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Monument Marks Lone Grave
A monument to mark the resting place of James Burns, one of
the pioneers of Washington County, was erected last week.
James Burns, who was born in the native country of the poet Robert Burns, in Scotland,
in 1744, died in 1832 at the home of Mr. Cherry, a relative, living on what is known as
the Wickline farm, about four miles southeast of Nashville, now occupied by Stout
McCoy. Mr. Burns, called "Grandsir" by his relatives and friends, was a tailor by trade
and died at the age of 88 years. He personally selected the place where he wished to be
buried, a lonely spot in the woods near the creek on top of a fifty-foot bluff on the
Wickline farm. It is the only grave in the neighborhood and its whereabouts were all but
forgotten by all except Fritz Stiehl, step-father of Geo. Wickline, with whose assistance
Hedges Spencer two years ago located and marked the grave. Marquis L. Burns, a great-
grandson of James Burns, during his visit here last fall viewed the grave and purchased a
monument from H.F. Reuter which last week was erected under supervision of Hedges
Spencer, great-great-grandson of James Burns, in honor of the memory of his ancestor.
Roy Horatio, the son of James Burns, is buried in the Reid graveyard three miles
southwest of Nashville. A grandson, Capt. Jas. Burns, and a great-grandson, John C.
Burns, rest in the Odd Fellows cemetery here. The children of Wm. Burns, the barber, are
the sixth generation of the Burns family to live in Nashville.
The following are the living great-grandchildren of James Burns, the pioneer, who came
to Illinois in 1829 from Tennessee: Marquis L. Burns of Lawton, OK., Henry C. Burns of
Senste, Tex., and Mrs. Mary J. Spencer of Nashville.
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