Washburn County WIGenWeb Project

People Histories

Philip N. Burg
(15 Apr 1860 - 19 Mar 1926¹)

-As transcribed from the "COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF THE UPPER LAKES REGION"

by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1905

pages 370 - 371

Philip N. Burg is one of the most enterprising business men of Shell Lake, Washburn county. He is a native of Sweden, having been born in Parup, Sallerup, that country, April 15, 1860. His parents, Nels and Karna (Nelson) Anderson, were residents of the same locality in Sweden. The father, who was a farmer, died in his native place in 1881, when about fifty-five years of age; the mother still lives in the same place, now over sixty years old.

Philip N. Burg received a common school education, and in 1880 came to the United States, settling in Grove City, Minn. he was employed on railroad construction work in summer, and attended school in the winter for two years. He then went to Princeton, Minn., and for five years was employed there in a general store, becoming an important factor in the concern. He first came to Shell Lake in 1887, and was employed three years in a general store kept by Curtis & Williams. In the spring of 1900 he went to Minneapolis and entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, Nels Hillman, dealing in general merchandise, including hardware, farm implements, furniture, etc., and also conducts an undertaking establishment. The original building which he purchased has been greatly enlarged, and his stock is now the most complete in Washburn county. Mr. Burg is also a stockholder in the Shell Lake Creamery Co. In 1895 he bought wild land on the lake shore, near the village, which he has improved into a fine stock farm, known as Burg's Lookout Point, and where he breeds Morgan horses and Durham cattle. He also owns 2,000 acres of other lands, partly improved, mostly in Washburn and Burnett counties. In October, 1903, Mr. Burg became one of the incorporators of the Wisconsin State Bank, of which he was one of the directors until the concern was consolidated with the Lumbermen's Bank.

Mr. Burg was married at Princeton, Minn., Nov. 1, 1885, to Lizzie Hillman, a native of Venjan, Delarne, Sweden, daughter of Andrew and Annie Hillman, who came to the United States with their family in 1880, and now reside at Burg's Lookout Point. Mr. and Mrs. Burg are member of the Lutheran Church. fraternally Mr. Burg is connected with the I. O. O. F., becoming a charter member of the local lodge, and financial secretary from the time of its organization, and also a member of Shell Lake Encampment. Since coming to the United States Mr. Burg has been a Republican, and although not an active politician is always interested in all matters of public welfare. In the spring of 1902 he was nominated for chairman of the township board, and was very nearly elected in the face of a strongly organized opposition.

1 - Editorial Note - Philip N. Burg's death date is derived from his death record, which is on file at the Washburn Co. Register of Deeds Office in Death Vol. 8, page 162. Philip and his wife are buried in the Shell Lake Cemetery. A transcript of her tombstone states that she was born in 1863 and died in 1949.