Biographical Sketches

JOHN R. BURRUS

A prominent farmer who owes his success in life to his own well directed and enterprising efforts, was born near Blue Springs, in Sniabar township, Jackson county, May 10, 1854. His father, William T. Burrus, was a native of Virginia, and during his boyhood days accompanied his parents to Missouri. His father, George Burrus, was one of the first pioneers of Jackson county, and from the government entered land on which the birth of our subject occurred. He married Nancy Harris, a daughter of Jerry Harris, and made his first settlement 2 miles west of Blue Springs, continuing his residence there until his death, which occurred about 1859. The family numbered 11 children, 9 of whom reached maturity, and the youngest was only 11 days old at the time of the father's death. Three of this family are still living, namely: James M., of Grain Valley, Missouri; and Mary L., widow of Collins Bowlin, now residing near Blue Springs.

The father owned 120 acres of land at the time of his death, and upon this farm his widow resided until the troublesome times of the war, when she removed with her family to LaFayette county, Missouri, settling near Lexington. Her son James, however, then 16 years of age, entered the Confederate service under General Jo Shelby. Mrs. Burrus and the smaller children returned to the farm in the spring of 1864. She then plowed a field and raised a crop of corn, but that fall, at the time of Price's raid, the federal troops following the southern army camped upon her land and thus destroyed her crop! In the fall she again went to LaFayette county, but in the spring of 1865 once more came to Jackson county. The war being over her son James returned home, but remained only a year. Our subject, then being the eldest at home, assumed the management of the 40 acre farm. His mother afterward married J. Smith, and after his death she made her home with her son John, her death occurring there on the 24th of April, 1886.

Our subject had continued to give his mother the benefit of his service until her second marriage, when at the age of 24 years he started out in life for himself. Having sold the 10 acres of land which he inherited from his father he then rented land of his brother for one year.

On the 23rd of September, 1880, Mr. Burrus was united in marriage with Nannie D. Ford, a lady of high culture, intelligence and refinement, and a daughter of Lewis A. and Martha A. (Holmes) Ford. She was born in Platte county, Missouri, but was reared in Kansas City, and came to Blue Springs in April, 1876. Her father was a contractor and builder by trade and for some years followed that business in Kansas City, after which he turned his attention to farming. He lived for 15 years in that city and vicinity. He was a native of Woodford county, Kentucky, but removed to Platte county and engaged in the milling business at Parkville, carrying on that enterprise there during the war. He served as captain of a company of militia, and was captured and taken to St. Louis, where he was placed as a prisoner inMcDonell College. Subsequently he was taken to Alton, where he was held in captivity for one year. He and 16 of his company were then released, in 1864, but were not allowed to return to Missouri until the close of the war. He therefore continued in Illinois until the war ended, when he went to Kansas City, Missouri. He afterward became an extensive contractor of Kansas City at an early day, and among other important buildings erected the Gillis House. The firm of Ford & Waldron was well known, and many evidences of their handiwork stand today. Mr. Ford lost his wife in January, 1887, and for some years past he has resided in the home of Mr. Burrus.

After his marriage our subject rented a tract of land 6 miles south of Blue Springs, where he resided from the 5th of October, 1880, until the 1st of March, 1884. He then rented a farm of Willis Young for 2 years, and in 1886 removed to the farm owned by W. H. Montgall, 2 � miles south of Blue Springs. After a time he purchased his present farm, 3 miles SW of Blue Springs on the Independence road. this comprises 65 acres of land, valued at $50 per acre. 

He has made extensive improvements upon the place, including the erection of a fine brick residence and good barns. He has also put up wire fences and devoted his energies to the raising of grain and hogs.

Mr. and Mrs. Burrus have 1 child, Floyd F., born June 10, 1883. Our subject belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian church, in which he is now serving as deacon. His wife is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, of Blue Springs. In February, 1894, he was appointed by the county commissioners as overseer of the roads in his district, is now serving in that capacity, and is earning the gratitude of the public by the extensive and excellent improvements which he is making upon the system of roads and by the opening up of new roads. In his political views he is a democrat, and usually serves as a delegate to the county conventions. He takes great delight in hunting, and is a pleasant, genial gentleman, social and kindly in disposition. He wins friends wherever he goes, has the happy faculty of retaining them, and it would be difficult to find a more popular or higher esteem in this community.

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This page was last updated August 2, 2006.