REV.
GEORGE W. BURNS, deceased, was late a prominent member of the Central Illinois
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died while in attendance at
this conference, of malarial fever, at Kewanee, Oct. 14, 1884. He was born in Wheeling,
W. Va., June 2, 1835, being the second child and eldest son of Rev. John Burns,
a prominent minister of the same church, belonging to the Muskingum Conference.
John Burns was the son of a Scotch gentleman whom it is supposed was a native
of Ayrshire, where he was reared and received a fine education. He came to the
United States when a young man, and followed the vocation of a teacher in
Virginia and Ohio. He was a man of influence and greatly respected wherever
known. His son, John Burns, inherited much of his father's talent, and during
the early days was appointed General Superintendent of the Methodist Protestant
Church in the United States, and also served as President of the Conference for
many years. He labored in the ministry during a period of fifty years,
preaching in the States of Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania. He was celebrated
for his clear and logical reasoning powers, and was considered one of the first
pulpit orators of his day. He was a close student, an extensive reader, and distinguished
himself by that unobtrusive and modest bearing which rendered him an object of
respect and affection wherever known.
George W.
Burns, following in the footsteps of his honored father, became in early life a
hard student, and entered upon his ministerial duties when twenty-two years of
age, being licensed in Steubenville, Ohio. He entered upon his first charge at
Brownsville, that State, in 1857, when twenty-three years of age, being then a
member of the Methodist Protestant Church, with which he remained connected for
the following sixteen years. After with-drawing
from this he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and thereafter, during
the remainder of his life, devoted his time and attention to the cause of
religion, in the ministry. His education was begun in Steubenville, Ohio,
whence later he went to Uniontown, Pa., and took a classical course in the
college there, from which he graduated after three years. Becoming also
desirous of gaining an insight into the methods of general business
transactions, he took a thorough course in Duff's Business College at
Pittsburgh, Pa., which proved of great advantage to him in his supervision of
the finances of the churches over which he afterward had charge.
Rev.
George W. Burns was united in marriage with Miss Emma H. Mouser, Sept. 2, 1863.
Mrs. B. was born in Marion, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1840, being the daughter of Isaac
and Anna (Strawbridge) Mouser, natives respectively of Virginia and
Pennsylvania. They became residents of Ohio in early youth, and were married in
Marion, that State, in February, 1835. There they located, and the father
became one of the most successful cattle dealers of that section. He died there
upon the homestead which he had established in 1864. Later the mother removed
to Shelbyville, Ill., where she departed this life in 1874. Mrs. Burns, after a
course in the High School of Marion, completed her education in the Wesleyan
University at Delaware, Ohio. After her marriage with Mr. Burns they located at
Ridgeville, Md., whence they removed to Liverpool, Ohio, where, in addition to
his ministerial labors, Mr. B. became Superintendent of the public schools, and
where he labored with such persistence and faithfulness that his health was
seriously impaired. He was connected with the Methodist Protestant Church for
some time after coming to Illinois, but was admitted to the Central Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1873, at Galesburg. His first appointment
was at Gilman, Ill., where after two years he was removed to Carthage Circuit,
and afterward was engaged for some time in different parts of Illinois.
Finally, in 1883, he was assigned to Chenoa, but in the meantime made his home
in Bloomington, where his death occurred. Although cut down in the prime of
life the result of his good works and his influence will be apparent for many
years to come. His earnest and devoted life secured him the affection and
confidence of a large circle of friends and acquaintances, by whom his name
will ever be cherished in tender remembrance. He left a widow with a family of
five children: Anna E. completed her education at Wesleyan University, and is
now a teacher in the Second Ward of Bloomington; John W. operates the farm of
his mother, which consists of 160 acres of good land, in Padua Township. He
also has received a good education, which was completed at Wesleyan University,
of which Carrie E. was also a student, and is now a teacher in the public
schools of Padua; George P., living at home, is pursuing his studies in the
High School of Bloomington, and Katie W., the youngest, attends the public
schools. The home of Mrs. Burns in Bloomington is pleasantly located at No.
1404 North Main street, where she has a good residence, which is the resort of
the cultured people of the city. Mr. Burns was a strong anti-slavery man, and
was greatly interested in the success of the temperance movement, arraying
himself on the side of the Prohibition party.
Portrait and biographical album of McLean County,
Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent
and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and
biographies of all the governors of Illinois, and of the presidents of the
United States. (Chicago:
Chapman Brothers, 1887), 276. Transcribed
by Judy Rosella Edwards. Please link to
this page if you find it useful – and drop us a note if you do!
