Transcript:Indiana, United States. Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties/B/Burger, Jacob

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Jacob Burger (p 889)

Among the German-Americans who have by their own honest efforts each made a comfortable living and acquired a nice home and farm in Fayette County, Indiana, may be mentioned Jacob Burger, of Connersville Township.

Mr. Burger was born in Kuhr, Hessen, Germany, July 25, 1831, and lived in his native land until he was twenty-three years old. He was the only son in a family of four children. At the age above mentioned, having determined to come to America, he took passage for this country, accompanied by an older sister, and in due time, July 17, 1854, they landed at New York, strangers in a strange land and without means. His sister married and is now living in Kentucky. Arriving in New York City with only five cents in his pocket, young Burger sought employment and soon secured a position as gardener. After working there a few weeks and saving his money, he came west to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he spent the next two years farming and gardening. On the last day of April, 1856, he arrived in Connersville, and from that time until 1860 he was employed as a farm hand in the vicinity of Connersville and from 1860 to 1867 he was a resident of Wayne County. He purchased his present farm, in Connersville Township, in September, 1869. This farm comprises eighty acres, well improved and under a high state of cultivation, many of the improvements having been placed here by Mr. Burger, including the building of his comfortable and attractive residence.

Mr. Burger was married May 7, 1857, to Miss Veronica Fager, a native of Baden, Germany, born August 20, 1829. She came to America, alone, in 1853. July 19, 1898, after a happy married life covering a period of over four decades, she passed away, leaving husband and a large family of children to mourn her loss. Of the nine children born to them --- four sons and five daughters --- seven are now living, namely: Mrs. Anna Geis, John, Mrs. Clara Schoenborne, Miss Maggie, Joseph A., Miss Lizzie, and Louie. Those deceased were Mary and Charles, the eldest and the youngest of the family. Mr. Burger and family are members of the Catholic Church.