James BURGE one of the early settlers of Lake County, was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., January 18, 1814; his father was a native of Vermont, there times married, and a farmer; by his first wife he had nine children, by his second eight, by his third, none. He came to Porter County, Ind., in 1838, where he died in 1877, aged ninety years. James Burge remained in New York until he was twenty-two years of age, receiving such education as was at that day attainable. On August 6, 1835, he was married to Adaline Griswold, a native of Oneida County, N.Y. In 1836, he emigrated to Porter county, Ind., where a brother was living, and located in Union Township; where he remained five years, and moved to Horse Prairie, there remaining seven years. In 1848, he purchased in Winfield Township, where he spend most of his life. Mrs. Burge was a member of the M. E. Church, and died June 13, 1861, a loving and faithful consort, leaving five children - Jane A. (deceased), Orrin P., Mary A., Hersey I., Jasper D., Gilbert L. (deceased), and Myron L. Mr. Burge married a second wife, Ann Underwood, by whom he had one daughter - Minnie M. (now Mrs. Frank Holmes); she died June 28, 1881.On September 21, 1881, Mr. Burge married his present wife, Mrs. Elizabeth (Welchhonce) McWilliams, and now lives in retirement at Crown Point. Mr. Burge is one of the few remaining old settlers who can recall the ordeals of his pioneer experience. In politics, he is a Republican; he was at one time a Methodist, but left the church on account of its tolerance of secret societies, of which he is a strong opponent.
 

Source: "Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana, Historical and Biographical" Goodspeed and Blanchard, 1882 Page: 603, 604; Crown Point and Centre Township Submitted by: marie626@email.msn.com