My Genealogy Hound

JOHN SYLVESTER BURNS, farmer, post office Clinton, was born in the house where he now resides, Feb. 22, 1847, a son of John and Margaret (Stewart) Burns, natives of Findlay township, and members of the Hopewell Presbyterian Church. They had three children: Samuel S., Mary J. (who married William Hood, and, after his death, William Marshall) and John S. The latter received his education in the township schools and at Linnaean Academy, Clinton, and married, Feb. 23, 1869, Anna M. Guy, who was born in Moon township, a daughter of William H. and Mary J. (Duncan) Guy. Mr. and Mrs. Burns have had three children, only one of whom survives: Maude L., born Jan. 14, 1872. The parents are members of the Valley Presbyterian Church. Mr. Burns’ paternal grandparents were John and Jane (Crooks) Burns, early settlers of Findlay township. His maternal grandparents were Samuel and Jane Stewart, old settlers of same township. Mr. Burns is possessed of considerable literary ability, and has received valuable prizes for his contributions written in competition with others for the National Stockman and Farmer. Among the prizes received by him were a Shorthorn bull, a Poland-China pig and a gold-mounted ivory buggy whip. Mr. Burns owns a good farm of 120 acres, and raises grain and fine stock. His grandfather, John Burns, was a relative of the poet Robert Burns.