Krag Collectors Association Forum Archive
General >> Chit-Chat (for poking fun and off topic subjects) >> Krags of Southern Illinois in the 1920's
http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1578730232

Message started by Hamish on Jan 11th, 2020 at 8:10am

Title: Re: Krags of Southern Illinois in the 1920's
Post by butlersrangers on Jan 11th, 2020 at 8:29pm
Per 'Wikipedia', Shachna 'Charlie' Birger was born in Russia to Jewish parents in 1881. (1883 appears on his gravestone).

When a child, his family emigrated to the U.S. and settled in St. Louis, Mo., where he grew up.

On July 5th, 1901, he entered the 13th U.S. Cavalry, Troop "G" at Ft. Meade, S.D. He was Honorably Discharged, on July 4th, 1904, and was reported to be a good soldier. (It appears the 13th U.S. Cavalry was in the Philippines from 1903 to 1905. I don't know if Birger saw service in the P.I.).

Apparently, Charles Birger was married four times. It appears, his first wife's name was Beatrice ('Bee'). They divorced.
(His fourth wife was named Bernice).
He worked as a Newsboy, soldier, cowboy, Coal Miner, Mine Operator, Saloon Keep, and Bootlegger & proprietor of the "Shady Rest".

IMHO - He is a lot more interesting than Clyde Barrow. He would make a good subject for a quality movie, about the wild era and area, he lived in!

In the photos, he looks pretty fit for a 'middle-age' man, with bullet proof vest, leather puttees, and all.
Charlie_Birger-1.jpg ( 21 KB | 0 Downloads )
Charlie_Birger-2.jpg ( 12 KB | 0 Downloads )

Krag Collectors Association Forum Archive » Powered by YaBB 2.6.0!
YaBB Forum Software © 2000-2024. All Rights Reserved.