My Genealogy Hound

Emmons F. Burns was born in Monroe County, Tenn., on November 28, 1819, and is a son of William R. Burns (deceased), a native of South Carolina, who served under Jackson in the War of 1812. The latter removed his family to Carroll County, Ga., In 1829, thence to McDonald County, Mo In 1841 settling in Buffalo Township, which territory was then a part of Newton County. Emmons F. Burns had very little opportunity for attending school, but what education he received in the primitive log school-house has been much improved by study at home, and, since arriving at years of maturity, by much desultory reading. On January 19, 1843, he wedded Jane Beeman who was a daughter of James Beeman, now deceased, who was a pioneer of McDonald County; and was a fifer in the War of 1812. Mrs. Burns died on March 16, 1856, having borne six children, three of whom, Milton, Samuel M. and John W., are living. One daughter, Amanda (Bird), died at the age of thirty years, leaving a husband and two children. On July 10, 1856, Mr. Burns married Margaret E. Kennedy, a daughter of Thomas J. Kennedy (deceased). Eight children have been born to this union, of whom five are living: Laura (Fox), William F., Emmons T., Leander and Aletha B. One son, Thomas J., died on June 27, 1886, aged sixteen years. Mr. Burns is the owner of 224 acres of land, and devotes his time chiefly to agricultural pursuits. For ten years he served as surveyor of McDonald County, and as county assessor for one year. He also served as justice of the peace for many years, and for a short time before the war as deputy United States marshal for the western district of Missouri. The family are devout Christians and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Their son, Milton, is a minister of the Gospel. William F. and Emmons T. are school-teachers.