Blog > William S. P. Burgett: Diary Author
"I Am Growing Old"
On July 25, 1882, William S. P. Burgett began a new diary with these words: "Have neglected Keeping a Diary for a long time—some five or six years—Have been all unsettled since my mother and sister died—Have been trying to Keep my House and place in repair with poor health—and I am growing old."
William continued his diary for six months, making the last entry on December 18, 1882, his sixty-sixth birthday. He mentioned picking berries, harvesting hops, hunting squirrels, and churning "splendid yellow Butter. And he noted a camp meeting at Trenton, a circus and a state fair in Utica, and a local election. He also recorded his interactions with numerous family and friends, weaving in mentions of his ill health and his efforts to live a pious life.
William's Biography
William was from a "family of five brothers and one sister." He was born in Westmoreland and remained a resident throughout his life except for a short time spent in New York City and a year spent in Michigan. He worked as both a teacher and a store clerk. William's parents, probably Conrad and Mary Burgett, helped found the local Methodist Episcopal Church, and William later served as a Sunday school superintendent. He reportedly wrote "an excellent history" and a "poem of considerable merit" to celebrate a church centennial. [1] In 1896 William appeared on the Prohibition Party slate for the office of justice. [2]
William spent the last years of his life boarding with the George Freiburger family. In 1880 the household included George, a thirty-year-old Westmoreland farmer who was born in Germany; Martha, his thirty-seven-year-old wife; three children: Ida M., age 13; Frank J., age 9, and George, age 1; and William, age sixty-three. [3]
William died at the Freibergers' home on 21 July 1899.
Help Us Fill in the Gaps
If you have information about the Burgett family, please let us know. We would love to learn more about William, his parents, and his siblings.
References
[1] "William Burgett," Utica Daily Press, 25 July 1899, fourth page, col. 4; digital image, Old Fulton New York Post Cards (https://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html : accessed April 2024), search for "Utica NY Daily Press 1899 - 1308.pdf" (no quotes).
[2] "Westmoreland," Republican and Prohibition party nominations, Rome Daily Sentinel, 18 February 1894, p. 2, col. 6; digital image, Old Fulton New York Post Cards (https://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html : accessed April 2024), search for "Rome NY Daily Sentinel 1895 Aug-Apr 1896 - 0625.pdf" (no quotes).
[3] 1880 U. S. census, Oneida County, New York, population schedule, Westmoreland, ED 155, p. 6, dwelling 77, family 77, George Freiberger household; digital image, "United States Federal Census, 1880" FamilySearch (hhttps://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB2-8M7).
Posted 3 June 2024
Banner Photo: A collage of images related to William S. P. Burgett including a census record, an obituary, pages from his 1882 diary, and a diary transcript.