Mr. Burrows was born in New York City, May 8, 1814. His parents were David and Ann (Mulford) Burrows, natives of Elizabethtown, New Jersey. The ancestors on both sides immigrated from England and settled in New Jersey, where many of their descend ants are still living. At the age of fourteen John removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, with his parents, where he received his primary education. He was sent to Lane Seminary at the age of seventeen years to prepare for the ministry, but after remaining in that institution two years he became convinced that he lacked fitness for that profession. He then learned the trade of wood turner, and followed it until 1838. In the spring of 1839 he, in company with John Owens, William S. Collins and a Mr. Ganet, came to Scott County and settled in Davenport, making the trip in a one-horse buggy. Filing a claim on public land he engaged in farming after the pioneer fashion, and also became one of the pioneer merchants of the embryonic city. At a later date he was largely engaged in milling enterprises and in the general grain trade. He continued to reside in Davenport to the end of his life, and was held in high esteem. An important work of his later life was the compila tion of a pioneer history of Davenport, which has found a place in the libraries of most of the early settlers and their descendants. The wife of Mr. Burrows, who died in 1876, was Miss Sarah Muhr Gamoye of Cincinnati, Ohio, before her marriage.
BIOGRAPHIES