An American Family History

Sarah Jane Taylor Burgett was born on January 6, 1859 in Shelby County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Jacob Taylor and Sarah Branstiter. At the time of the 1880 census, she was 21 years old and living at home.

Sarah had one child, William Charles Burgett, who was born on September 20, 1880. She married Nelson Elmer Squire Burgett on January 2, 1881 in Warren County, Iowa. Nelson was the son of William Henry Burgett and Margaret Jane McClintic and was born about 1856 in Iowa.

Sarah and Nelson divorced in 1881. After their divorce, Esquire N. Burgett married America D. Gerlock on August 19, 1885 in Lucas County, Iowa.

At the time of the 1900 census, Sarah was living with her mother, Sarah Taylor, and brother Jacob in Lincoln Township. Her son William was not part of the household. According to Marion Beryl Burgett, William was raised by Sarah Jane Taylor's brother and sister.

At the time of the 1910 census Sarah was with her mother and sisters in Lincoln Township, Warren County, Iowa. The household consisted of Leathy A. Gilman age 59, Sarah Taylor age 82, Sarah Jane Burgett age 51 and Louisa Long age 61.

Sarah was hospitalized at The Iowa State Hospital for the Insane in Clarinda, Iowa. She suffered from continuous epileptic attacks which caused her to be mentally impaired. Epilepsy was poorly understood and treated at that time. She died at the hospital on March 10, 1921.