Representative of the Sixth District in the Lower House of the Iowa Legislature, is one of its youngest members and a gentleman of marked ability both in business transactions and a general knowledge of current events. Mr. Burgess is a native of Bullitt County, Kentucky, the date of his birth being April 5, 1857. He is the son of John Burgess, a native of Wheeling. W. Virginia. James R. Burgess was educated in the city schools of Keokuk County, and came to Ottumwa with his parents. He is a self made man in every respect, when young being without means or influence and having nothing to depend upon but his own exertions. He took a course at the Ottumwa Business College and graduated in 1875 with high recommendations from his instructors. After leaving college, finding nothing better at hand in which to engage, our subject went on the road as a traveling salesman. Notwithstanding the demands of business, Mr. Burgess keeps himself well informed in regard to political and general matters, and has received ready recognition at the hands of his fellow townsmen as a man well qualified to become a leader in their midst. He became a member of the City council in the spring of l885, being elected on the Republican ticket with a majority of between fifty and seventy-five votes, being the first Democratic official elected to this position in sixteen years. In the fall of 1885, he was elected by a union of the Democratic and Greenback parties to the General Assembly of the State, being the youngest member but one in the house. While there he made a vigorous fight on the Cassett Mining Bill. Mr. B. has vigorously upheld the principles of the Greenback party and has uniformly cast his vote in support of its principles.

Representative of the Sixth District in the Lower House of the Iowa Legislature, is one of its youngest members and a gentleman of marked ability both in business transactions and a general knowledge of current events. Mr. Burgess is a native of Bullitt County, Kentucky, the date of his birth being April 5, 1857. He is the son of John Burgess, a native of Wheeling. W. Virginia. James R. Burgess was educated in the city schools of Keokuk County, and came to Ottumwa with his parents. He is a self made man in every respect, when young being without means or influence and having nothing to depend upon but his own exertions. He took a course at the Ottumwa Business College and graduated in 1875 with high recommendations from his instructors. After leaving college, finding nothing better at hand in which to engage, our subject went on the road as a traveling salesman. Notwithstanding the demands of business, Mr. Burgess keeps himself well informed in regard to political and general matters, and has received ready recognition at the hands of his fellow townsmen as a man well qualified to become a leader in their midst. He became a member of the City council in the spring of l885, being elected on the Republican ticket with a majority of between fifty and seventy-five votes, being the first Democratic official elected to this position in sixteen years. In the fall of 1885, he was elected by a union of the Democratic and Greenback parties to the General Assembly of the State, being the youngest member but one in the house. While there he made a vigorous fight on the Cassett Mining Bill. Mr. B. has vigorously upheld the principles of the Greenback party and has uniformly cast his vote in support of its principles.