from Biographical Sketches of the Members of the Forty-First General Assembly of the State of Indiana by James Sutherland (Indianapolis: Indianapolis Journal Co., 1861)
Mr. Burgess, the present Representative from the County of Hendricks, was born in Springfield, Clark county, Ohio, August 1st, 1826. In the year 1832, the family removed from Ohio and settled in Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana. In 1835, they removed from Wayne county to Belville [sic], in Hendricks county, where he continued to reside until 1852. While living in Bellville, Mr. B. apprenticed himself to and learned the tanning business, which he followed industriously for a number of years, but his health failing him, he commenced selling goods in the same village, and continued in that business for four years. In August, 1846, was married to Miss Minerva, the amiable and intelligent daughter of Thomas Iron, Esq. In 1852, Mr. Burgess removed to Danville, the county seat of Hendricks county, and was appointed Deputy Clerk, which place he filled with honor to himself, and to the entire satisfaction of the people until August 26, 1860. In this year he was nominated, almost without opposition, by the Republican Convention for a seat in the Legislature, and was triumphantly elected. This is the first office Mr. Burgess ever held, and the first time he was ever a candidate. In politics he was formerly a Whig, and zealously and faithfully clung to that organization until the formation of the Republican party, since which time no person in Central Indiana has done more to build up and sustain the party or gave it more efficient aid, and no man can point to a better record, politically, than Mr. B. In private life no person is more esteemed and better loved than him; fond of company, he is the center of attraction in every group that is favored with his presence. His popularity is of the positive rather than of the negative kind, and the extent of it may be judged by the majority he received at the late election. In 1856, the average Republican majority was less than 200, while, in 1860, it was over 700, and no man on the ticket helped to bring about the result more than Mr. Burgess. It is too soon to speak of his public life; but it will be sufficient to say that, though young, he has taken a prominent position as a working member of that body. He is Chairman of the committee on Manufactures and an efficient member of the committee on Penitentiary, Printing, Military Affairs, the select committee on Apportionment, and on Federal Relations. The following is from a leading paper of the State:
“One of the most active and effective working members of the State Legislature is the young Representative from Hendricks, Hon. James Burgess. From the commencement of the session he has addressed himself, with commendable industry, to the legislation demanded by the interests of his section and the State at large. If the Legislature was composed entirely of such men as Branham, Burgess, Cameron and others we might mention of the same industry and business capacity, a thirty days' session would be amply sufficient for all the legislation required by the State.”
Mr. Burgess certainly has a brilliant career before him—commenced in such a glorious manner—should he decide to continue in political life. Always equal to any emergency in which he may be placed; transacting his own business with commendable zeal and industry, it is but fair to infer, that the interests of the public, if confided to him, will be in safe hands. Post office address—Danville, Hendricks county, Indiana.