Wilson Burnside

BURNSIDE, WAYNE, ARY

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 3/22/2009 at 15:48:53

WILSON BURNSIDE, one of Audubon's prosperous business men, and one of its pioneer grain dealers, established his business in the county seat in 1878. He was the first to start the business in which he has been actively engaged ever since. He is a man who has contributed his full share to the business interests of his adopted town, and who has added very materially to its financial standing, as well as its good name. Wilson Burnside was born in McHenry County, Illinois, near Woodstock, the county seat, September 7, 1848, and is the son of Wilson and Celestia (Wayne) Burnside; the mother was a daughter of Anthony Wayne, Esq., and a native of New York; the father was of Scotch Irish descent. Wilson Burnside passed his early boyhood in McHenry County, attending the common school in the winter time, and assisting his father on the farm during the summer. At the age of twenty two he went to Kansas, and embarked in the mercantile business in the town of Florence; here he remained four years, and at the expiration of that time, he disposed of the business and removed to Carroll County, Iowa. There he engaged in time grain trade and general merchandising for three and a half years, and then sold out, coining to Audubon; here he established himself in the grain trade, handling livestock, principally hogs and cattle, in connection with the grain. He built the first warehouse near the Northwestern Railroad, and also one near the Rock Island Railroad, thus affording the best shipping facilities. The first three years of his residence in Audubon, he had a store containing a general stock of merchandise, in connection with his grain business,in August, 1888, Mr. Burnside formed a partnership with C. A. Francis, under time firm name of Burnside & Francis; during the years 1888 and 1889 they shipped 200,000 bushels of corn and oats. Mr. Burnside was elected a member of the school board in 1888, and still holds that position. He is a member or Veritas Lodge, No. 392, A. F. & A. M.; Amity Chapter, No. 93, R. A. M.; and of Godfrey Commandery, No. 44, K. T. In political matters he is rather conservative. Mr. Burnside began his business career on small capital, but by industry and close attention to business he has acquired a handsome property. He has a fine residence which is situated on the summit of a hill, affording a view of Audubon and the surrounding country. Mr. Burnside was married in 1871 to Miss Mary E. Ary, of Linn County,Iowa, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Sinclair Ary, Esq. They are the parents of five children Grace B., Mary Belle, Charles, Wellington and Ned, the last two named being deceased.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 722-723