First William moved to Duluth in 1884. Then G. Van followed in 1886. By 1894, they went into business together establishing the Burgess Electrical Co. at 109 W. Michigan St.
 

By 1911, G. V. and Elizabeth R. Burgess resided at 503 43^rd Ave. E. and worked at the Burgess Electrical Co. office and factory at 310 W. 1^st St. The Company made electrical apparatus and supplies and manufactured chandeliers. After William died in 1931, G. Van became the owner of Burgess Electrical Co.
 

In 1946, G. Van Burgess died at the age of 80. He was living at 4918 Tioga Street and was survived by his wife and nephew, Carlyle Burgess, of Washington D.C. The funeral was held at Johnson Mortuary Chapel with internment at Forest Hill Cemetery.