Frank Bentley Burns

BURNS KELLOGG HAWKINS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/19/2010 at 21:06:30

Woodbury County History 1984

Frank and Effie (Hawkins) Burns
By Florence Burns Arnold

Frank Bentley Burns, son of Lemuel and Harriet Kellogg Burns, was born in Hesper, Minnesota, on October 7, 1861. Frank was the oldest in their family of eight children. Frank, with his parents, came to Woodbury County, in 1871. He was four years of age. The family settled on a farm about five miles north of Hornick, Iowa. This farm was closer to the smaller town of Holly Springs. Other family members were Ralph C; George F; ‘Mont’ Don D; W B ‘Budd’; Paul E; and two sisters: Gussie E and Edith M.

Frank’s early schooling was obtained in the rural school near his home. His adult education, preparatory to teaching was in attending Highland Park College in Des Moines, Iowa. He taught in rural schools in Woodbury County and Belden, Nebraska, for three years. He later managed a store in Wyoming before deciding to return to Woodbury County to become a farmer. While attending college in Highland Park, Frank met Effie Maude Hawkins, a student, whose home was at Fonda, Iowa.

Effie Maude Hawkins was the daughter of Joseph and Eliza Mercer Hawkins, formerly from Cascade, Iowa. Her parents were engaged in farming and had recently moved to Fonda, Iowa. Maude was born at Cascade, Iowa, in 1875. She had three sisters: Ada, Myrtle, and Marie. An adopted brother, Roy, completed their family unit. Effie M or Maude as she was later called, was a graduate of the Fonda High School and the Normal Teachers Training Department of Highland Park College. She taught for several years in the Pocahontas County Schools and was an instructor in the English Department of the Fonda High School.

Frank and Maude were married at Fonda, Iowa, on October 12, 1898. Following their marriage they came to Woodbury County where they farmed in the Holly Springs community. Their last farm, where they lived for forty years, was located four and one-half miles north of Hornick, Iowa. There, they celebrated their fiftieth Wedding Anniversary in October, 1948.

Maude was an active member of the Methodist Church in Holly Springs. She served as president of the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society for twenty-five years and was director of musical activities and Sunday School teacher for the same amount of time. Having studied both piano and violin prior to their marriage, she, for some years after their marriage gave lessons on both instruments in their home.

Frank attended the Methodist Church. He was always interested in Community Betterment. For thirty years he was Willow Township Clerk. He served for several years as a member of the Holly Springs Consolidated School Board. He served as County Supervisor from 1931-1934. Frank had been active in the establishment of the Farmers Elevator in Hornick. At the time of his death in April, 1952, he was a Republican township committeeman and had gone to Des Moines to attend the GOP Convention. He became ill while there, but returned home and passed away that evening, April 3, 1952, having reached the age of eighty-four years.

Maude continued to live on the family farm until in August, 1952, when she moved to Lake Park, Iowa, to establish her home. She passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C E Arnold on September 2, 1954, having reached the age of seventy-nine years.

Four children were born to Frank and Maude. They were: Cecil J Burns, born on July 4, 1899; Carroll L, born December 12, 1900; Florence, born April 13, 1903; and Maude, born June 16, 1905. Cecil J attended Holly Springs High School and Hornick High School. He graduated from Morningside College and received a B.A. Degree and alter M.A. Degree at the University of Iowa in 1932. He served first as a principal and then as superintendent of the Hornick System for more than twenty years. Cecil coached many successful basketball teams form 1924-1944. Cecil was a member of the Hornick United Methodist Church and served in various offices of the same for many years. After having decided to change occupations he purchased the family farm. ‘C J’, as he was often called, married Blanche Strom of Sioux City on the June 24, 1926. They had one daughter, Beatrice ‘Babs’, who lives with her family in Columbus, Missouri. Cecil passed away on January 22, 1977.

The second son, Carroll L, attended and graduated from Morningside College and was an instructor and athletic coach in the Early, Iowa, school system. After several years of teaching he decided to following a farming career and moved back to Hornick, Iowa. He married Esther Montgomery of Meriden, Iowa, on June 26, 1929. After several years, they purchased a farm in Lake Park, Iowa, area. They are the parents of two children: Carolyn J Grimes of Detroit, Michigan, and Robert J of Charlotte, North Carolina. Carroll passed away October 26, 1969.

The third child of Frank and Maude Burns was a daughter, Florence. She graduated form Holly Springs High School in 1921. Florence attended Morningside College and completed the Public School Music Course in 1925. Additional music training was received at Bush Conservatory in Chicago, Illinois and at the University of Iowa. She taught music for a total of nine years in Sloan, and Lake Park, Iowa. On June 26, 1934, she and Clayton E Arnold of Lake Park were united in marriage. Their children are: Clayton E, who passed away September 22, 1935; and daughters, Jane, Jeanine and Jennifer. All three daughters are married and with their families live in the Lake Park area. A step-daughter, June M, lives in Fullerton, California. Clayton passed away December 31, 1981.

The fourth child, Maude, graduated from Holly Springs High School in 1923. She alter attended Morningside College and Chicago University. She was an elementary teacher for ten years, teaching in Holly Springs, Sergeant Bluff, Union Consolidated, and Pierson, Iowa. On June 24, 1936, she was married to Oscar Foss of Pierson. They resided in Lake Park, Iowa. Their children are: Janet, who with her family lives in Milford, Iowa; and Douglas B and family who live in Everly, Iowa. Oscar passed away in January of 1974 and Maude passed away January 20, 1983.