Biographical Sketch of Lewis L. Burris, Johnson County, Missouri, Columbus Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Lewis L. Burris, a progressive and successful farmer and stockman of Columbus township, is a member of a prominent pioneer family of Miss- ouri. Mr. Burris was born on the farm where he now resides December 17, 1868, a son of Captain Lewis and Elizabeth (Upton) Burris, the father, a native of Lafayette county and the mother, of Randolph, Missouri. Captain Burris was a Confederate captain of the regiment from Nodaway county. He was a son of Ennis Burris, who came to Miss- ouri when a child, with his mother. The father of Ennis Burris was killed in Tennessee during an Indian raid on their settlement in that state. He was a native of Virginia and had resided in Tennessee but a short time, when his untimely and tragic death occurred. Those of the settlers who were left unharmed moved to St. Louis and with these came Ennis Burris and his mother. The Burris family located in Noda- way county and there the son, Ennis, grew to manhood and married. Both he and his wife died at the Burris homestead in Nodaway county and were buried in the family cemetery there. More than 50 years later, their remains were removed to the cemetery at Maryville, Miss- ouri. In 1867 or 1868, Lewis Burris, Sr. moved to Johnson county and located in Columbus township on the farm now owned by his son, Lewis, Jr. The elder Burris resided on this place until 1886 and then moved to Warrensburg. To Lewis, Sr. and Elizabeth (Upton) Burris were born four children: Cornelia M., who resides with the widowed mother in Warrensburg, Missouri; Charles T., who lives in the old home; H. J., Kansas City, Missouri; and Lewis L., the subject of this review. By a former marriage, Lewis Burris, Sr. was the father of four children: George A., deceased; Mrs. Margaret F. Ramsey, Odessa, Missouri; W. E., Warrensburg, Missouri; and Mrs. Lena G. Howe, deceased. The father died in 1911 and burial was made in the cemetery at Warrensburg. The mother still makes her home in Warrensburg. Lewis L. Burris attended the public schools of Johnson county and the Warrensburg State Normal School. At the age of 21 years, he began life for himself engaged in teaching school. Mr. Burris taught at Shiloh schoolhouse and then for three years lived in California. On his return to Johnson county, he associated with his father in the business of cattle raising and farm- ing. Mr. Burris inherited a part of the home place and with Mrs. Burris, who also inherited land from the Smith estate, and in addition they purchased 90 acres of land and now have 200 acres of choice farm land in Columbus and Hazel Hill townships. He has improved this tract of land and this past year, of 1917, remodeled the residence, which was built in 1897. He has a large barn, 40 x 48 feet in dimensions, for hay and cattle and a smaller one for horses. Mr. Burris is inter- ested in stock raising, specializing in pure-bred Polled Angus cattle, with which breed he began 25 years ago. For several years, he, his father, and his brother, Charles T., were in partnership in cattle raising and they kept at one time from 50 to 75 head of Polled Angus cattle on the farm. Mr. Burris has at the present time 60 head of this breed. He also has 35 head of Oxford sheep and 75 head of hogs. He has always sold his stock in the home market and in 1916 could not fill the demand. Mr. Burris is an expert stockman and from the beginning has had marked success. In 1893, Lewis L. Burris and Cora A. Smith, daughter of John H. and Ella (Coleman) Smith, of Hazel Hill township, were united in marriage. Both parents of Mrs. Burris are now deceased and their remains lie interred in Mount Tabor cemetery in Lafayette county. To Lewis L. and Mrs. Burris have been born four children: Lewis U., at home with his parents; Mrs. J. S. Kinney, Warrensburg, Missouri; Marjorie, who is now a student at the Warrensburg State Nor- mal School; and Murl, at home. A half century ago, the Burris family settled in Johnson county. The name has always stood for the best things in life, morally, socially and commercially and the son, Lewis L., has admirably maintained the family's record for unimpeachable honor and honesty. Both he and Mrs. Burris are numbered amoung Johnson county's best and most substantial citizens. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================