John S. Burns, Deputy United States Marshal for the Western District ofMissouri, was born in Dallas county, September 6, 1844, and is a son ofFoster and Elizabeth (Tiller) Burns, and grandson of John Burns. Thelatter was a native of North Carolina, and located in Tennessee when ayoung man, where he was married to Margaret Wilson. They located on a farm in Maury county, and in 1836 came to Missouri, locating in Polkcounty, where he continued farming until he became one of the leadingagriculturists of that region, and was an extensive slave holder. Heserved in the War of 1812, and was wounded at the battle of New Orleansand being unable to make his escape was captured by the British sold-iers, but was released after a short time. He was a leading politicianand served in the county court, and also represented Polk county in theState Legislature several terms. He was a consistent member of theCumberland Presbyterian Church, and died September 20, 1863, aged seventy-seven years. His wife was born in Tennessee, and became themother of a large of family of children. She was noted for her pietyand hospitality, and died in 1878, at the age of eighty years. Herbrother, Gen. Anderson Wilson, was one of the prominent citizens of Tennessee. Foster Burns, the father of the gentleman whose name headsthis sketch, was the eldest of the family, and was born in Maury coun-ty, Tenn., in 1812, and was reared to manhood and educated in his native state. After attaining a suitable age he engaged in teachingschool, which occupation he followed until 1840, and was the author ofan arithmetic of considerable merit, but never had it published, and his death occurred just as it was ready for the press. He was marriedin 1840, and settled on a farm in Polk county, Mo., and in 1844 locatedin Dallas county, near Buffalo, where he became one of the leading citizens. He was elected sheriff of the county in 1850, but died the same year. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, andhis wife, who was born in Kentucky in 1814, was a member of the same.She was a daughter of James Tiller, who was a farmer by occupation, andlocated in Polk county in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Burns became the parentsof six children, two of whom are living: John S. and Joseph. After thedeath of Mr. Burns the mother continued to reside on the farm, and succeeded in giving her children a good education. James, the eldestson, received a high school education, and in 1861 entered the Confed-erate army, and was on active duty until November, 1864 when he was killed at the battle of Franklin, Tenn. He entered service at the ageof nineteen, and after the battle of Iuka was promoted to the rank ofcaptain for gallantry, and was serving on Gen. Cockrell's staff whenkilled. The youngest son, Joseph, served in the Union army, in the Fifty-first Missouri Infantry. John S. Burns was reared to manhood inDallas county, and in 1863 enlisted in the Federal army, in the quart-ermasters department, and served until the close of the war, being inthe Trans-Mississippi Department during the latter part of his service.He returned to his home in Dallas county, and in September, 1866, wasmarried to Miss Nancy Maddux, who was born in Giles county, Tenn., in1845, and is a daughter of Nathaniel Maddux, an old 1812 soldier. Mr.and Mrs. Burns are the parents of the following family: Archibald,Wilburn, Eva, wife of Terrell Burton and Florence. In 1878 Mr. Burnswas elected sheriff of Dallas county, serving three terms, being re-elected in 1882 and 1884. He made many notable arrests during his termof office, and succeeded in running down and capturing the noted horsethieves, the Crawford brothers, and since being elected to his presentoffice has captured a number of counterfeiters. In March, 1887, helocated in Conway, where he has since resided. He is a member of theA. F. & A. M., and is a Royal Arch Mason, Lebanon Commandery, Past Master of the Blue Lodge, and is Master Workman in the A. O. U. W.