Husband Gen. James Burns, Esq. 1 2
Born: 4 Jul 1802 - Derry Twp, Mifflin Co, PA 2
Christened:
Died: 26 Oct 1879 - Lewistown, Mifflin Co, PA 3
Buried:
Father: James Burns (1772- ) 1 2
Mother: Mary Dixon ( - ) 1 2
Marriage: 13 Jun 1823 2
Wife Cartes Steely 4
Born:
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Died:
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Father: Lazarus Steely ( - ) 4
Mother:
Children
1 F Elizabeth Margaret Burns 4
Born:
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Spouse: James Allison ( - ) 4
2 F Mary Jane Burns 4
Born:
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Spouse: Montgomery Morrison ( - ) 4
3 F Ann Brown Burns 4
Born:
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Died: Bef 1886
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4 F Caroline S. Burns 4
Born:
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Spouse: Peter Spangler ( - ) 4
5 M James Ritz Burns 4
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Spouse: Ellen E. Ritz ( - ) 4
General Notes: Husband - Gen. James Burns, Esq.
He was a wealthy citizen of Lewistown, Pennsylvania.
His birth occurred at the home of his parents in Derry township, Mifflin County, where he remained until his majority was attained. His education, being confined to such opportunities as the neighborhood afforded, was therefore necessarily limited. Having been made familiar with the labor connected with farming, he, before the age of twenty-two, left the homestead and rented a farm in the vicinity, which was cultivated for two years. He continued at farming after his marriage until his removal to Lewistown, which borough became his residence on his acceptance of the agency for the Pioneer Line of Packets and Stages, which he held for a period of ten years. His active mind then sought a wider range, which was opened in the business of contracting, the field of operation not being limited, but extending throughout the state. He was chiefly occupied in the building of locks and the construction of tunnels, one of his most important enterprises being the completion for the Pennsylvania Railroad of a tunnel through the Allegheny Mountains. Many other important works were executed under his personal direction, both for the state and for private corporations, which brought him into close business and social relations with the prominent and representative citizens of the commonwealth and made his name an influential one in business and political circles. General Burns subsequently engaged in other enterprises connected with the government, in all of which he was successful. He was a skillful political worker, wielding an extended influence both in local and State polities. A stanch exponent of the Democracy of the day, he represented his constituents for two successive terms in the State Legislature, and was for four years a member of the State Board of Canal Commissioners, a portion of which time he was its president. His private business influenced him to decline further political honors other than that of treasurer of Mifflin County. He was largely identified with the business interests of the borough and was president of the Mifflin County National Bank; he was also a leading spirit in the organization and construction of various railroads throughout the state. General Burns, though not connected by membership, was a warm supporter of the Presbyterian Church. His death occurred at his home, in Lewistown, on the 26th of October, 1879, in his seventy-eighth year.