Joab W. Burgee (deceased) was born in Frederick County, Md., on August 25, 1806. He received his education in his native county, and at the age of twenty years he resolved to immigrate to the West.

Mounting a mule he traveled the entire distance to Missouri upon its back. He located in Perry County, to which his grandfather, Maj. Waters, had preceded him.

Here on May 24, 1832, he was married to Elizabeth Burns, a daughter of James and Nancy (Tucker) Burns, and the next year was elected assessor of Perry County.

In 1838 he was elected to represent the county in the Legislature, and at the expiration of his term was re-elected. In the autumn of 1856 he was called to the office of judge of the county court, in which position he served with fidelity and honor for four successive terms.

He took an active interest in educational matters, and for fifteen years was director and clerk of his school district. In the same year he was appointed judge he united with the Baptist Church, and remained a consistent member until his death. He died on December 12, 1881, and his wife in February, 1876.

They were the parents of eleven children, five of whom are living. They are James (who married Emily Brown), Thomas (who married Miss Mary Prost), Emily (Mrs. Basil Moore), America (Mrs. Peter Cissell), and Letitia A. (the widow of Thomas B. Sanders).

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.