Biography from History of Clay Co., Indiana, Vol. II,
au: William Travis,
publ. 1909
James L.BURNS, present county auditor of Clay county, Indiana,
was born in Putnam county, Indiana, September 18, 1870, son of Thomas
B. and Sarah C. (Carrithers) Burns. The father was born in Illinois
and is now a resident of Clay county, Indiana. His boyhood days were
spent in Coles county, Illinois, and Putnam county, Indiana. He has
been a farmer in Cass township, Clay county, and at one time owned
two hundred acres and about the same amount in Putnam county. He
carried on general farming operations and was a trustee of Cass town-
ship four years. Politically, he is a Democrat and in church faith ad-
heres to that of the Christian denomination. The subject’s mother was
a native of Clay county, Indiana, and they were united in marriage in
the county of her birth. The children born of this union were nine in
number, eight of whom still survive and are as follows Hardy W.;
James L. (subject); Lucretia E., wife of Emery Jenkins; William C.;
Susan B., wife of John M. Fisher; Candace; Annice; Sarah A.
James L. Burns remained at home with his parents until he was
seventeen years of age and then went to work for D. N. Barnett in a
general merchandising store, at Hoosierville, Clay county, during the
summer months, and attended school in the winter season for two
years.When about eighteen years old he commenced school teaching,
which he followed one year and then attended school at Danville, after
which he taught another year. He next attended school one year at
Valparaiso College. He was appointed county surveyor, on account
of the death of John J. Hayden. The date of his appointment was
April, 1892, and in the fall election, he was elected county surveyor for
Clay county. In the month of January, 1893, he was made deputy
clerk of Clay county circuit courts, so in April, 1893, he resigned the
office of surveyor and filled the office of deputy clerk up to 1895, when
he was made deputy county auditor, holding that office from 1895 to
1899. September, 1899, he removed to Greencastle, Indiana, and at-
tended De Pauw university until January 1, 1903, and then returned to
Brazil and again entered the auditor’s office as deputy, which position
he held until 1906, when he was elected county auditor and is still
filling the office with credit to all interested.
Mr. Burns is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to
Brazil Lodge, No. 264, F. and A. M.; the Improved Order of Red Men,
Indianola Tribe, No. 61; Modern Woodmen of America, Lodge No.
3418; Order of Home Defenders of America, No. 1. Mr. Burns is a
consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and in his polit-
ical affiliations is a Democrat.
He was united in marriage September 11, 1892, to Codelia B.
Jenkins, born near Center Point, Clay county, Indiana, December 28,
1872, the daughter of William T. and Nanoma S. (O’Brien) Jenkins,
both natives of Clay county. Her father was born June 30, 1832, and
is now residing in Clay county and farms in Sugar Ridge township.
He spent his youthful days in Owen county, Indiana. At one time he
owned one hundred and fifty-two acres, but sold forty to his son. He
is engaged quite extensively in breeding pure-bred hogs and full-blood
cattle, mostly short-horns. Politically, he is a Republican and has been
member of the school board at Center Point several terms. His wife
died aged forty-three years in 1883, and was the mother of four daugh-
ters and two sons, five of which children are now living, as follows:
James P.; Laura A., wife of S. E. Brown; Sadie E., who died aged
twenty-four years, wife of James D. Hicks; Emery S.; Gertrude, wife
of Rev. Charles F. Spray, who is a minister of the Methodist Epsico-
pal church in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Burns are the parents of
the following children: Ray Leland; Verna Choline; Dane Emery;
James Dudley.