The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-01-07
CAPTAIN BURGER PASSES
Former Resident Of Mankato
Died Sunday In His St.
Paul Home
[From Tuesdays Daily]

After having lived in st. Paul for
thirty eight years, Captain Joseph
Burger, seventy two years DID, VINO
bore the distinction OF having been
the youngest man ever commissioned
as captain in the United States army
the possessor OF a medal OF honor and
yalor. presented to him by President
Lincoln, and who went through the
Civil war as a drummer boy, SUI
fering several wounds which lncapac
itated him for further service, dled
at his home, I'll East Fifth street,
at ~ m. Sunday, says The st. Paul
pioneer Press. The funeral will be
held from the home at p. m. Wed
nesday. Rev. D. M. tombstone OF the
Holman Memorial Methodist Eplsco-
pal church, conducting the services
Burial will be made in Oakland Gem :
etery.
Grieves Over Wife's Death.
Grief over the loss of his wife, VINO
died four weeks ago today, is attrlD :
uted as the direct cause of Captain
Burgers death. He is survived by
five daughters, Mrs. w. E. Spicker,
Mrs. G. H. Kernkamp, Mrs. E. F.
Nolterstorff, Miss Elizabeth Burger
and Miss Amelia Burger, all of St
Paul, and two sons, Charles Bugrer
invalid reserve corps on December
%, 1854, when he was stationed al
of this city and George Burger OF Mil
waukee, Wis.
Captain Burger was born in the
Tyrol, Switzerland, April 16, 184S, EN- =
igrating to the United States with his
parents when he was an infant. His
parents died in the Chicago cholera
plague in 1854. Three years after,
the nine year old lad was sent from
Joliet, ILL.,, to work for farmer near
New Ulm, Mimi. When he was thlr-
teen years old he ran away, from the
farm and joined the United States ar
my.
The company in which young Bur-
ger enlisted as a drummer boy was
organized at Mankato and was mus
tered into service at Fort Smelling
a month later. He received his cap
tain's commission when sixteen years
old. %
His first engagement was in the
battle of Mill Springs, January 10,
1862, which resulted in the first deci-
sive Union victory of the war. He
participated also in the siege of Cor
NTH, April, 1862, and was afterwards
sent with the forces under General
Bragg. In turn, he was In the battles
of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge
and took part in the siege Of Tulla-
homa.
Again Re- enlists.
The drummer boy re enlisted at
the expiration of his term of service
in the army of Chattanooga and was
with Sherman's army at Atlanta, Ga,
before that generals famous march
to the sea. At Dalton, Ga, in July,
1854, young Burger was so severely
wounded that he was given his dis
charge on the grounds of total dis
army hospitals in succession. After
NOTED to a captaincy in Hancock
Fort Douglas, Ill.
After the war the disabled soldier
entered Warrenton college, Missouri,
studied and was graduated in the law
course as an attorney. On April z,
1869, be married Caroline Notion at
Warrenton. Subsequently Captain
Burger practiced\ law in Missouri and
served in the state legislature as
representative from Franklyn county.
He and his wife celebrated their gol-
den wedding anniversary in st. Paul,
April Z, 1919.
Captain Burger removed to Man I
kato, Mimi, in 1877. He served two
terms in the Minnesota legislature
as representative from Blue Earth
county. He came to st. Paul in 1882.
serving on Governor Hubbard's staff
as military storekeeper.
On account of physical disabilities
Captain Burger retired from active
law practice some years ago.