Among the leading and representative citizens of Orion, Illinois, is J. Sanford Burns, who occupies a prominent position in Masonic circles. He was born in Clinton, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, November 25. 1851, and is the son of John M. and Esther ( Meanor ) Burns, both of whom were born in the same town, county and state as our subject, where they were married October 18, 1849. The latter was a daughter of Samuel S. Meanor, also a native of the Keystone state, who was born at Clinton, and in early life learned the cabinet maker's trade, which he followed for some time. He never left his native state, and died in Clinton, in 1875, At the age of seventy-five years. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian. The family were of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and strong in their religious views, which were of the Calvinistic order.
Robert Burns, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a farmer by occupation. He was a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of one of its pioneers. Religiously, he was a Presbyterian. John M. Burns, the father, was born September 9, 1826, and grew to manhood in his native state. After reaching mature years he engaged in farming in Allegheny county, at which occupation he continued until 1852, when he went to California by the Panama route, and spent about three years there in prospecting and mining, with fair success, returning home by the same route. In the fall of 1855 he came to Henry county. Illinois, and purchased a tract of two hundred and forty acres in Western township, on which the family located in the following spring. A thorough and skillful farmer, he met with marked success in his chosen vocation, and became the owner of five hundred and sixty-six acres of rich and arable land, all in one body. He continued to extensively engage in general farming and stockraising until 1886, when he laid aside business cares and removed to Orion, where his last years were spent in ease and quiet. Although he was one of the prominent and influential men of his community, he never cared for official honors, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business interests. He died in Orion, November 19, 1895, while his wife passed away May 7, 1894, the remains of both being interred in Western cemetery, where a substantial monument marks their last resting place. In their family were two children, J. Sanford being the only son. Mary J., the daughter, born September 17, 1855, married Dr. L. L. Long, September 26, 1883. They resided in Toulon, Illinois, where she died April 29, 1894, leaving three children, Bessie E., J. Forest and Lester E., while one child, Eva, died at the age of six months.
J. Sandford Burns was only four years of age when the family came to Henry county, and here he grew to manhood on the home farm, and received his primary education in the district schools of Western township. Later he attended Prairie Home Academy, a private school at Orion, and also took a course at a Davenport Commercial College. During his youth he gave his father the benefit of his labors, and continued to aid in the operation of the farm until the removal of his parents to Orion, when he took complete charge of the place, carrying on farming and stock raising most successfully for a number of years. He made a specialty of the breeding of red polled cattle and Shropshire sheep, and has some fine specimens of these animals upon the home farm. In the fall of 1894, after the death of his mother, he sold his farming interests and removed to Orion, where he has since lived a retired life.
On the 20th of February, 1884, Mr. Burns was married in Rural township, Rock Island county, Illinois, to Miss Belle Coffee, a native of Hancock county, Illinois, and a daughter of Thomas Elwood and Hannah (Wright) Coffee, who were born, reared and married in Belmont county, Ohio, the latter being a daughter of Benjamin Wright. Mrs. Burns was reared in Rock Island county, Illinois, where her family located in March, 1853. Her education was obtained in the district schools of Rock Island county, the Prairie Home Academy of Orion, and the Jacksonville Young Ladies' Atheneum, of Jacksonville, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Burns two children have been born-Clifford Coffee, born June 30, 1885, and Kenneth Meanor, August 28, 1889.
Thomas E. Coffee, the father of Mrs. Burns, was born January 14. 1823. and died September 5. 1898. Hannah (Wright) Coffee was born December 10, 1825. He was one of the prominent men of Rural township, Rock Island county, Illinois, and one of its most extensive farmers. He was a strong advocate of temperance, even in an early day becoming a member of the Sons of Temperance and keeping his pledge until his death. A broad, liberal and strong man, he was respected by all. His widow still lives on the farm, and is a worker in the temperance cause and equal suffrage. They were the parents of four children, of whom two sons died in infancy. The twin sister of Mrs. Burns, Ella, born in Hancock county, Illinois, January 17, 1853. still survives. She had the same educational advantages as Mrs. Burns, and was married December 31, 1879, to H. D. Nutting. They now reside in Emporia, Kansas.
In his political views, Mr. Burns is a stalwart Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes. He takes an active interest in the welfare of his party, and is an earnest ad-ocate of its principles. He formerly held membership in the Presbyterian Church, while his wife was identified with the Universalists, but both now attend the Methodist Episcopal Church of Orion. Fraternally he is a Knight Templar Mason and is very prominent in Masonic circles. He is a member of Sherman Lodge, No. 535, A. F. & A. M., of Orion; Barrett Chapter, No. 18. R. A. M.; and Everts Commandery, No. 18, K. T., of Rock Island, Illinois. He is now serving as deputy grand lecturer and district deputy grand master of the state of Illinois. He is a pleasant, genial gentleman of high social qualities, and is held in high regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout Henry and Rock Island counties, where he is especially widely known.
The Biographical Record of Henry County, Illinois
S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1901
Robert Burns, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a farmer by occupation. He was a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of one of its pioneers. Religiously, he was a Presbyterian. John M. Burns, the father, was born September 9, 1826, and grew to manhood in his native state. After reaching mature years he engaged in farming in Allegheny county, at which occupation he continued until 1852, when he went to California by the Panama route, and spent about three years there in prospecting and mining, with fair success, returning home by the same route. In the fall of 1855 he came to Henry county. Illinois, and purchased a tract of two hundred and forty acres in Western township, on which the family located in the following spring. A thorough and skillful farmer, he met with marked success in his chosen vocation, and became the owner of five hundred and sixty-six acres of rich and arable land, all in one body. He continued to extensively engage in general farming and stockraising until 1886, when he laid aside business cares and removed to Orion, where his last years were spent in ease and quiet. Although he was one of the prominent and influential men of his community, he never cared for official honors, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business interests. He died in Orion, November 19, 1895, while his wife passed away May 7, 1894, the remains of both being interred in Western cemetery, where a substantial monument marks their last resting place. In their family were two children, J. Sanford being the only son. Mary J., the daughter, born September 17, 1855, married Dr. L. L. Long, September 26, 1883. They resided in Toulon, Illinois, where she died April 29, 1894, leaving three children, Bessie E., J. Forest and Lester E., while one child, Eva, died at the age of six months.
J. Sandford Burns was only four years of age when the family came to Henry county, and here he grew to manhood on the home farm, and received his primary education in the district schools of Western township. Later he attended Prairie Home Academy, a private school at Orion, and also took a course at a Davenport Commercial College. During his youth he gave his father the benefit of his labors, and continued to aid in the operation of the farm until the removal of his parents to Orion, when he took complete charge of the place, carrying on farming and stock raising most successfully for a number of years. He made a specialty of the breeding of red polled cattle and Shropshire sheep, and has some fine specimens of these animals upon the home farm. In the fall of 1894, after the death of his mother, he sold his farming interests and removed to Orion, where he has since lived a retired life.
On the 20th of February, 1884, Mr. Burns was married in Rural township, Rock Island county, Illinois, to Miss Belle Coffee, a native of Hancock county, Illinois, and a daughter of Thomas Elwood and Hannah (Wright) Coffee, who were born, reared and married in Belmont county, Ohio, the latter being a daughter of Benjamin Wright. Mrs. Burns was reared in Rock Island county, Illinois, where her family located in March, 1853. Her education was obtained in the district schools of Rock Island county, the Prairie Home Academy of Orion, and the Jacksonville Young Ladies' Atheneum, of Jacksonville, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Burns two children have been born-Clifford Coffee, born June 30, 1885, and Kenneth Meanor, August 28, 1889.
Thomas E. Coffee, the father of Mrs. Burns, was born January 14. 1823. and died September 5. 1898. Hannah (Wright) Coffee was born December 10, 1825. He was one of the prominent men of Rural township, Rock Island county, Illinois, and one of its most extensive farmers. He was a strong advocate of temperance, even in an early day becoming a member of the Sons of Temperance and keeping his pledge until his death. A broad, liberal and strong man, he was respected by all. His widow still lives on the farm, and is a worker in the temperance cause and equal suffrage. They were the parents of four children, of whom two sons died in infancy. The twin sister of Mrs. Burns, Ella, born in Hancock county, Illinois, January 17, 1853. still survives. She had the same educational advantages as Mrs. Burns, and was married December 31, 1879, to H. D. Nutting. They now reside in Emporia, Kansas.
In his political views, Mr. Burns is a stalwart Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes. He takes an active interest in the welfare of his party, and is an earnest ad-ocate of its principles. He formerly held membership in the Presbyterian Church, while his wife was identified with the Universalists, but both now attend the Methodist Episcopal Church of Orion. Fraternally he is a Knight Templar Mason and is very prominent in Masonic circles. He is a member of Sherman Lodge, No. 535, A. F. & A. M., of Orion; Barrett Chapter, No. 18. R. A. M.; and Everts Commandery, No. 18, K. T., of Rock Island, Illinois. He is now serving as deputy grand lecturer and district deputy grand master of the state of Illinois. He is a pleasant, genial gentleman of high social qualities, and is held in high regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout Henry and Rock Island counties, where he is especially widely known.
The Biographical Record of Henry County, Illinois
S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1901
Among the leading and representative citizens of Orion, Illinois, is J. Sanford Burns, who occupies a prominent position in Masonic circles. He was born in Clinton, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, November 25. 1851, and is the son of John M. and Esther ( Meanor ) Burns, both of whom were born in the same town, county and state as our subject, where they were married October 18, 1849. The latter was a daughter of Samuel S. Meanor, also a native of the Keystone state, who was born at Clinton, and in early life learned the cabinet maker's trade, which he followed for some time. He never left his native state, and died in Clinton, in 1875, At the age of seventy-five years. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian. The family were of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and strong in their religious views, which were of the Calvinistic order.
Robert Burns, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a farmer by occupation. He was a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of one of its pioneers. Religiously, he was a Presbyterian. John M. Burns, the father, was born September 9, 1826, and grew to manhood in his native state. After reaching mature years he engaged in farming in Allegheny county, at which occupation he continued until 1852, when he went to California by the Panama route, and spent about three years there in prospecting and mining, with fair success, returning home by the same route. In the fall of 1855 he came to Henry county. Illinois, and purchased a tract of two hundred and forty acres in Western township, on which the family located in the following spring. A thorough and skillful farmer, he met with marked success in his chosen vocation, and became the owner of five hundred and sixty-six acres of rich and arable land, all in one body. He continued to extensively engage in general farming and stockraising until 1886, when he laid aside business cares and removed to Orion, where his last years were spent in ease and quiet. Although he was one of the prominent and influential men of his community, he never cared for official honors, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business interests. He died in Orion, November 19, 1895, while his wife passed away May 7, 1894, the remains of both being interred in Western cemetery, where a substantial monument marks their last resting place. In their family were two children, J. Sanford being the only son. Mary J., the daughter, born September 17, 1855, married Dr. L. L. Long, September 26, 1883. They resided in Toulon, Illinois, where she died April 29, 1894, leaving three children, Bessie E., J. Forest and Lester E., while one child, Eva, died at the age of six months.
J. Sandford Burns was only four years of age when the family came to Henry county, and here he grew to manhood on the home farm, and received his primary education in the district schools of Western township. Later he attended Prairie Home Academy, a private school at Orion, and also took a course at a Davenport Commercial College. During his youth he gave his father the benefit of his labors, and continued to aid in the operation of the farm until the removal of his parents to Orion, when he took complete charge of the place, carrying on farming and stock raising most successfully for a number of years. He made a specialty of the breeding of red polled cattle and Shropshire sheep, and has some fine specimens of these animals upon the home farm. In the fall of 1894, after the death of his mother, he sold his farming interests and removed to Orion, where he has since lived a retired life.
On the 20th of February, 1884, Mr. Burns was married in Rural township, Rock Island county, Illinois, to Miss Belle Coffee, a native of Hancock county, Illinois, and a daughter of Thomas Elwood and Hannah (Wright) Coffee, who were born, reared and married in Belmont county, Ohio, the latter being a daughter of Benjamin Wright. Mrs. Burns was reared in Rock Island county, Illinois, where her family located in March, 1853. Her education was obtained in the district schools of Rock Island county, the Prairie Home Academy of Orion, and the Jacksonville Young Ladies' Atheneum, of Jacksonville, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Burns two children have been born-Clifford Coffee, born June 30, 1885, and Kenneth Meanor, August 28, 1889.
Thomas E. Coffee, the father of Mrs. Burns, was born January 14. 1823. and died September 5. 1898. Hannah (Wright) Coffee was born December 10, 1825. He was one of the prominent men of Rural township, Rock Island county, Illinois, and one of its most extensive farmers. He was a strong advocate of temperance, even in an early day becoming a member of the Sons of Temperance and keeping his pledge until his death. A broad, liberal and strong man, he was respected by all. His widow still lives on the farm, and is a worker in the temperance cause and equal suffrage. They were the parents of four children, of whom two sons died in infancy. The twin sister of Mrs. Burns, Ella, born in Hancock county, Illinois, January 17, 1853. still survives. She had the same educational advantages as Mrs. Burns, and was married December 31, 1879, to H. D. Nutting. They now reside in Emporia, Kansas.
In his political views, Mr. Burns is a stalwart Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes. He takes an active interest in the welfare of his party, and is an earnest ad-ocate of its principles. He formerly held membership in the Presbyterian Church, while his wife was identified with the Universalists, but both now attend the Methodist Episcopal Church of Orion. Fraternally he is a Knight Templar Mason and is very prominent in Masonic circles. He is a member of Sherman Lodge, No. 535, A. F. & A. M., of Orion; Barrett Chapter, No. 18. R. A. M.; and Everts Commandery, No. 18, K. T., of Rock Island, Illinois. He is now serving as deputy grand lecturer and district deputy grand master of the state of Illinois. He is a pleasant, genial gentleman of high social qualities, and is held in high regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout Henry and Rock Island counties, where he is especially widely known.
The Biographical Record of Henry County, Illinois
S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1901
Robert Burns, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a farmer by occupation. He was a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of one of its pioneers. Religiously, he was a Presbyterian. John M. Burns, the father, was born September 9, 1826, and grew to manhood in his native state. After reaching mature years he engaged in farming in Allegheny county, at which occupation he continued until 1852, when he went to California by the Panama route, and spent about three years there in prospecting and mining, with fair success, returning home by the same route. In the fall of 1855 he came to Henry county. Illinois, and purchased a tract of two hundred and forty acres in Western township, on which the family located in the following spring. A thorough and skillful farmer, he met with marked success in his chosen vocation, and became the owner of five hundred and sixty-six acres of rich and arable land, all in one body. He continued to extensively engage in general farming and stockraising until 1886, when he laid aside business cares and removed to Orion, where his last years were spent in ease and quiet. Although he was one of the prominent and influential men of his community, he never cared for official honors, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business interests. He died in Orion, November 19, 1895, while his wife passed away May 7, 1894, the remains of both being interred in Western cemetery, where a substantial monument marks their last resting place. In their family were two children, J. Sanford being the only son. Mary J., the daughter, born September 17, 1855, married Dr. L. L. Long, September 26, 1883. They resided in Toulon, Illinois, where she died April 29, 1894, leaving three children, Bessie E., J. Forest and Lester E., while one child, Eva, died at the age of six months.
J. Sandford Burns was only four years of age when the family came to Henry county, and here he grew to manhood on the home farm, and received his primary education in the district schools of Western township. Later he attended Prairie Home Academy, a private school at Orion, and also took a course at a Davenport Commercial College. During his youth he gave his father the benefit of his labors, and continued to aid in the operation of the farm until the removal of his parents to Orion, when he took complete charge of the place, carrying on farming and stock raising most successfully for a number of years. He made a specialty of the breeding of red polled cattle and Shropshire sheep, and has some fine specimens of these animals upon the home farm. In the fall of 1894, after the death of his mother, he sold his farming interests and removed to Orion, where he has since lived a retired life.
On the 20th of February, 1884, Mr. Burns was married in Rural township, Rock Island county, Illinois, to Miss Belle Coffee, a native of Hancock county, Illinois, and a daughter of Thomas Elwood and Hannah (Wright) Coffee, who were born, reared and married in Belmont county, Ohio, the latter being a daughter of Benjamin Wright. Mrs. Burns was reared in Rock Island county, Illinois, where her family located in March, 1853. Her education was obtained in the district schools of Rock Island county, the Prairie Home Academy of Orion, and the Jacksonville Young Ladies' Atheneum, of Jacksonville, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Burns two children have been born-Clifford Coffee, born June 30, 1885, and Kenneth Meanor, August 28, 1889.
Thomas E. Coffee, the father of Mrs. Burns, was born January 14. 1823. and died September 5. 1898. Hannah (Wright) Coffee was born December 10, 1825. He was one of the prominent men of Rural township, Rock Island county, Illinois, and one of its most extensive farmers. He was a strong advocate of temperance, even in an early day becoming a member of the Sons of Temperance and keeping his pledge until his death. A broad, liberal and strong man, he was respected by all. His widow still lives on the farm, and is a worker in the temperance cause and equal suffrage. They were the parents of four children, of whom two sons died in infancy. The twin sister of Mrs. Burns, Ella, born in Hancock county, Illinois, January 17, 1853. still survives. She had the same educational advantages as Mrs. Burns, and was married December 31, 1879, to H. D. Nutting. They now reside in Emporia, Kansas.
In his political views, Mr. Burns is a stalwart Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes. He takes an active interest in the welfare of his party, and is an earnest ad-ocate of its principles. He formerly held membership in the Presbyterian Church, while his wife was identified with the Universalists, but both now attend the Methodist Episcopal Church of Orion. Fraternally he is a Knight Templar Mason and is very prominent in Masonic circles. He is a member of Sherman Lodge, No. 535, A. F. & A. M., of Orion; Barrett Chapter, No. 18. R. A. M.; and Everts Commandery, No. 18, K. T., of Rock Island, Illinois. He is now serving as deputy grand lecturer and district deputy grand master of the state of Illinois. He is a pleasant, genial gentleman of high social qualities, and is held in high regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout Henry and Rock Island counties, where he is especially widely known.
The Biographical Record of Henry County, Illinois
S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1901
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