BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Page 515.


JAMES A. BURSON, a prominent farmer of Goshen township, Belmont county,
was born in the same township August 9, 1844. He is the son of Cyrus
Burson, who was born in Loudon county, Va., in 1818. He came to this
county in 1838 and located on section 16, where he lived seven years,
then going to his native place, but in 1859, again making his residence
in Belmont county. He was married to Ann C. Ecton, of Maryland, and they
had eight children: John W., who married Nellie Davis, of Richmond, Va.,
and is a government clerk at Washington; Mary E., wife of John Dunn, of
Warren county, Iowa; Hampton C., of Warren county, Iowa; Margaret T.,
widow of Samuel Wright, of Iowa; Fannie, wife of Berry Hammontree, a
railroad superintendent living at Des Moines, Iowa; Howard, living with
his parents. James A., the subject of this sketch, was married to Martha
Jane Stewart, who was born August 4, 1843, daughter of William and Sarah
(Evans) Stewart. In 1862 he enlisted in Capt. Charlesworth's company of
the Twenty-fifth Ohio regiment, and served three years. He was in the
battles of Bull Pasture, Cross Keys, Rapidan River, Second Bull Run,
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, etc. At Bull Run he was taken prisoner,
and was confined two months in Libby prison and five and a half months
at Belle Isle. At the latter prison he was lost to the search of his
parents, but a brother, John, who was in the confederate army, found
him in an almost naked condition, and assisted him to the Union lines.
He was discharged at Hilton Heads in 1865. He was one of the last 500
men exchanged during the rebellion. Returning home he was engaged in
farming, an occupation in which he has prospered, and now has a comfort-
able home. He and wife are members of Christ's church, in which he is
an elder. They have three children: Harry C.; Hattie S., wife of William
McKelsey, and Frank H.