Burgess, Charles

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Submitted by Robert Kingrey

Source: Samuel P. Bates, L L. D.

Charles Burgess was born in Pelsall, England, October 2, 1841, and in his early life he spent many years in iron and steel mills in and near Sheffield, and at the age of twenty-four he came to the United States, in March 1866. He first worked at Troy, New York, where he was engaged for a time at the Bessemer Steel Works, and also employed in making special iron. After a year there he went to Pittsburg, and worked there for a short time in an iron and steel mill. Then he rented, just outside of Pittsburg, a forge, and began experimenting in producing various kinds of steel.

Three years afterward he went to England, where he remained for several months. Then he returned to America and went to Ironton, Ohio, where he engaged with the Ironton Walling Mill Company to manufacture some of his specialties of iron and steel. While there his products received the highest award at the Cincinnati Exposition, against eight or nine competitors.

During his stay at Ironton he was married to Miss Charlotte Moreland of Detroit, Michigan, formerly of England. A few months afterward he sold to the company for whom he had worked the right to manufacture and sell his iron and steel, and with his young wife made a trip to England, to visit their friends. After an absence of about four months he returned to Ironton, and found parties waiting there to organize a company for the manufacture of iron and steel under his direction. A company of six was formed of which he was one, whose one-sixth was assigned to him in consideration of his skills and ability, and he was made the general superintendent and a director. The works, which were at Portsmouth, Ohio, were named, after him, the Burgess Steel and Iron Works. This plant was one of the most successful concerns during the panic from 1873 to 1875. His products were of such superiority as to win the highest premiums wherever exhibited. Three gold medals were awarded to him over many competitors. After about two tears he sold his rights to the company. The Burgess Steel and Iron Works are still running under their original name.

Mr. Burgess then went again to England and sojourned there this time for five years, because of his father’s illness, until his father’s death. Then he returned to the United States and engaged with the Cleveland Rolling Mill Company. He had charge of one of the companies departments, producing his specialties in iron and steel for five years. He left there and came to Titusville in 1884, and with others he began to manufacture iron and tool steel. The company in consideration of his skill and experience, making him general manager and superintendent, assigned one-fourth interest in the plant to him. The works were operated about a year and a half under the name Burgess, Garrett & Company.

Charles Burgess then purchased the interest of his partners, founding the Cyclops Steel Works, of which he has ever since been the sole owner. Mr. Burgess is one of the ten citizens who in 1896 each subscribed ten thousand dollars to the stock of the Titusville Industrial Fund Association. He is a director of the association and a director of the Titusville Board of Trade. Two or three years ago he purchased the Jonathon Watson home, at the east end, and expanded upon it several thousand dollars in reconstruction and repairs, making it his permanent family residence. It is needless to say that Charles Burgess ranks as one of the substantial representative citizens of Titusville.