Burnight, John Nelson 1836-1906

BURNIGHT, HOPKINS

Posted By: Plymouth County Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/15/2003 at 20:27:11

LeMars Sentinel Jan 1, 1907
Vol XXXVII Page 3, col 2

John Nelson Burnight of Plymouth county died at his home in Portland township, four miles north west of Akron on Christmas. . .the effects of a paralytic stroke which he suffered about a week previously.

John Nelson Burnight was born in Indiana, June 29, 1836. He was a remarkable man in many respects. He was a giant in size and strength. He scarcely knew any limit for hard work and physical endurance in his younger days. Even at the time his affliction first came to him he could ??a heavier day’s work than most young men of the present tine. In January 1858, he married Miss Anna Hopkins at Cascade, Jones county, Iowa. From there they went to Delaware county, Iowa, residing there until 1884, when they came farther west and settled near Akron, which has been the family home. To his union were born thirteen children, seven of whom survive as follows:

Thos. L., John, Mrs. Geo. Schafer and Mrs Wm. Adams, of Akron: Mrs. James Trautt, of Chesterville, Ohio; James of Westfield and Patrick of Chatsworth, Iowa. His first wife died December 17, 1884. About a year afterword he married Miss Marcella Hopkins and to them have come six children-William, George, Charles, Lizzie, Joe and Henry-all of whom survive. Mr. Burnight was reared on a farm back in Indiana and was a farmer all his life. He was a man of pronounced habits of industry, provided well for and thought much of his large family. The large attendance at his funeral Thursday afternoon in St. Patrick’s Catholic church, Akron, showed the respect in which he was held by many acquaintances in that part of the county. Father D. K. Hurley said the Requiem High Mass at 10:20 in the forenoon. Interment was made in the Catholic cemetery. (in Akron)