Family of James Love Burns

**Great maternal Grandparents of Eula Claudine Reed

James Love Burns:**

Parents: Miles Burns & Susan Biffle
Born: October 11, 1829 (Tennessee)
Died: November 11, 1888 (Hopkins County, Texas)
Buried: Stout Creek Cemetery (Hopkins County, Texas)

Rachel E. Miller (spouse):**

Parents: James M. Miller & Sarah Brownlee
Born: March 31, 1835 (Coweta County, Georgia)
Married: October 26, 1853 (Tippah County, Mississippi)
Died: July 17, 1907 (Indian Territory/Garvin County, Oklahoma)
Buried: Purdy Cemetery (Garvin County, Oklahoma)

Children:

William “Billy” A. Burns** (Born: 3/20/1855);
Parathenia “Thenia” A/E. Burns (Born: 7/2/1857);
Susan Rosalie Burns (Born: 3/16/1859);
Henrie Effie Burns (Born: 4/6/1862);
Joel S. Burns (Born: 12/20/1866);
Earlie B. Burns (Born 1/1870);
Rachel Ophelia “Ophie” Burns (Born: 3/20/1874);
Brooks Burns ? (Born/Died: 1/27/1877).

Genealogical Sketch:

James Love Burns was orphaned days after his sixth birthday when his father died. His mother had tragically died only a a few months earlier. Consequently, James Love Burns appears to have been raised by relatives, likely including his Uncle John Burns.

According to the 1850 Federal Census, the 20 year-old Love Burns was living in the household (#182) of his brother-in-law Daniel Griffin of District 2 in Tippah County, Mississippi. Born in Tennessee, Love Burns was listed as both a farmer and a student (Daniel Griffin had previously been a teacher in neighboring McNairy County, Tennessee). Born in Tennessee, the 38 year-old Daniel Griffin was a farmer living with his 23 year-old second wife Manervy Ann Griffin, his 9 year-old daughter Mary H. Griffin (James Love Burns’ niece), his 8 year-old daughter T. Jane Griffin (James Love Burns’ niece), his 3 year-old son Ira T. Griffin, and his one year-old son William Griffin. Manervy Ann Griffin was born in Tennessee; and all the children were born in Mississippi.

Living in household #1187 of neighboring Hardeman County (Tennessee) was the 40 year-old Miles Burnes (James Love Burns’ brother Nathan Miles Burns?). Born in Tennessee, Miles Burnes was a farmer living with his 30 year-old wife Mary Burnes, his 8 year-old daughter Elizabeth Burnes, his 6 year-old daughter Manerry Burnes, his 4 year-old son Henry Burnes, his 3 year-old daughter Mary Burnes, and his five month-old son William Burnes (all born in Tennessee). Living with Miles Burnes family was a 25 year-old laborer named E. McBride, his 18 year-old wife Elizabeth McBride, and 37 year-old Sarah Cale. E. McBride was born in Mississippi; and Elizabeth McBride and Sarah Cale were both born in Tennessee;
Living in nearby Pontotoc County (Mississippi) was James Love Burns’ 38 year-old brother-in-law Shadrack S. Tyre. Born in North Carolina, Shadrack S. Tyre was a merchant living with the 19 year-old Mary Tyre (wife ?), his 14 year-old daughter Susan Tyre (James Love Burns’ niece), and his 12 year-old son William Tyre (James Love Burns’ nephew);
Living north of the Yalloshuba river in nearby Yalobusha County (Mississippi) was the 21 year-old James L. Burns (James Love Burns ?). Born in Tennessee, James L. Burns was a laborer living in the household (#111) of the 32 year-old S. L. Burns (Samuel Lafayette Burns, son of James Love Burns’ Uncle John Burns). Born in Tennessee, S. L. Burns was a farmer (planter) living with his 26 year-old wife Mary Burns, his 3 year-old son William Burns, and his one year-old son John Burns. Mary Burns was born in North Carolina, and both of his sons were born in Mississippi;
Living nearby was the aunt of James Love Burns, Annis Burns and her family. A planter born in North Carolina, the 68 year-old Annis Burns was living with her 23 year-old son John Burns, her 21 year-old son William Burns, Williams Burns’ 22 year-old wife Jame, and Williams Burns’ two year-old son Daniel Burns and his 9 month old son Monroe Burns. John Burns was born in Tennessee. William Burns was a planter born in Tennessee. Jame Burns was born in Tennessee and both children were born in Mississippi.

According to family records, James L. Burns and R. E. Miller were married on October 26, 1853, at the home of James Miller by Joseph E. Wells in Tippah County, Mississippi. The marriage was witnessed by W. Magill and R.E. Palssier. James L. Burns and R. E. Miller were both living in Tippah County at the time of their marriage.

According to the 1860 Federal Census, the 30 year-old James L. Burns was a community school teacher living in household #597 in the Southern Subdivision of Tippah County (Cotton Plant Post Office), Mississippi. Born in Tennessee, James L. Burns was living with his 24 year-old wife Rachael E. Burns, his 4 year-old son William Burns, his two year-old daughter Parthena Burns, and his 8 month-old daughter Rosalee Burns. Rachael E. Burns was born in South Carolina, and all the children were born in Mississippi. The unincorporated rural community of Cotton Plant was located about 11 miles south of Ripley (Mississippi) and about 8½ miles north of New Albany (Mississippi).

Living in the preceding household (#596) was Rachel E. Burns’ 33 year-old sister Elisabeth R. Drummond. Born in Georgia, Elisabeth R. Drummond was living with her 50 year-old husband Newman Drummond, her 15 year-old daughter Laura Drummond, her 12 year-old daughter Mary Drummond, her 9 year-old daughter Florence Drummond, her 7 year-old son William Drummond, her 4 year-old son James Drummond, and her two year-old son John W.P. Drummond. Newman Drummond was a farmer born in South Carolina; and all the children were born in Mississippi.

Neither James Love Burns or Rachel Burns were listed in a 1866 Mississippi state census, indicating they had migrated with family members to Arkansas prior to settling in Texas.

After the 1860 Federal Census, (Mississippi) James Love Burns and his wife Rachael moved their young family to neighboring Arkansas where their daughter Henrie Effie Burns was born on April 6, 1862. Although it is not known where in Arkansas the family moved, they may have followed James Love Burns brother-in-law Daniel Griffin who had recently moved his family from Ripley (Mississippi) 340 miles west to Ozan Township in Hempstead County, Arkansas. Sometime after their son Joel S. Burns was born (December 20, 1866), James Love Burns and his wife Rachel moved further west before settling near the town of Mount Pleasant in Titus County (Texas) which was about 100 miles west of Ozan (Arkansas) and over 420 miles west of Cotton Plant (Mississippi).

Although it is unclear if James Love Burns fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War, Arkansas passed the Confederate Conscription Act of 1862 requiring all able-bodied white me between the ages of 18-35 to enlist. Since he would not be 35 until 1864, it is likely James Love Burns would have been required to enlist and fight for the confederacy unless he was given an exemption from service for working as a teacher. Yet, to date no record of James Love Burns serving in the Civil War has been identified.

According to the 1870 Federal Census, the 40 year-old James Barnes (Burns) was a farmer living in household #986 of Titus County (Mount Pleasant Post Office), Texas. Born in Tennessee, James Barnes was living with his 32 year-old wife Rachael E. Barnes, his 14 year-old son William A. Barnes, his 12 year-old daughter Ann P. Barnes, his 10 year-old daughter Susan R. Barnes, his 8 year-old daughter Effie Barnes, and his 3 year-old son Joel S. Barnes. Rachael E. Barnes was born in Georgia; William A. Barnes, Ann P. Barnes, and Susan R. Barnes were born in Mississippi; and both Effie Barnes and Joel S. Barnes were born in Arkansas. Living with the family was Rachael E. Barnes’ 30 year-old brother William H. Miller, a farmer born in Georgia.

Living close by in household #990 was the 43 year-old John W. Burns (James Love Burns’ older brother?). Born in Mississippi, John W. Burns was a farmer living with the 30 year-old Mary Stephens, her 4 year-old son John Stephens, and 16 year-old Lewis Bradford. Illiterate, Mary Stephens was keeping house and was born in Kentucky; and her son John Stephens was born in Texas. Likely a freed slave, Lewis Bradford was an illiterate black male born in Texas.

On September 5, 1876, a marriage license was issued for Thomas J. Burkham and Susan R. Burns in Franklin County, Texas. The following day (September 6), James Love Burns’ daughter Susan R. Burns was married to Thomas J. Burkham by Reverend S. H. Brooks in Franklin County, Texas.[1]
On May 22, 1878, James Love Burns’ son William A. Burns married Paralee Arabel Hart in Hopkins County, Texas.[2]

Copy of a portrait of James Love Burns’ son William A. Burns and his first wife Paralee Airbell Hart that is believed to have been taken sometime between 1880 and 1885. Given to her by her Aunt Opal Mooney, the copy of the portrait was provided by Phyllis Carpenter with the original given to her son.

According to the 1880 Federal Census, the 50 year-old J. Love Burns was a farmer living in household #107 of Precinct 1 in Franklin County, Texas. Born in Tennessee, J. Love Burns was living with his 46 year-old wife Rachel E. Burns, his 20 year-old daughter Parathenia A. Burns, his 13 year-old daughter Effie Burns, his 11 year-old son Joel S. Burns, his 9 year-old daughter Earl Burns, and his 7 year-old daughter Ofelia Burns. Rachel E. Burns was born in Georgia and both her parents were born in South Carolina, as were both parents of J. Love Burns. Parathenia A. Burns was born in Mississippi; both Effie Burns and Joel S. Burns were born in Arkansas; and both Earl (Earlie) Burns and Ofelia Burns were born in Texas. Interestingly, 20 year-old Parathenia A. Burns’ occupation was listed as “At Home” with both 13 year-old daughter Effie Burns and 11 year-old son Joel S. Burns were listed as laborers that also attended school.

Living in the next household (#108) was James Love Burns’ 23 year-old son William A. Burns. Born in Mississippi, William A. Burns was a laborer living with his wife Arbelle Burns (born in Texas). Arbelle Burns’ mother was born in Missouri and the place of birth for her father was left blank.

James L. Burns bought land in Hopkins County just over the county line from Franklin County (need documentation).
On January 16, 1884, Rachel Burns’ daughter P. A. Burns married W. D. Hart in Franklin County, Texas.[3]
On November 27, 1889, Rachel E. Burns’ daughter Henrie Effie Burns is reported to have married C. W. Word. At the age of 31 (10 months & 12 days), Effie Word (wife of C. W. Word) died after falling ill for several weeks in February 1894[4] and was buried in the Tidwell Cemetery (Stephens County, Oklahoma) where she shares a headstone with her niece Urslie A. Burkham (daughter of Thomas J. Burkam & Susan R. Burns).

Photos of the headstone for Effie Word, wife of C. W. Word. The 2010 photo on the left was provided by Salina Thomas; and the 2009 photo on the right was provided by Tina Collins (findagrave.com).

On June 9, 1897, Rachel E. Burns’ 26 year-old daughter Earlie E. Burns was married to 34 year-old R. B. Henson by Reverend Thomas H. ? in the Southern District of the Indian Territory (present-day Carter County, Oklahoma). Both Earlie E. Burns and R. B. Henson were living in Purdy (present-day Oklahoma) at the time on their marriage.[5]
On December 8, 1897, Rachel E. Burns’ 23 year-old daughter Ophelia Burns was married to the 26 year-old J. W. Cypert by Reverend B. B. Brown in the Southern District of the Indian Territory (present-day Carter County, Oklahoma). Both Ophelia Burns and J. W. Cypert were living in Purdy (present-day Oklahoma) at the time of their marriage.[6]
On December 29, 1897, Rachel E. Burns’ 30 year-old J. S. Burns married 17 year-old Ida Inge (Ince) in the Southern District of the Indian Territory (present-day Carter County, Oklahoma). Both J. S. Burns as Ida Inge were living in Purdy (present-day Oklahoma) at the time on their marriage.[7]

It is unclear when Rachel Burns and some of her children went to Indian Territory, but it is believed that they may have participated in the Oklahoma Land Rush.

According to the 1900 Federal Census, the 65 year-old Rachel Burnes was living in the household (#223) owned by her daughter in the town of Purdy in the Chickasaw Nation of the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). Born in Mississippi (February 1857), the 43 year-old Partenia Lyon was a farmer living with her 14 year-old daughter Ettia Hart, her 4 year-old daughter Dessie Lyon, and her mother Rachel Burnes. Her daughter Ettia Hart was born in Texas, her daughter Dessie Lyon was born in the Indian Territory (Oklahoma), and her mother Rachel Burnes was born in March 1835 in Georgia. Curiously, Partenia Lyon’s father was listed as having been born in Georgia and her mother was listed as having been born in Tennessee (not Georgia). Ettia Hart’s father was born in Mississippi as was her mother; Dessie Lyon’s father was born in Texas, and her mother was born in Mississippi; both of Rachel Burnes’ parents were born in South Carolina.

Living close by in household #234 was Rachel E. Burns’ 30 year-old daughter Early B. Henson. Born in Texas, Early B. Henson was living with her 37 year-old husband Robert B. Henson, her 11 year-old daughter Lillie L. Henson, her 10 year-old son Henry H. Henson, her 7 year-old son Robert A. Henson, her 5 year-old son Albert Henson, and her two month old son Clyde Henson. Robert B. Henson was a farmer born in Alabama, and had been married to his wife for 15 years. Lillie L. Henson was born in Texas, and the younger children were all born in the Indian Territory.

Portrait of Rachel E. Burns provided by Phyllis Carpenter.

Gravestones:

James Love Burns and his daughter, Susan Rosalie Burkham, are buried together in the Stout Creek Cemetery in Hopkins County, Texas. Hidden away from the highway, this old old rural cemetery is well maintained and located almost ¾ of a mile west of the unincorporated community of Saltillo off of Highway 67 in eastern Hopkins County, Texas.

Photo of the gravestone of James Love Burns provided by Nancy Jane Faulk White Adams (findagrave.com).

Photo of the gravestone of James Love Burns daughter, Susan Rosalie Burkham, provided by Jaye Willson (findagrave).

Rachel E. Burns is buried in the small rural Purdy Cemetery in western Garvin County, Oklahoma. A little over 8 miles south of the town of Lindsay (Oklahoma), the Purdy Cemetery is about all that remains of the small rural town of Purdy that ceased to exist as of 1953. Other family members buried in the Purdy Cemetery include her daughter Parthenia A. Lyon (1855-1928), her daughter-in-law Paralee Airbell Burns (1862-1899), along with her granddaughter Etta Allison (1884-1939) and her husband Eugene B. Allison (1877-1961).

[1] Franklin County (Texas) Marriage License for Thomas J. Burkham and Susan R. Burns dated September 5, 1876.

[2] Hopkins County (Texas) Marriage Record, Page 310 (Texas County Marriage Index 1837-1977); Texas Select County Marriage Index (1837-1965).

[3] Franklin County (Texas) Marriage License for W. D. Hart and P. A. Burns dated January 16, 1884.

[4] “Died this morning after an illness of several weeks Mrs. Word” published on page 3 of the “Rush Springs Gazette” (Rush Springs, Oklahoma) on February 17, 1894.

[5] Indian Territory (Carter County, Oklahoma) Marriage Record for R. B. Henson and Earlie E. Burns dated June 9, 1897.

[6] Copy of Marriage Record for J. W. Cypert and Ophelia Burns dated December 8, 1897 (Carter County [Oklahoma] 1893-1944, Page 224).

[7] Indian Territory (Carter County, Oklahoma) Marriage Record for J. S. Burns and Ida Inge dated December 29, 1897.