The following biography was Submitted by Elizabeth
Burns of Phoenix, AZ for inclusion at the Genealogy
in Washington Co., PA web site in August 1997.
Alexander Burns was born May 13, 1814 in Ohio County, West Virginia
near West Liberty. He was the son of Garrett and Rebecca Beck Byrnes (l1/14/1788-11/23/1821).
Rebecca was the daughter of Captain John Beck (1746-1816), a veteran of
the Revolutionary War and Rebeccah Miller Beck (1762-1853). They settled
in Ohio County WV in 1777, emigrating from Kent County Maryland.
Alexander was married November 8, 1836 to Elizabeth Cotton (1820-1891),
daughter of Dr. Henry Cotton of West Middleton, Pa. Alexander was a tailor
by trade and also served as a Justice of the Peace in 1840 in West Middleton.
Both he and his wife are buried in the Grove United Presbyterian Cemetery
there.
Children:
Henry Cotton July 27, 1837-June 14, 1915 m. Eliza Jane Wilson
William Fletcher Nov. 24, 1838-Oct. 31, 1902 m. Lora A. Ross
Rebecca Margaret Aug. 1, 1841-Feb. 26, 1926 m. William T. Ackison
Sarah Louisa Dec 4, 1843-Feb 24, 1919 Never Married
Virginia Ellen April 28, 1845-Feb 18, 1941 m. John Smith
Laura Corene Jan 5, 1847-July 21, 1922 Never Married
Alexander Clarkson Nov 28, 1848-Feb 2, 1907 m. Diana Templeton
Horace Roscoe Nov 28, 1850-Aug 23, 1912 m. Anna M. Wells
Gilbert Camaro Jan 31, 1853-July 29, 1946 m. Laura B. Lynch
Orin Ebert Jan 31,1853-April 30, 1940 Never Married
Decima Camilla Sept 4, 1856-Dec 12, 1942 M. James M. Templeton
Frank Clarence May 6, 1861-Dec 24, 1925 Never Married
Henry Burns: the eldest of the family was born in West Middleton and lived
there a number of years. In June 1866 he married Eliza Jane Wilson, died
July 30, 1898, a native of Manchester, Adams Co., Ohio and sometime later
bought a farm near Claysville. He and his wife had six children: Willard
James, Alice Mary, Frank E., Elizabeth Irene, Charles L. and Edgar Reed
Burns.
William: Was a painter by trade and was killed by falling from a building.
In April 1870 he married Lora A. Ross who died November 22, 1872. They
had two children: Craig Ross (1/23/1871-12/1/1947) and William Ross Burns
(11/12/1872-4/7/1875).
Rebecca: Married William T. Ackison in September 1870, he died in December
1883. They had two children-a son Carl and a daughter, Ora who married
Dr. John Smith, a physician in Charleroi, Pa.
Sarah: Was a tailoress by trade and spent her entire life in West Middleton.
Lived with her Aunt Sarah Cotton and is buried in the United Grove Presbyterian
cemetery there.
Virginia: Educated at Pleasant Hill Seminary near West Middleton. In
November 1865 she married John Smith and moved to their farm near Buffalo
Creek where she reared a family of seven children. They later lived at
Wylandville, Pa.
Laura: Lived in her father's old home in West Middleton and is buried
in the cemetery there.
Alexander: While quite a youth he took the state examination and was
granted a lifetime teaching certificate after which he taught for four
years in the public schools of GoodIntent, Washington Co. Pennsylvania
and later taught one year in Pleasant Hill Female Seminary. In the fall
of 1875 he entered the Department of Medicine, University of Michigan at
Ann Arbor, graduating in 1877. Soon after his graduation he located at
Getaway, Lawrence County, Ohio practicing medicine there for sixteen years,
moving to Huntington, West Virginia in 1893. In Dec 1878 he married Diana
Templeton. They had four children: James, Orin, Adrienne and Anice. Both
Dr. Burns and his wife are buried in Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington,
WV.
Horace: Was a carpenter and a contractor and lived for many years in
West Middleton and later Washington, Pa. He married Anna M. Wells in February
1875. They had three daughters: Ollie, Elisha and Stella. Two of these
daughters went to Egypt as missionaries.
Gilbert: lived in Chicago, Illinois and conducted a retail shoe store.
He was married to Laura B. Lynch in February 1887 and had 3 children.
Orin: twin brother of Gilbert lived in Helena, Montana. He was a cabinet
maker specializing in the making of violins. He never married. He died
in Chesapeake, Lawrence Co. Ohio and is buried in Spring Hill Cemetery,
Huntington, WV.
Decema: was an accomplished pianist and taught music. In September 1889
she married James M. Templeton. They lived in Getaway, Lawrence Co. Ohio
and had one daughter, Janet. She and her husband are buried in the cemetery
at Getaway, Ohio.
Frank: was an architect by profession. He lived in Bellingham Washington.