Son of William Burgess and Violate Stockwell

Marrried Margaret Jane McIntire, 10 Apr 1855, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Heart Throbs of the West, Kate B. Carter, Vol. 10, p. 376

Melancthon W. Burgess was born July 14, 1831, at Lake George, New York. He was the son of William Burgess, Sr., and Vilate Stock-well, and the youngest of eleven children. When Melancthon was sixteen years of age he drove a team in Daniel Spencer's company across the plains. This company of pioneers left Winter Quarters, June 18, 1847, and arrived in Salt Lake City, September 20 1847.

A year after Melancthon's arrival in the valley his parents followed. He learned the blacksmith trade from his father and became one of the most skillful blacksmiths in the early days of Salt Lake City. His shop was located on Main Street, and over the shop was hung a sign, which was a large arm holding a hammer. Across the arm and hammer were the words "M. Burgess--Blacksmith." Horeshoes, oxenshoes, nails and many other necessary articles were made in this shop and proved a great help and saving to the community at that time, as everything had to be brought by oxen across the plains for thousands of miles.

In the spring of 1855, Melancthon married a beautiful, young girl by the name of Margaret Jane Mcintyre, and located in the 16th Ward. He was later called by Brigham Young to go to Echo Canyon to defend the settlers from the invasion of Johnston's Army. After his release from these arduous duties he learned the carpenter trade, and became an expert cabinet maker.

He was one of the original pioneers of Dixie, and the builder of one of the first homes in St. George--a home still in use as a family shelter. Mr. Burgess made on his anvil the large mill irons for the saw mill at Mt. Trumbull, that was set up to furnish the huge timbers for the construction of the L.D.S. Temple at St. George. His sight began to fail soon after this, and it was feared the intense heat and sparks from the red-hot irons had burned the tissues of his eyes.

But though his sight was later completely destroyed, his spirit was still unbowed. He refused to become dependent, and so set to learn new ways of carrying on his daily activities. He continued to do his chores around home, sawed his wood, and split it into stove lengths. He continued to milk and care for his cow, and keep up all repairs around his place. He could drive nails with great accuracy, to the great surprise of his friends.

He never lost interest in the world's progress, and continued his subscriptions to his favorite magazines and newspapers. Of special interest to him was the "Scientific American and the Inventive Age" which was regularly read to him from cover to cover by his wife or daughters. Now that he had more time for thinking, he tried to think of ways to save some of the hard pioneer labors. So successful was he that he had two inventions patented at Washington D.C., patent office--the papers still being in possession of the family. One was a washing machine, and only lack of funds prevented him from using this device. Its idea was later used by a company and sold nationally as the "Zenith." He turned clown an offer of $50,000 for the patent because he thought it worth more, but lost all as a result. He also received a patent for an improved wagon wheel--one with superior fastenings that gave greater strength and endurance--an offering of a blind inventor.

He always went around home, and around the streets of his home town without any help, for with careful attention he learned to trust to his other senses, and the use of a walking cane. His mind kept alert and his interest in people and their doings kept him in touch with events so that he could converse on almost any subject with intelligence and fluency. And through it all, he was kind and affable, both at home and with his friends and never once breathed a complaint against his condition. His faith in the goodness of God increased with the years, and his quiet understanding made him a much sought-after help in times of sickness or trouble. He died at the age of seventy-four years, December 8 1904, many of which were spent in total physical blindness, but bright in the light of spiritual uplift. - Jennie B. Miles.