Nelle Gilham Lemon Burger

Nelle G. Burger ( Lemon; July 27, 1869 – December 24, 1957) was an American temperance leader. For 34 years, she served as president of the Missouri State Woman's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.). While still a child, the family moved to Roodhouse, Illinois. She was subsequently appointed national organizer of the W.C.T.U., and in that interest lectured in every State of the U.S., Burger went to Mexico and succeeded in interesting President Porfirio Díaz in temperance work to the extent of securing an appropriation of money to supplement the contribution of the W.C.T.U. for systematic temperance instruction in that country. The Mexican Government also provided her with free transportation. She held meetings in every Mexican State except two, addressing the people through an interpreter furnished by the Government. She wrote scientific temperance lessons for the city schools and for those seventeen States.

In 1925, the Missouri W.C.T.U., though Burger as its president, took action favorable to the enactment of the Hagenow coal tar products bill which was a part of the Missouri Pharmaceutical Association legislative program. Burger appeared before the officials of 18 women's organizations and church associations and told them of the freedom with which coal tar products were sold and endorsed the Hagenow bill. At the same time, she paid the druggists a high compliment for desiring to control the sale of dangerous drugs.

In addition to her affiliation with the W.C.T.U., she had been a member of the Springfield Ministerial Alliance and of St. Paul Methodist Church.