JAMES BURNS, a native of Mifflin County, Penn., was born near Lewistown November 10, 1825 is one of four surviving children in a family of eight, and is one of Union Township's progressive citizens. Hugh and Elizabeth (Turner) Burns, his parents, were also natives of Mifflin County, and of Scotcli and Irish descent respectively. The spring of 1835, Hugh Burns and family removed to Montgomery County, Ohio, remaining there four and a half years, engaged in farming, but the fall of 1839, they again started Westward, intending to settle near Springfield, Ill. After leaving La Fayette, Ind., they missed the road and by accident wandered to White County, where, meeting an old schoolmate, John Rothrock, since deceased, he was induced by him to settle permanently here. Mr. Burns located in Union Township, two miles south of Monticello, where he died in about 1842, followed by his widow some twenty years later. James Burns made his home with his widowed mother until her death, shortly after which he moved to where he now resides and engaged in farming- He was reared principally in White County, acquired a fair education, and in lS65 married Mrs. Mary Jane Burns, a daughter of John Burns, of Big Creek Township. Three sons were born to this union, the last named being dead-Samuel E., Bertie and John. The mother died in August, 1877, and in May, 1880, Mr. Burns married Susan Ferry, whose parents now reside in York County, Neb. He owns a farm of 105 acres, is a Democrat and the present Road Superintendent of Union Township.

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