Burns, John d.

BURNS

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/28/2019 at 08:03:36

BIOGRAPHY ~ JOHN D.
Garden Grove, Decatur County, Iowa
Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties Iowa
(Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. (1887.)):

"JOHN D. BURNS has been a resident of Garden Grove since 1855, coming here directly from his native State, Ohio. He is now sixty-nine years of age. Early in life he engaged in the mercantile business, which occupation he followed several years after coming to this county. He was at one time a resident of Michigan, where he was honored with two important gubernatorial appointments, and although unsought by him, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention to revise the constitution of the State, and so popular was he in the county where he resided, that he was not only elected by a handsome majority, but polled a heavy vote ahead of his ticket. Since leaving mercantile life “Uncle John” has been engaged in farming and in raising and dealing in stock, and has laid up a sufficient competence to not only sustain him and his good wife the remainder of their days, but will have something left for his children. When Garden Grove became incorporated two years ago Mr. BURNS was elected mayor by his townsmen, which position he still holds. He has always been among the first to engage in any enterprise that had for its object the good of the public, or to aid worthy subjects of charity, always ready to do even more than his share. He is the present postmaster of Garden Grove. "

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