Timothy Burns (Wisconsin politician)

Timothy Burns (May 31, 1820 – September 21, 1853) was an American politician and the Democratic third Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 1851 until his death while in office in 1853.

Timothy Burns
3rd Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
In office January 5, 1852 – September 21, 1853 (death)
Governor	Leonard Farwell
Preceded by	Samuel W. Beall
Succeeded by	James T. Lewis
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office 1849
Personal details
Born	May 31, 1820 Dublin, Ireland
Died	September 21, 1853 (aged 33) La Crosse, Wisconsin, US
Resting place	Oak Grove Cemetery La Crosse, Wisconsin
Citizenship	US
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Cordelia Esperson Burns
Children	Robert W. Burns
Profession	Miner Judge Railroad Man Politician

Early life

Born in Dublin, Ireland on May 31, 1820, Burns came to New York in America with his family as an infant. In the fall of 1837 as a young man, he settled in Iowa County in Wisconsin Territory, where he engaged in lead mining.[1]

Career

In 1844 Burns was elected sheriff of Iowa County.[1] Elected in 1846, he served in the Wisconsin territorial House of Representatives in 1847-1848 and became Assembly Speaker.[1] He visited La Crosse in 1847.[2] Later, in 1849 he served in the Wisconsin State Assembly. In 1850, he moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and took a position on the State Board of Public Works. He was the chairman of the first La Crosse Town Board, chairman of the first La Crosse County Board and the first La Crosse county judge, while also engaging in the railroad industry.[3]

In 1851, he was elected as a Democrat and became the Wisconsin's third Lieutenant Governor under the State's second Governor, Leonard Farwell.[1]

Death and legacy

While visiting his brother-in-law in Lafayette County, Burns became ill of bilious fever but recovered enough to travel home, and died of a relapse in La Crosse on September 21, 1853.[1] He is interred at Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Burns Park, in downtown La Crosse, and the town and community of Burns were named after him.[4]

References

1. "In Supreme Court". Wisconsin State Journal. September 27, 1853. p. 2. Retrieved May 24, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
2. Thwaites, Haines, Reuben Gold, Mary Elizabeth (1912). Proceedings [of The] Annual Business Meeting, Volume 59 Publications, Publications. State Historical Society of Wisconsin., 1912. p. 214.
3. "Timothy Burns". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
4. Burns, Timothy 1820 - 1853

External links

• Timothy Burns, La Crosse Republican and Leader, Mose Strong, September 20, 1871.
• Timothy Burns:Short-lived Settler left huge last memory, Myer Katz, La Crosse Tribune, November 8, 1981.
• Burns lite fire under young La Crosse, Reid Magney, La Crosse Tribune, March 4, 1998.
• Newspaper clippings courtesy of the La Crosse public library-archives.
• Lieutenant Governor Timothy Burns of Wisconsin, Wisconsin State Historical Society
• Timothy Burns at Find a Grave