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Author: tsaww1
Surnames: Ferguson, Thompson, Burns, Virden
Classification: queries
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http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties...
Message Board Post:
Hi - I think your searching will have to, perhaps, go to Champaign Co, Ohio. I just
realized that I have another Ferguson in my database who was born in Champaign Co, Ohio; I
don't know where in OH she was married, but her husband and she came to White County
in 1830, as per history book, vs. Polly reported as coming in 1829. I will copy the
History book entry; it names Malinda Ferguson Burn's parents as John and Elizabeth
Ferguson - and John & Elizabeth Ferguson are buried in Bunnell Cemetery, also - as is
"your" Polly - far reach here, but perhaps John and Elizabeth are Polly's
parents or related somehow? (Wm & Polly have named children John and Eliza - and
perhaps the history book entry saying that John Ferguson was born in OH is in error - note
1850 census, a John Ferguson in Malinda's household, born in KY; also an Andrew - a
brother?). There is also a Virden connection in both families (Louisa Thompson's
husband's (Stratton) father was named William Virden and Strat!
ton's sister, Eliza Jane Virden I have as John Burns' second wife after Malinda
Ferguson's death)?! Definitely worth some investigation.
Counties of White and Pulaski IN. Battey (1883); Big Creek Twp, White Co, pg 376,77:
John Burns was born in Pickaway Co, OH, Jan 4, 1809, and is the eldest of 9 children
born to Joseph and Delilah (Tipton) Burns, natives of KY and of Scotch descent. Joseph
Burns was married in Pickaway County, to which point he moved when a young man. He was a
soldier in the war of 1812, serving under Gen. Wayne during the entire struggle. In 1826,
he moved to Logan Co, OH, entered 160 acres wild land and developed a farm. About 1835,
he sold out and came to this county and remained 2 yrs, and then moved to Jasper Co,
entered 160 acres, and wrought from the wild another farm, on which he ended his days, a
member of the Christian Church. Mrs. Delilah Burns, a member also of the Christian
Church, died Dec 1, 1880. John Burns was employed on his father's farm in OH until he
was 18 yrs old, receiving a common school education during the meanwhile. He was married
in Nov, 1826, to Malinda Ferguson, a native of OH, who became the mother of 6 children.
In 1830, he came to!
what afterward became Big Creek Twp, and entered 80 acres of land, erected a log cabin
with a dirt floor and clapboard roof, and in this he and family lived several years,
experiencing all the hardships as well as homely joys of pioneer life. To his original
entry Mr. Burns has added until he is now probably the largest land-holder in the twp -
owning, as he does, about 1,200 acres. He is an extensive stock-breeder, his product
averaging 50 head of cattle, 150 head of hogs and 7 or 8 head of horses annually. He is
now giving much attention to thoroughbreds. Mrs. Malinda Burns died in Feb 1866, and Dec
18, 1868, Mr. Burns married Elizabeth J. Virden, a native of Pickaway Co, OH, and the only
dau of William Virden, a pioneer. In politics, Mr. Burns is a Republican. He is one of
the leading farmers of the county, and he and one other are the only persons yet living on
land originally entered by themselves in Big Creek Twp.
Biographical History of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren & Pulaski
Counties, Indiana, Vol I, Chicago; The Lewis Publishing Co (1899); pg 444-446:
William Burns
...The parents of William Burns are John and Melinda (Ferguson) Burns, natives of
Champaign Co, OH. Their other children were Margaret Ann, wife of Hiram Lear, of Wolcott,
Indiana; Mary Jane, deceased, wife of James Burns, whose home was south of Monticello,
Indiana; Thomas, of Lafayette; and one who died in infancy. John and Melinda Burns
removed to White county in the fall of 1830, and settled three miles east of the present
site of the town of Chalmers, in Big Creek township. Indians were numerous here at that
time, and wild game was very abundant. Their half a dozen neighbors were widely
scattered, living, perhaps, four or five miles from one another. Mr. Burns entered about
200 acres of land, and added to this until he owned over a thousand acres at his death.
In his specialty as a raiser of cattle and hogs he made a great financial success. He
died at his home in Big Creek township, in 1884, when he was 64 yrs old His first wife
died some years before, and he !
afterward married Jane Virden, whose death occurred in 1897, when she had attained
three-score and ten years. Joseph Burns, the paternal granfather of our subject, was a
native of Ohio, and in 1845 he removed to Jasper county, Indiana. There he entered a
small tract of land, bought more later and continued to cultivate his place until he died,
at a ripe age. He was of Scotch descent. John Ferguson, father of Mrs. Melinda Burns,
also came to the Hooseir state from Ohio, and entered land in Big Creek township, White
County, living there until his demise, at about 70 yrs of age.
History of White County, Hamelle - 1915, pg 443:
John Burns, one of the most successful of our early farmers, was born in Pickaway Co, OH,
Jan 4, 1809 and came to what is now White County in 1830 and resided on his farm in what
is now Big Creek Twp until his death, which occurred on Dec 26, 1884. Beginning life in a
log cabin, by industry and frugality he amassed a fortune and what is far better he left
this life with the respect of his neighbors, who knew him as one of our best and most
honored citizens.
1850 Big Creek Twp, White Co, IN Census; entry 146/146; pg 406:
John Burns; 44y; farmer; OH
Malinda; 22y [DMc error? prob shd be 42]; OH
Wm; 19y; IN
James; 15y; IN
Margaret A; 13y; IN
Mary Ann; 8y; IN
Thomas A; 4y; IN
Malinda; 2y; IN
Benjamin Greenfield; 15y; farmer; OH
Andrew Furgason; 36y; farmer; OH
Wm Harey; 21y; farmer; IN
John Furgason; 60y; farmer; KY
Sorry I didn't look through my info earlier and notice this Ferguson possible
connection. Good luck!
Diane
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