William Burns (1822 - 1894)

BURNS, FITCH, BROWN, JOHNSTON, ROBERTS

Posted By: Barry Mateer (email)
Date: 11/28/2021 at 11:54:31

The Weekly Osceola Sentinel , Osceola, Iowa
August 2, 1894, page 8

A telegram on last Thursday morning conveyed the startling intelligence that William Burns, who had left Osceola in health at 11:27 Wednesday, was dead.
We copy from a most sympathetic letter of F. K. Atkins to Mrs. Burns, the story of the sad event.
He says, "1 met him with Ernest and Fitch as they boarded the train in Osceola. We found two seats together in the chair car and spent the entire afternoon visiting and conversing and had a most enjoyable time. He seemed to enjoy the ride, and was to all appearances perfectly well, he ate quite heartily from his lunch box and daring the entire ride did not make any complaint.

In the conversation, among other things he told me of his prayer for your relief from excruciating pain, and that he firmly believed your sufferings were overcome in answer. His faith in God was unwavering and was expressed repeatedly during the afternoon.
I said to him "You have reached the three score and ten and you cannot tell how many years lie ahead of you. Indeed, either
or both of us may be taken before we reach Denver but it makes little difference as long as we are ready."

And so it was. His soul departed before he reached the city.
At 1:30 in the morning our car became in bad repair and another chair car had to be substituted at McCook. I woke him and we went into the other. He fixed himself comfortably, leaned back in his chair and went to sleep. Dr. Tupper, a minister of Richmond, Virginia, was sleeping by his side.
In the morning I woke early, and after arranging my toilet sat down. Dr. Tupper said "We are approaching Denver. Had we not better wake your friend?" I spoke to him. No answer, I put my hand on his forehead. It was cold. His bands were cold, and upon further examination we found his life departed. It was a peaceful death and without perceptible pain. He is through with life and all its cares, anxieties and worry." No doubt it was from heart disease, which ho has had for many years.

Mr. Burns was on his way to Denver to see about his mining interests in Colorado. Rev. D. Shenton tells us of a conversation with him a day or two before he went. He could have gone with an excursion at a cheaper rate, but declined to do so. because it would have caused him to travel on Sunday and he thought it wrong. Said he could not ask God to bless his travel if he did. He was a man of the finest conscientiousness as many incidents in his life showed.

He was converted and joined the M, E. church in January 1848. For over forty-six years he has been a member of the M. E. church. On November 35, 1867 he united with the M. E. church of Osceola by certificate, and for the greater part of the time since has been an official member. He believed in regeneration, the witness of the spirit and the power of prayer. Two weeks ago he seems to have had a premonition, and remarked in class meeting "This will be perhaps the last time that I shall meet with you."

Wm. Burns was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, December 23, 1822, and died July 20, 1894, aged seventy-one years, seven months and four days. He moved his family to Iowa in April. 1855, and first settled In Wapello county. From there he moved to Garden Grove and from Garden Grove to Osceola in Juno 1867.

He married Miss Eliza Fitch October 19, 1843. To them were born fifteen children—eight died in infancy – seven are still living, three sons and four daughters. They are J. F. and Ernest Burns and Mrs. P. W. Brown in Osceola, Mrs. R. H. Johnston, Cromwell; G. W. Burns, St. Charles., Mrs. Elmer Brown, Oakland, California and
Mrs. F. M. Roberts, Canon City, Colorado.

The remains were embalmed in Denver, and brought back to the sorrowing family, arriving Friday night. The funeral was hold at 4 P.M., Sunday, Rev. D. Shenton preaching from Rev. 7th chapter, verse 9th. A very large audience attended to pay the last tribute of respect to this man, whose life as a citizen, husband and parent had been so blameless. The funeral was attended by the following relatives from a distance:
J. D. Burns and wife. Garden Grove. elderly brother of Mr. Burns; Maj.R. D. Kellogg and wife of Des Moines; Geo. Burns, wife and son Harry, of St. Charles; Dr. R. M. Johnston, wife and two daughters, of Cromwell, their sons Ed Johnston, of Stuart, and T. W. Johnston and wife of Chariton, J. W. Burns, of Lamoni and H. L. Burns, of St. Joseph. Missouri; Mrs. Ella Carrol and sister Mrs. Dr. Phillips, of Afton, Cbas. Beymer and wife and Alvin Beymer
of New Virginia and F. M. Roberts and wife, of Canon City, Colorado. Mr. Burns' daughter Alice, Mrs. Elmer Brown, of Oakland, California, was unable to be present at the funeral of her father. The others were all there.

gravestone photo at Findagrave
 

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