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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
William Burnside, a prominent citizen and successful business man of Oskaloosa, is an extensive dealer in lumber, lath, shingles, doors, sash, blinds and moldings, being the successor of A. Taylor & Co., who established the business in 1883, and which the subject of our sketch purchased two years later. Mr. Burnside is a pioneer citizen of the hawkeye State, coming here with his parents as early as 1845, when but a child of three years old. He is a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, and was born June 4, 1842. His parents were James and Mary (Wilkin) Burnside, who carefully trained their son and gave him an academic and collegiate education. Our subject was about to enter upon his future career when the outbreak of the late Civil War changed his plans and prospects materially. These he laid aside for sterner duties, and enlisted as a private in September, 1862, in Co. A, 25th Iowa Vol. Inf., in which he was promoted Sergeant, and occupied this position for eleven months. He was then commissioned Second Lieutenant in Company I, 51st Regiment, with which he remained until January, 1864, and was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant about a year later. he engaged with his regiment in the battles of Hams' Bluff, Arkansas Post, and in the battles from Grand Gulf to Vicksburg, including the siege and capture of the latter. He was also in the ranks at the second battle of Jackson, Miss., and in various other minor engagements and skirmishes, winding up with the nine days at Blakely, opposite Mobile, Ala., where was fought the last battle of the war. After his honorable discharge from the military service, Mr. Burnside returned to Washington County, Iowa, and for a few months engaged in farming pursuits. He was not satisfied, however, with the extent of his mental culture, and proceeded to Monmouth, Ill., to enter upon a course of study at Monmouth College. He pursued his studies in the institution for the space of eight months, and then going south, located in Alabama, and operated a turpentine grove one season, near Mobile. The following spring he returned North, and locating in Galesburg, Ill., entered upon a course of study in the commercial college of that city, giving his especial attention to the pursuance of a law course. He then purchased the only set of abstracts of Mahaska County, and engaged in real estate and brokerage, in which he was engaged until 1876, when, on account of impaired health, he sold his abstract business but retained the real estate. In the course of three years, his health having become wholly recovered, he engaged in the live-stock business, making a specialty of horses, shipping about 200 in a year. He was thus occupied for following five years, when he purchased his present business, at which he has been engaged for the last seven years. His strictly honorable and upright course has secured for him hosts of friends and patrons, and his transactions extend all over the State of Iowa. The marriage of William Burnside and Miss Hannah A. Henderson was celebrated on Christmas Day, in 1868, in Washington, Iowa. Mrs. Burnside is a daughter of J. A. and E. A. Henderson, and was born in Guernsey County, Ohio. Of their union there have been born seven children, as follows: Ralph H., Charles H., Mary H., Harry H. (who died in infancy), John H., Lizzie H. and Maggie H. Mr. and Mrs. Burnside and their three eldest children are earnest and consistent members of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Burnside has been a member of the School Board of Oskaloosa for five years, and in politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy