Burns, Abner M.

BURNS, KINNEAR, SHANK

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/28/2019 at 08:01:34

Biography ~ Abner M. Burns
October 13, 1815 ~ June 19, 1893

"Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties Iowa"
Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1887.

ABNER M. BURNS, of Leon, is one of the early settlers of Decatur County, and also an early resident of the State of Iowa. He came to Davis County in 1849, and to Decatur County in the fall of 1853. He was born in a block house, on the site of the present city of Madison, in the State of Indiana, October 13, 1815. His father, JAMES BURNS, settled there several years previous. He was a native of Virginia, but removed to Ohio, thence to Indiana. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Tippecanoe, under General Harrison. He died in Madison, Indiana, at the age of ninety-three years. His wife died many years before her husband. ABNER BURNS was reared in Indiana, and married ELIZABETH KINNEAR, born also in Indiana. Upon coming to Davis County he entered land from the Government, which he improved, and built a log cabin and put out an orchard; but the hardships attending the clearing of a new farm were too severe for him, and his health failing, he decided to give up farming. He exchanged his farm for town property in Bloomfield, where he steeled, and a year later sold out and purchased a farm six miles south of that town, where he lived until he came to Decatur County. His farm is on section 31 an 32, his residence being on section 32, within the corporate limits of the city of Leon. He has a fine farm of 146 acres. His health has been precarious for many years, and he has taken several trips to the mountains hoping to receive benefit. Mr. and Mrs. BURNS were married July 14, 1836, and have lived together fifty years. They have had eleven children, seven of whom are living – THOMAS, living in Montana Territory; ROBERT, in Nebraska; ISAAC, in Pueblo, Colorado; CLAVIN, in Nebraska; ISABEL, at home; ADDIE, wife of B. M. SHANK, of Centerville, Iowa, and JOHN. The deceased are HENRY B., who served in the Fourth Iowa Infantry, and was wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge. After the war he engaged in the lumber trade at Des Moines. August 11, 1867, he drowned, while fishing in the Des Moines River. He was an expert swimmer, but it was supposed that cramp ensued, owing to his wounded arm. He was twenty-five years of age. EMMA died at the age of seventeen years. The other children died in infancy. ISSAC served in the Second Colorado Battery during the war. He was wounded at the battle of Blue River. Mr. and Mrs. BURNS are now in fair health, and are members of the Baptist church, at Leon. In early life he was a Wig, but has been a Republican since the party was organized.

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)