Return to Burns Outline

1. CHRISTOPHER WESTLEY² BURNS (THOMAS¹) was born 16 Sep 1862 in Taylor Twp. Blair Co. PA¹, and died 23 Feb 1916 in Altoona, Blair Co. PA¹. He married SARAH ELIZABETH POWELL 1884², daughter of JESSE POWELL and MISS ROTH. She was born 14 Mar 1866 in Perry Co. PA³, and died 12 Feb 1915 in Altoona, Blair Co. PA⁴.

Notes for CHRISTOPHER WESTLEY BURNS:
Webb's Altoona Directory 1882-1883:

BURNS C. Wesley, driver, b Franklin House
_____________________________________

1900 PA Census: Blair Co. 3rd Precinct Altoona City, 2814 Beal Avenue, ed #66, sheet 4, line 85:

Westley C. BURNS, Head, Sep 1861 / 38, m. 16 yrs., Cupalo Tapper/P.R.R.
Sarah E., Wife, Mar 1866 / 34, m. 16 yrs., 9ch/8 living
Bertha C., dau, Jan 1886 / 14, single
Julia A., dau, Jan 1888 / 12, s
Jessie C., ", Nov 1889 / 10, s
Thomas M., son, Nov 1889 / 10, s
Christopher, son, Apr 1892 / 8, s
Mark M. K., son, Sep 1894 / 5, s
Sarah E., dau, Dec 1896 / 3, s
Chester E., son, Mar 1899 / 1, s

[N.B. Jessie was a son, Mark was Mary; be wary of these entries]
_____________________________________________

R.L. Polk & Co's Altoona and Hollidaysburg, PA. Directory 1908-1909:

BURNS C Wesley, lab, h 2314 Beale av.
BURNS Wesley, opr Altoona Silk Mills, bds 2314 Beale av. [possibly a repeat entry]
BURNS Bertha C, clk Dunn Medical Institute, bds 2214 Beale av. [probably 2314 was meant]
BURNS Julia A, bds 2314 Beale av.
BURNS Jesse C, clk, bds 2314 Beale av.
BURNS Thomas M, bds 2314 Beale av.
BURNS C Wesley, jr., student, bds 2314 Beale av.
_____________________________________________

1910 PA Census: Blair Co. Altoona City, 2314 Beale Ave., ed 56, dwelling 44/family 44:

Westley C. BURNS, Head, 48, m. 26, Foundryman/Steam R.R.
Sarah E., Wife, 44, m. 26, 11 ch/ 9 living
Julia, dau, 22, single; Jesse C., son, 20, single; Thomas M., son, 20, single
Westley C., son, 18, s; Mary M., dau, 15, s; Sarah E., dau, 13, s
Sheldon L., son, 8, s; Edna C., dau, 5, s
_____________________________________________

The Altoona "Mirror" issue of 23 February 1916:

CHRISTOPHER WESTLEY BURNS

Died at his home, 2314 Beale avenue, at 2 yesterday afternoon, after a three months' illness of a complication of diseases. He was born at East Freedom Sept. 16, 1862, and was a son of Thomas and Catherine Burns, deceased. He came to Altoona thirty-two years ago and entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad company as cupolaman in the foundries at Fourteenth street. When the foundries were moved to South Altoona, Mr. Burns was transferred to that place, where he faithfully worked until he was taken ill. He was married in 1884 to Miss Sarah E. Powell, who preceded him to the grave one year ago. He is survived by nine children, as follows: Mrs. Sarah E. Miller of Johnstown, Mrs. Bertha C. Ritchey and Mrs. Julia A. Ritchey, Mary H., Edna S., Jesse C., Thomas M., Christopher W., and Sheldon L.; one brother and two sisters, George of East Freedom and Mrs. Mary Bonner and Mrs. Brice Sell of Leamersville, and also by six grandchildren. Mr. Burns was a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, Pennsylvania Railroad Voluntary Relief and the South Altoona Floral association, and was a devout and active member of Simpson Methodist church.
_____________________________________________

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
Certificate of Death:

Place of Death: Blair Co. CIty of Altoona, 2314 Beale Ave., 9th Ward
Full Name: Christopher Wesley Burns
Sex: Male
Color: White
Marital Status: Widowed
Date of Birth: Feb. 16, 1862
Age: 53 years, 5 mos, 8 days
Occupation: Cupolaman
Birthplace: Pa.
Name of Father: Thomas Burns
Birthplace of Father: Pa.
Maiden Name of Mother: Catherine Hainley
Birthplace of Mother: Pa.
Informant: Wesley Burns, 2314 Beale Ave.
Date of Death: 2-23-1916
Cause of Death: Cirrhosis of Liver, contributory Myocarditis
Place of Burial: Fairview Cemetery, Feb. 27, 1916
Undertaker: Lafferty & Tobias
______________________________________________

Notes for SARAH ELIZABETH POWELL:
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
Certificate of Death:

Place of Death: Blair County, City of Altoona, 2314 Beale Ave., 9th Ward
Full Name: Mrs. Sarah E. Burns
Sex: Female
Color: White
Marital Status: Married
Date of Birth: March 14, 1866
Age: 48 years, 10 mos, 28 days
Occupation: Housewife
Birthplace: Perry County, Pa.
Name of Father: Jesse Powell
Birthplace of Father: Pa.
Maiden Name of Mother: Miss Roth
Birthplace of Mother: Pa.
Informant: Mr. C.W. Burns, 2314 Beale Ave.
Date of Death: Feb. 12, 1915
Cause of Death: Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Place of Burial: Fairview Cemetery, Feb. 14, 1915
Undertaker: Lafferty & Tobias, Altoona, Pa.
________________________________________________

Children of CHRISTOPHER BURNS and SARAH POWELL are:
i. (INFANT)³, b. 20 Jan 1885.
ii. BERTHA C. BURNS, b. Jan 1886; m. ____ RITCHEY.
iii. JULIA A. BURNS, b. 1 Jan 1888; m. ____ RITCHEY.
2. iv. JESSE CONRAD BURNS, b. 13 Nov 1889, Altoona, Blair Co. PA; d. 9 Oct 1966, Altoona, Blair, PA.
v. THOMAS M. BURNS, b. 13 Nov 1889; d. 24 Dec 1919, Altoona, Blair Co. PA⁵.
vi. CHRISTOPHER WESTLEY BURNS, b. 8 Apr 1892; m. MINNIE M. CORLESS, 1917, Blair Co. PA⁶.
vii. MARY M. BURNS, b. 29 Sep 1894; m. ____ HEINBAUGH.
viii. SARAH ELIZABETH BURNS, b. 1 Dec 1896, Altoona, Blair Co. PA⁷; m. (1) ____ MILLER; m. (2) ____ SHEPARD.
ix. CHESTER EARL BURNS, b. 12 Mar 1899, Altoona, Blair Co. PA⁷; d. 21 Jul 1900, Altoona, Blair Co. PA⁸.
3. x. SHELDON L. BURNS, b. 12 Sep 1901, Altoona, Blair Co. PA; d. 4 Apr 1970, Altoona, Blair, PA.
xi. EDNA CHARLOTTE BURNS, b. 17 May 1904, Altoona, Blair Co. PA⁹; d. 31 Aug 1916, Altoona, Blair Co. PA¹⁰.
xii. FRED ORVILLE BURNS, b. 19 Dec 1906; d. 27 Nov 1909, bur. Fairview Cem. Altoona, PA¹¹.

2. JESSE CONRAD³ BURNS (CHRISTOPHER WESTLEY², THOMAS¹) was born 13 Nov 1889 in Altoona, Blair Co. PA¹², and died 9 Oct 1966 in Altoona, Blair, PA¹³. He married ANNA R. YOUNG 1920 in Blair Co. PA¹⁴.

Notes for JESSE CONRAD BURNS:
Blair County Genealogical Society, Obituary Collection:

JESSE CONRAD BURNS of 108 25th Ave., died at 7:15 p.m. yesterday in the Altoona Hospital where he was admitted earlier in the day after an extended illness. He was born in Altoona on Nov. 13, 1889, a son of Christopher W. and Sarah (Powell) Burns. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Anna Mary Dickey of the city; two grandchildren, a brother and two sisters, Sheldon R. and Mrs. Mary Ann Heinbaugh of the city and Mrs. Sarah Shepard of Tampa, Fla. Mr. Burns was of the Methodist faith, veteran of service in the 136th Air Squadron in World War I and retired as a machinist from the Altoona works in 1954. Friends will be received in the Hickey Funeral Home after 2 p.m. tomorrow.

[clipping is marked "10-10-66"]
___________________________________________

Child of JESSE BURNS and ANNA YOUNG is:
i. ANNA MARY⁴ BURNS, m. ____ DICKEY.

3. SHELDON L.³ BURNS (CHRISTOPHER WESTLEY², THOMAS¹) was born 12 Sep 1901 in Altoona, Blair Co. PA¹⁵, and died 4 Apr 1970 in Altoona, Blair, PA¹⁶. He married FLORENCE M. MERCER 30 Jun 1937¹⁷. She died 31 Mar 1970.

Notes for SHELDON L. BURNS:
Blair County Genealogical Society, Obituary Collection:

Heart Ailment Causes Death

Sheldon L. Burns, 68, 709 58th St., proprietor of The Camera Shop, died at 1.45 p.m. Saturday noon, April 4, 1970, in Mercy Hospital, where he was admitted April 1 following the death of his wife. He was born Sept. 12, 1901, in Altoona, a son of Christopher W. and Sarah (Powell) Burns, and married Florence M. Mercer on June 30, 1937. Mrs. Burns died unexpectedly March 31 and was buried Friday. Surviving are three children, Robert of York, Mrs. Nancy Trusz of Newton Falls, Ohio, and Mrs. Helen Lytle of Altoona; five grandchildren, and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Heinbaugh of Altoona and Mrs. Sarah Shepard of Tampa, Fla. Mr. Burns was a member of the Broad Avenue United Presbyterian Church and the Altoona Camera Club. Friends are being received in the Mauk & Yates Funeral Home, Juniata.

[clipping is marked "4-6-70"]
____________________________________________

Children of SHELDON BURNS and FLORENCE MERCER are:
i. ROBERT⁴ BURNS.
ii. NANCY BURNS, m. ____ TRUSZ.
iii. HELEN BURNS, m. ____ LYTLE.

Endnotes

1. Death certificate
2. 1910 Census
3. Death certificate
4. Courthouse records
5. Fairview Cemetery, Altoona, PA (Courthouse records)
6. Blair County marriage license
7. Register of Births, Blair Co. Courthouse
8. Fairview Cemetery, Altoona, PA
9. Register of Births, Blair Co. Courthouse
10. Fairview Cemetery
11. Leora Rabuck; Altoona, PA (family sheet)
12. Blair County Genealogical Society, obituary collection.
13. Blair Co. Wills & Letters Index (LDS microfilm)
14. Blair County marriage license
15. Register of Births, Blair Co. Courthouse
16. Blair Co. Wills & Letters Index (LDS microfilm)
17. Blair County Genealogical Society, obituary collection.


Return to Burns Outline