John Burns was born in Waynesburg, Augusta county, Virginia, in the year 1807.  He moved with his father's family to New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county, in 1815, and in April, 1816, they moved to Coshocton county, as has been detailed in connection with the sketch of his brother, Joseph Burns.  he remained with his father until 1828, when he went to Chillicothe as a clerk with his brother-in-law, john Smeltzer, and remained there one year.  He then came to Roscoe, and clerked in the dry-goods store of John Smeltzer and his successors (Medbery & Ransom) until 1838, when he became a member of the firm, under the name of Medbery, Burns & Co.  In 1840 he dissolved his connection with Medbery, and formed a connection with Samuel Moffitt retired, and the firm was changed to Burns & Retilley, and remained so until 1860, when he bought Retilley out, and continued in business in his own name until his death.  He died July 31, 1871, aged sixty four years.
His good sense and integrity were marked qualities.  Thoroughly interested in public affairs, and always a zealous partisan, and ready to help his friends to office, he never had any desires in that direction for himself, and it is believed never held any official position.   He was a painstaking and successful business and family man.

Source: Historical Collections of Coshocton County Ohio 1764-1876
Author: William E Hunt, pub. 1876