Col. John T. Burris
Col. John T. Burris, born in Ohio Dec. 1828; removed with parents to Mead county, Kentucky, at an early age; when 18 he went on horseback 450 miles to Washington co., Iowa; a few months later enlisted in the regular army and served in the Mexican war as a private in company B, in the regiment of U. S. mounted riflemen; at the close of the war was honorably discharged, and returned to Iowa and located his bounty land warrant on a quarter section of land and commenced to open and improve a farm. Married Martha A. McGamon Oct. 4, ’49. In ’52 commenced the study of law; in ’53 was admitted to practice and opened a law office in the town of Washington, Iowa; in ’55 was elected Probate Judge, which office he filled for two years; in ’58 removed to Kansas, arriving in Olathe on the 9th of October; in ’59 was elected delegate to the Constitutional convention and served in that body; voted for and signed the constitution at Wyandott on the 29th day of August of that year; in the fall of ’60 was elected a member of the Territorial Legislature, receiving this time a majority of ten votes; was chairman of the committee on Judiciary; in April ’61 was appointed by President Lincoln, U.S. District Attorney for the district of Kansas; in August of that year resigned this office to accept a commission as Lieut. Col. Of the 4th Regt. Kas. Vols; on the consolidation of the 3rd and 4th Regt. Was retained with the same rank in the 10th until the regiment was mustered out, August 20th ’64. In the fall of that year resumed the practice of his profession at Olathe; in ’65 was elected to the Legislature and was chosen Speaker of the House; in the fall of ’66 was elected County Attorney of Johnson County; in ’68 he was appointed by Governor Harvey, Judge of the 10th judicial district; he served again as Representative in ’70, since which time he has devoted himself exclusively to the practice of his favorite profession, taking but little part in public affairs.
Atlas Map of Johnson County, Kansas, E. F. Heisler and Co., 1874, p. 64.
