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J. M. BURNSIDE

One of the influential citizens of Waucoma, Fayette county, is the gentleman to whose career the attention of the reader is now directed, who is a leading druggist of the county. A man of excellent endowments and upright character, he has been a valued factor in local affairs and has ever commanded unequivocal confidence and esteem, being loyal to the upbuilding of his community and ever vigilant in his efforts to further the interests of his city along material, moral and civic lines.

J. M. Burnside was born in Franklinville, McHenry county, Illinois, July 29, 1851, and he is the son of George and Olive M. Burnside, an excellent old family of McHenry county. The father was born on March 21, 1821, at Oneonta, Otsego county, New York, and the mother was born at Smithport, Pennsylvania.

When young in years, J. M. Burnside came to Fayette county, Iowa, and he has spent the major portion of his life at Waucoma, having received his education in the schools here. When a mere boy he decided to devote his life work to the drug business, and he began in this line in 1873 and has been in the trade continuously ever since, being one of the best known druggists in this and adjoining counties. He has a neat, well arranged and well kept store, always carefully stocked with a choice line of drugs, sundries and everything that a modern drug store carries, and he has long enjoyed a very liberal trade with towns and surrounding country.

On February 22, 1876, Mr. Burnside married Etta Stine, daughter of S. H. and Lavona Stine, a highly respected and well established family of Waucoma. Mr. Burnside's family by his first wife consisted of three children namely: E. Winfield, Lottie and George Harold, the latter being deceased. His first wife dying in 1885, Mr. Burnside married Etta L. Talcott, in 1886. She is the daughter of F. H. and Almira Talcott, a well known family of Illyria township, this county, and two children have been born to this union, Deane C. and Chester M. Politically, Mr. Burnside is a Republican. He was a member of the board of county supervisors, having been appointed after the death of Supervisor Wells, and he was elected twice, thus serving seven years and one month in a very acceptable manner. The most important work done while he was a member of the board was the building of the county home in connection with the county poor farm.

Mr. Burnside was appointed postmaster of Waucoma in 1873 and he held the same to the entire satisfaction of the department and the people until Cleveland's first election, when he was succeeded by J. J. Krom. Mr. Burnside was again appointed on June 21, I889, and continued in office until in August, 1893. He held the office of township clerk for several years and he has been secretary of the school board for thirty-three years, during which time he has done much for the cause of education in this community; in fact, whatever tends to the betterment in any way of Waucoma and vicinity his ready support may be depended upon.

Fraternally, Mr. Burnside is a member of Standard Lodge No. 351, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Adelphia Chapter No. 113, Royal Arch Masons; Langridge Commandery No. 47, Knights Templar. In all of these he takes much more than a passing interest.

~transcribed by Cheryl Walker