Untitled Document

FREDERICK M. BURT

The city of Rock Island is a center for many industries and activities and numbers among its successful bus iness and professional men, a large number who have reached positions of responsibility through unusual proficiency in certain lines. As official stenographer and assistant secretary to the head elery of the Modern Woodmen of America, Frederick Malachi Burt fills a position of unusual prominence in a fraternal organization that has a membership of thousands of rep resentative citizens who have aims and ambitions tending to advance and elevate humanity. Mr. Burt was born at Oswego, now St. Pauls, Kansas, November 3, 1874, and is a Son of Hugh D. and Louise (Toepfer) Burt

Hugh D. Burt was born near Ottumwa, Iowa, in February, 1840, and died at Rock Island, Ill., March 23. 1906. On June 1, 1861, at St Louis, Mo., he enlisted for service in the Civil War, in the army of the Mississippi valley, and was a member of Company F, Seventh Missouri Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Thomas Russell, took part in four regular battles and in the forty days' siege of Vicksburg, and was honorably discharged at St. Louis, Mo., June 14, 1864. He followed the business of flour and grist milling at Oswego and Osage Mission, Kans.. up to 1877, and afterward at Nauvoo, Ill., Franklin, Iowa, and Fulton, Ill., until 1897, when he retired to Rock Island. He married Louise Toepfer, who was born at St. Louis, Mo., in April, 1845, and who is still a resident of Rock Island. They had eight children, five sons and three daughters, all but one of whom survive.

Frederick M. Burt was the fourth born in his parents' family. He first attended the parochial schools of the Roman Catholic church at Nauvoo, Ill., and later Fort Madison, Iowa, and was graduated from the high school at Fulton, III., in the class of 1892. From the age of fifteen years to eighteen he was employed in running a stationary engine in his father's mill at Fulton,Ill. In the same city he was employed by A. D. Mitchell, a grocer there, for two years, but he found the long hours in the grocery business left him little opportunity for either study or recreation, while the future showed little chance for advancement Therefore he learned shorthand and completed the course in May, 1896, at the Northern Illinois college, Fulton, 111., and in June of that year accepted his first position, that being in a real estate office in Chicago

. Later he was employed in a 'board of trade office and still later in a commission house on South Water street, Chi cago. On January 2, 1900, Mr. Burt entered the employ of the Modern Woodmen of America, which maintains its head office at Rock Island, Ill., as stenographer and in April, 1900, was appointed chief of the prohibited occupations de partment and official reporter. He still occupies the latter position and since July 18, 1911, has been assistant secretary to the head clerk.

On May 19, 1900, Mr. Burt was married to Miss C. Ellen Wentsel, at Rock Island, Ill., a daughter of Ephraim and Caroline Wentsel. They were natives of Pennsylvania, Mr. Wentsel being a veteran of the Civil war. In politics Mr. Burt is a democrat. in fraternal relationship he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Mystic Workers of the World and Knights of Columbus. In the latter organization he has been financial secretary, grand knight and P. G. K., with Allovez Council No. 058, at Rock Island., and is now serving as a district deputy. Mr. Burt is a member of the Roman Catholic church.

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois

Submitted by the Webmaster

Illinois Ancestors

022007