BURCH, George Benjamin

BURCH, George Benjamin. (Lyons, NY, Mar. 22, 1836-Dubuque, IA, May 2, 1901). MAYOR. Burch began his working life at the age of fourteen as a clerk in a drug store. He later served in clerical positions before moving west to Portage, Wisconsin. In 1859 he established a partnership in a drug business called Burh & Lewis. He sold his interest in the business the same year and moved to Necedah, Wisconsin where he was a bookkeeper. He entered the lumber business by purchasing a small lumber company in Necedah, but moved to Dubuque in 1869.

In Dubuque, Burch established a lumber company with connections to his mills in Necedah. His lumber business there expanded to the degree that he was once president of two large lumber companies in Necesah. These companies were eventually merged to create the Necedah Lumber Company with Burch as president.

Burch was elected mayor in 1876 and re-elected in 1877 and 1878.

Although he retained his lumber business in Wisconsin, Burch sold his interests in Dubuque. He became president of the SECOND NATIONAL BANK in 1844 and held the office until his death. He was also president of the DUBUQUE AND NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD; president of the DUBUQUE STEAM SUPPLY COMPANY, director of the NORWEGIAN PLOW COMPANY and the High Bridge Company; trustee of the FINLEY HOSPITAL (THE), CARNEGIE-STOUT PUBLIC LIBRARY, YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (Y.M.C.A.) and the HOME OF THE FRIENDLESS; and part owner of the Hotel Julien (now HOTEL JULIEN DUBUQUE).

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Source:

Gue, Benjamin F. and Shambaugh, Benjamin Franklin. Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa: Leaders in Business, Politics and the Professions; Together with an Original and Authentic History of the State. Volume 1. Des Moines: Conaway and Shaw, 1899, p. 448

"Dubuque Sought Business Methods From Beginning," Telegraph Herald, March 27, 1921, p. 14. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bi5eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SmANAAAAIBAJ&pg=6644,4092622&dq=james+fanning+dubuque&hl=en