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From the Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 610-611
EDWARD E. BURNS, member of the State Senate from the 16th District, is one of the leading representatives of the Bar in Grant county, is a gentleman of unusual attainments, successful in the practice of his profession, and highly respected by his colleagues as well as his fellow citizens.
Mr. BURNS was born at East Dubuque, Ill., Jan. 20, 1858, a son of Edward and Clara (FAIRBANKS) BURNS, the former a native of Ottawa, Canada, the latter born near Watertown, N.Y. The father was born in 1828, of Scottish parents. The mother was born in 1832, and was the daughter of Silas and Caroline FAIRBANKS, descendants of prominent New England families, who were well known during the early days of the country. Edward BURNS settled in Chicago, and for some time was in the employ of the Illinois Central Railway Co., later conducting a lumber yard at East Dubuque, Ill., where his first marriage - with the mother of our subject - occurred. After some years' residence there Mr. BURNS removed to Jamestown, Wis., where he purchased the farm on which he still resides. In 1863, Mrs. Clara BURNS passed away, leaving him with two children: Edward E. is our subject; Carrie L., a native of Jamestown, where she grew to womanhood, married Frank NEAT, of Ypsilanti, Mich., and died in November 1891, leaving no family. For his second wife Edward BURNS married Miss Mary TUPPER, and to this union two sons were born : Frank L., a graduate of the State Normal school at Platteville, of the class of 1896; and Clifford, now fourteen years old.
Our subject received an academic education in the State Normal school at Platteville, after which he entered the University of Wisconsin law school, at Madison, graduating in the class of 1887. The following year he opened an office for the practice of his profession at Sioux Falls, S. Dak., but after a short residence there returned and formed a partnership with W. G. PALMER, of Boscobel, Grant county. At the close of one year Mr. BURNS removed to Platteville, forming a partnership with W. E. CARTER on Dec. 1, 1890. Five years later this partnership was dissolved, Mr. CARTER locating in Milwaukee, Wis., and Mr. BURNS continuing in Platteville.
When the war with Spain broke out Mr. BURNS offered himself as a private, but was rejected on account of a defect in his left eye. Determined to serve his country, he returned to Platteville, and raised a company, of which he was elected captain, and which was mustered into the service as Company C, 4th Wisconsin Volunteers, at Camp Douglas, Wis. Later they were forwarded to Anniston, Ala., where they remained until Feb. 28, 1899, when the regiment was mustered out.
After the muster-out of the regiment Mr. BURNS returned to Platteville and the peaceful practice of law. He is notably successful in his cases. In recognition of his ability, the common council of Platteville in 1897 elected him to the position of city attorney, and he has since been honored with election to the State Senate from the 16th District, in which body he is now serving, discharging the arduous duties of this incumbency with marked distinction. In addition to this honor Mr. BURNS has also served as member of the county board, and brought to the deliberation of that body not only his legal knowledge, but also a calm, impartial judgment. In politics he is a member of the Republican party, whose principles he upholds upon all occasions. Mr. BURNS is not connected with any religious body, but accords to every man the right to worship as his conscience dictates. In April, 1899, Mr. BURNS purchased a fine building site on Roundtree avenue, erected a very comfortable home, and now resides there. Public-spirited, genial, thoroughly conversant with his profession, the future before this young man is a very brilliant one. Judging the future by the light of the past, his name is destined to become one of the best known in the State, even if he is not called to fill higher positions. Socially he is a very prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the K. of P. lodge of Platteville.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck