"Hardesty's Biographical Atlas of Tyler County West Virginia"
H. H. Hardesty, 1872

JAMES BURNS - James Burns is a native of Ireland, born in County Antrim, 
in February 1804, a son of James and Sarah (Story) Burns, who passed 
their lives in Ireland. He came to America in 1829, and in the same 
summer helped to build the first railroad bridge in America. He worked 
two years in Washington during President Jackson's administration, 
helping to build the treasury and patent office edifice, and after that 
helped to put down the flagging about the White House. He often saw "Old 
Hickory" in those days. After this work, he went to North Carolina, and 
helped to build the State house there; the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and 
on aquaducts at Brims Furnace, the Cannacajig, etc. He helped to build 
the bridge at the Relay House across the Patapsco, which has eight 
arches, and is the largest stone work in America. He built railroad 
bridges through Indiana, and superintended such work, at Flint Creek, 
Bartholomew county. In Baltimore, Maryland, in 1831, Sarah Stevens became 
his wife. Since they made their home in Tyler county, Mr. Burns has done 
nearly all the mason work of the county, and has cleared his farm. He has 
now quit any work but looking after his farm, and is resting from the 
labors of a well-spent life. His grandfather was a Scotchman, and an 
uncle to the poet, "Bobby Burns" James Burns receives his mail at 
Middlebourne, Tyler county, West Virginia.

Submitted by Susie Koehrsen.