BURNSIDES-John - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

John Burnsides, farmer and stock raiser, Snoddy's Mill, is the most extensive land owner and farmer in Fulton township. Mr. Burnsides' father, William, was born in Pocahontas county, Virginia, in 1790. He served a short time in the war of 1812. The mother of John, Margaret (Calison), was born in Pocahontas county, Virginia, in 1800. There they were married, and in 1826 moved to Champaign county, Ohio. They next lived one year in Dayton, Ohio. In 1834 they became residents of Fountain county, where Mr. Burnsides bought 400 acres of land. Here he made the usual pioneer improvement; a task which, to the Indianaian, is not so gigantic as it would seem to one raised on the prairie. In 1851, disposing of his farm to his son; he moved Knox county, Illinois, where he farmed till his death, which occurred in February 1877; his wife's death occurring in 1871. She was a member of the Methodist church, and a good Christian. He was an upright, honest man, and a life-long democrat. They brought five children with them, and tow children were born to them in Fountain county: John, Elizabeth, Anthony, Isaac, William, Mary, and George. John Burnsides was born November 21, 1819, in Pocahontas county, Virginia. He remained at home mostly till thirty years of age. He was schooled in "Nature's" university. To demonstrate his success we have but to say that from calloused hands and grit as his beginning, guided by a careful judgment, he has stored his present possessions. February 22, 1852, he was married to Nancy Lewis, daughter of Charles Lewis. She was born in New York, in 1821, and came with her parents to Parke county, Indiana, in an early day. Her parents died in Parke county. Mrs. Burnsides has added her share to the success of her husband. After marriage they settled where they live, owning about 1,300 acres of land. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and strict temperance people. They have three children living: Albert, Anna May, and Ora Bell; deceased are Charles, Hattie, and an infant. Mr. Burnsides looks well to the education of his children. Politically he was a democrat till forty years of age, and since has been a strong republican.