Legislator Details
Portrait of James Burns scanned from Rep.Dist. 1 page following p.24.
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
Married Aurilla A. Bacon on April 20, 1838.
Number of Children: 0
Background
Education:
Lowville Academy
Biographical Sketch:
Born in Lewis County, NY, Mr. Burns left his home at age 9 to make a life for himself. In 1826 he commenced to learn his trade as carpenter and joiner and attended Lowville Academy during the winters. In 1834 he moved to Detroit, MI where he worked for a year as a carpenter. His second year there he road horseback over a large part of the wilds of Michigan, buying largely of the available lands for himself and others. Then he became a clerk for Olney Cook's dry-goods business. He became partner of Cook & Burns. In 1866 Mr. Cook retired and the business became Burns & Smith, until Mr. Burns retired in 1874. In 1861 Mr. Burns was appointed by the Mayor, C. H. Buhl, as a member of the first Board of Review and was reappointed by five successive mayors and Councils. He resigned this position in 1973 when he was appointed to the legislature. In the same year he erected the Burns Block on Griswold St. in Detroit, and in 1877 Buhl & Burns Block on Woodward Ave.. In 1876 he was appointed as a member of the Board of Control of the State Public School and was elected president of the Board in 1877.
Notable Facts:
Born in New York.