Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Burns, Ira Rush May 18, 1866 - 
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Source: Twentieth Century History of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold, 1911
Author: Jesse C. Sell

IRA RUSH BURNS, who was elected chief burgess of Bellwood, Pa., in March,
1909, is the present incumbent of that office, and has been a resident of
this borough for the past 20 years. He was born May 18, 1866, in Lake City,
Minn., and is a son of Capt. W. J. and Elizabeth (Bell) Burns.
     Capt. W. J, Burns was born in Mifflin County, Pa., December 6, 1838, and
worked at his trade here as a carpenter until the beginning of the war. He
enlisted as a lieutenant in Co. M, 16th Pa. Cavalry, at a call of Andrew G.
Curtin for 16,000 cavalrymen, and when his captain was killed was made
captain of Griggs Cavalry. After the war he moved to Lake City, Minn., and
returned some few years later to Huntingdon County, but is now a resident of
Bellwood, Pa. He was first united in marriage with Elizabeth Bell, who died
in December, 1869, leaving two children: Ira R.; and Helen (Mrs. Myton) of
Altoona, Pa. Mr. Burns formed a second union with Maggie Bell, a sister of
his former wife, and of this union were born four children: Lizzie (Collier)
of Pittsburg, Pa.; Charles, a resident of Huntingdon; Harry, living in
Altoona; and Ray, who lives in Pittsburg.
     Ira R. Burns was reared in Huntingdon County, and taught there six
years, teaching his home school at Saulsburg, Pa., at the age of 16 years,
and also taught nine years in Bellwood and in Antis Township. He learned
carpentering when 16 years of age, and followed that business during the
summers and since has been engaged in the same. He is one of the leading
funeral directors of Bellwood and his father also followed that line of
business after coming here. Mr. Burns served little over two years as
postmaster at Bellwood-under President McKinley one year-and was also
appointed under President Roosevelt as an anti-Quay man in 1902, but the
appointment was not confirmed by the senate. He is politically a Republican
and served some years on the county committee. Mr. Burns affiliates with the
Maccabees of Altoona, and the F. O. E. of Bellwood.
     In 1888 Mr. Burns was joined in marriage with Bessie Snyder, who was
born in Huntingdon County and educated in the McCallisterville schools. She
is a daughter of John Snyder, who was an old soldier, and at an early age was
left on orphan. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Burns: Clarence,
employed as a stenographer for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Earl,
employed in a store in Bellwood; Warren, who works in the office of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Daisy, attending school; Molly, who attends
school; Agnes, also in school; and Ira Burns, Jr. The family holds membership
with the Logan Valley Presbyterian Church.

Additional Comments:
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Blair 
County Genealogical Society, 431 Scotch Valley Road, 
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. Copied and proofread by Linda M. 
Shillinger LindasTree@aol.com  OCRed by Judy Banja 
jbanja@comcast.net

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