Hi List, I will post this Biography on James W. Burns in hopes that it will help someone! Erin Wilhelm of Austin, Texas was kind enough to send this to me. > > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ewilhelm/burns-james-w.html > > James W. Burns > P1350-1351 > > The Old Dominion has sent many of her industrious citizens into Nebraska to > help reclaim the great plains and among these is James W. Burns, farmer and > stockman of Liberty precinct, Richardson county. He was born in Rockbridge > county, Virginia, September 5, 1853, and is a son of Thomas H. and Lucy > (Crockett) Burns. The father was born in Virginia about the year 1806 and > his death occurred in 1869. He grew up in his native state, in fact, lived > and died there. He was overseer in an iron foundry for many years. All the > children born of his union with Lucky Crockett are deceased but James W. > Burns, the subject of this sketch. After the death of his first wife he > married Ellen Obenchain, to which union two children were born, one of whom > is livingDillie, wife of William Kemper, who makes her home in Botetourt > county, Virginia. Thomas H. Burns's first wife, Lucy Crockett, was born in > Virginia, where she was reared and spent her life, dying in 1859. She and > her husband were both members of the Baptist church. > > James W. Burns grew to manhood in Virginia and received a common-school > education. He assisted his father with the work on the home farm during his > boyhood and young manhood. In 1870 he went to Lafayette county, Missouri, > where he worked out by the month as a farm hand. In 1878 he came to > Nebraska and rented land in Arago township, Richardson county. In 1884 he > homestead one hundred and sixty acres in western Kansas. Selling out there > in 1889, he moved to Verdon, this county, and in 1892 bought his present > farm in Liberty precinct, which was unimproved. He set out trees, built > fences, a house and barn and in due course of time had the land under > excellent cultivation. The place consists of one hundred and sixty acres, > in section 20. In connection with general farming he has always kept graded > Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. > > Mr. Burns was married on December 18, 1881, to Nellie L. Bennett, a daughter > of George W. and Sarah L. (Everet) Bennett, early settlers of Ohio, from > which state they later moved to Wisconsin in the early days there, and > finally came to Richardson county, Nebraska, from Minnesota, Mrs. Burns > being born in the last-named state, on December 29, 1863. The following > children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Burns: William A., who lives in > Salem precinct; Charles E., who lives in Porter precinct; Ira C., who lives > in Liberty precinct; Clara L., wife of W. Schultz, of Liberty precinct; > Harry T., who lives in Porter precinct; Emily K., who was graduated from the > Verdon high school and is teaching in the district schools; Amos Schley, who > enlisted for service in the United States army on July 4, 1917, a member of > Company D, Fifth Nebraska Infantry; Nellie A. and Anther C., the two latter > of whom are at home; Ella E. is deceased, and one died in infancy. > > Politically, Mr. Burns is a democrat. He has served as road overseer in his > community, and was a member of the school board in his district for a period > of twenty-one years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order > of Odd Fellows and of the Woodmen of the World. His wife belongs to the > Knights and Ladies of Security. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal > church. They have worked hard and finally achieved marked success in > agriculture. > >