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Male, US, born 1855-04-08, died 1940-08-10
Associated with the firms network
Hunt and Burns, Architects; Hunt, Eager and Burns, Architects; Peters and Burns, Architects
Résumé
Draftsman, Luther Peters, Architect, Dayton, OH, 1876-1878. For about two years, he worked in Peters's office at 134 Jefferson Street in Dayton. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1876, p. 98,Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1877, p. 98 and 419 and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1878, p. 95.) Luther Peters was born on 05/11/1846 in Dayton and died 02/17/1921 in the same city. Peters partnered with Burns in either late 1878 or 1879, when he was about 33 and Burns, 24. In 1887, he requested a US Passport for an eight-country tour of Europe, leaving Burns in charge of the office for an extended period.
Partner, Peters and Burns, Architects, Dayton, OH, 1879-c. 1892, specializing in institutional and educational buildings. The Peters and Burns partnership occupied space in the building at 134 Jefferson Street in 1879. At this time, it was one of four architectural firms working in Dayton. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1879, p. 437. Elsewhere in the same directory, Burns was listed as working at 30 East 6th Street. [p. 94]) In 1888, the firm occupied Rooms #27-31 in the Kuhn's Block, and, five years later, occupied a suite of rooms #26-31 in the same office building. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1888, p. 482 and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1893, p. 651.)
Partner, Peters, Burns and Pretzinger, Architects, Dayton, OH, 1892-1906. In 1906, their office was in Room #1129 of the Reibold Building. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1906, p. 299.)
Chairman, Architects League Limited, Dayton, OH, 1907. During his last year in OH, Burns was listed in the Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1907, (p. 277) as being the Chairman of the "Architects League Limited," which retained its office in Room #1129 of the Reimold Building. This name change coincided with the dissolution of the Peters, Burns and Pretzinger firm. In the Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1907, (p. 1288), Peters formed another firm called "Peters, Hermann and Brown," and Albert Pretzinger formed his own solo practice. Peters, Hermann and Brown occupied Room #1129 of the Reimold Building, while Pretzinger worked in Room #1146.
Partner, Hunt, Burns and Eager, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1907-1910.
Partner, Hunt and Burns, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1910-1930. In the late 1880s, Burns came to Los Angeles in connection with his work building retirement facilities for veterans; (many Civil War veterans would have required assistance in the late 1880s and 1890s). He and his partner, Luther Peters, designed veterans' homes in Los Angeles, Marion IN, and Dayton, OH.
Professional Activities
Burns was granted a certificate to practice architecture in California, 11/1907. (See "Hunt, Eager and Burns," Architect and Engineer of California, 12/1907, vol. XI, no, 2, p. 84.)
Member, Engineers and Architects Association of Southern California, c. 1913; Member, Union League Club, c. 1913; Member, San Gabriel Valley Country Club, c. 1913; Member, National Citizens' League, c. 1913.
Professional Awards
Fellow, American Institute of Architects (FAIA), 1882.
High School/College
Burns attended a private secondary school in Virginia (what became West Virigina in 1863), and public schools in OH and WV.
B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, c. 1875.
Relocation
Silas Reese Burns was born in an area of Morgantown, VA, (later to become West Virginia, on 06/20/1863), known in 1855 as "Kingwood Pike." (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. West Virginia, Births Index, 1804-1938 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 10/17/2016. This birth index called Burns's birthplace "Ringwood Pike," but such a place doesn't exist; Kingwood Pike was a section of road in the Morgantown area.)
He and his mother lived in Bethel Township in Clark County, OH, just east of Cincinnati, in 1870. His mother worked as a seamstress, and lived with another woman, Eliza Verdier, (born c. 1830 in OH), a housekeeper. At age 14, the US Census reported, he worked on a farm to increase the family income. His mother had managed to save $1,000 in 1870, a reasonable savings. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Bethel, Clark, Ohio; Roll: M593_1180; Page: 38A; Image: 3083; Family History Library Film: 552679, accessed 10/17/2016.)
Early in his career, Burns, at times, dwelled in boarding houses in Dayton during the work week, but he felt a deep bond with his mother, and she lived with him for most of his life after 1875. He lived at 34 West 3rd Street in Dayton in 1876. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1876,p. 98.) A year later, he resided at 533 (what was 191) East 3rd Street in Dayton, and, by 1879, boarded in a house at Brown and Jackson Streets in Dayton. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1877, p. 98 and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1879, p. 94.) The 1880 US Census indicated that Silas and his mother, Susan Coombs Burns, lived in Troy, OH, on a farm with her father, Elisha (born c. 1797 in MD), a retired farmer, and mother, Elizabeth (born c. 1803 in MD). Troy was a town in Miami County, in the eastern portion of the state, just north of Dayton. Silas was already a practicing architect at this time working with Luther Peters. He wed a young woman, Laura Beall, in Troy in 1881.
While he lived in OH from c. 1877-1907, Burns moved very frequently. He boarded in a house 130 Brown Street in 1881. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1881, p. 96.) He lived with his first wife, Laura Beall and his mother at 319 West 5th Street in Dayton between 1882 and 1883. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1882, p. 106 and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1883, p. 111.) After Laura's death in 1884, he lived with his mother at 47 South Perry Street, on the northwest corner of Perry and 4th during 1885 and 1886. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1885, p. 120, and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1886, p. 126.)
Silas married again to Nettie Yeamans by late 1886.. Silas, his mother and Nettie dwelled at 73 East Green Street in both 1887 and 1888. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1887, p. 131 and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1888, p. 137.) Nettie died prematurely in 1889, and SIlas and his mother moved to 303 East 6th Street in Dayton in 1890. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1890, p. 158.)
After being a widower for two years, Silas again married, this time to Louise Devereaux. Silas his mother and Louise lived at 126 East 1st Street between 1890 and 1892. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1890, p. 158, Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1891, p. 160 and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1892, p. 167.) By 1893, they all relocated to 319 West 2nd Street in Dayton and remained here until at least 1896. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1893, p. 8 and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1896, p. 216.)
He lived on the corner of Main and Brown Streets in the town of Oakwood, OH, east of Dayton, in 1899 and part of 1900. (Again, his mother resided with them.) (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1899, p. 222 and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1900, p. 231)
The Burns Family moved to rural Van Buren Township, in Montgomery County, OH, in 1900. (There was also a "Van Buren, OH," in Hancock County, but this was much farther north.) The household had 10 inhabitants, including Burns, his wife and four children, his mother, a farm laborer, Norris Vinson (born c. 07/1878), and two African-American servants, widower Sidney Hawkins (born c. 05/1863 in KY) and his daughter, Jennie, (born c. 06/1888 in KY). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Van Buren, Montgomery, Ohio; Roll: 1308; Page: 20A; Enumeration District: 0099; FHL microfilm: 1241308, accessed 10/17/2016.)
By 1903, Burns had relocated to a place off the west side of Salem Pike, one-third of a mile north of the Dayton city line. Salem Pike (now known as "Salem Road") was situated to the northwest of Dayton near the town of Clayton, OH. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1903, p. 267,and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1906, p. 299.) The family continued to reside there in 1907.
It is unclear why Burns moved so frequently while he lived in or near Dayton, OH. What is clear, that once he arrived in CA, he became much more rooted in two residences.
Of his move to CA, an article in the Architect and Engineer of California wrote: "Mr. Burns has visited California periodically during the past twenty years, in fact, at the time the first buildings were being constructed at the Solders' Home in Los Angeles county, he was supervising architect of the work; as also of several other branches of the National Soldiers' Home. For twenty-five years he has practiced his profession in the East, where his firm gained a reputation for heavy construction work. For a number of years they were architects of various State institutions, schools and colleges, and many of these buildings were erected from their plans. Mr. Burns goes to Los Angeles to stay. He has been granted a certificate by the State Board of Architecture, and will hereafter be one of the firm of Hunt, Eager & Burns." (See "Hunt, Eager and Burns," Architect and Engineer of California, 12/1907, vol. XI, no, 2, p. 84.) The "Soldiers' Home" referred to was the one located in the Sawtelle neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Burns made his home in Alhambra, CA, and had an office in the Homer Laughlin Building in Downtown Los Angeles in 1913; (Laughlin, the ceramics magnate, was also from this part of the country, WV, and eastern OH). In 1910, the large Burns household dwelled at 21 South Almansor Street in Alhambra; at this time, the family consisted of Burns, his wife, Louise, their four children, and his mother, Susan. She brought her own retirement income into the household. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T624_87; Page: 25B; Enumeration District: 0325; FHL microfilm: 1374100, accessed 10/17/2016.) The 21 South Almansor Street address in the 1910s-1930s was variously listed as being in Alhambra and San Gabriel, CA.
The 1920 US Census recorded that Burns, his wife, and son continued to live at 21 South Almansor, Alhambra, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Alhambra, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_118; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 578; Image: 498, accessed 10/17/2016.)
He and Louise resided at 400 East Hermosa Drive in Alhambra from 1924-1937. (See the San Gabriel, California, City Directory, 1924, p. 446, Alhambra, California, City Directory, 1935, p. 594 and the San Gabriel, California, City Directory, 1937, p. 698.)
Burns died 08/10/1940, at his San Gabriel, CA, residence, aged eighty-five.
Parents
His parents were Silas Reese Burns, Sr., (born 01/23/1828- died 12/26/1854), a minister, and Susan Coombs (born c. 07 or 08/1827 in MD-died 08/25/1916 in San Gabriel, CA). They married in 1854, and had only one child due to Silas, Sr.'s death the day after Christmas 1854. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. West Virginia, Marriages Index, 1785-1971 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 10/17/2016.) Silas, Jr., was raised by a single mother during his whole childhood.
Spouse
The architect married at least three times. He first married Laura J. Beall (born 12/07/1859 in Miami County, OH-d. 08/17/1884 in Dayton, OH) on 05/05/1881 in Miami County, OH. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016, accessed 06/07/2024.) The youngest of three children, Laura lived in Troy, OH, in 1870, in the household of S.W. Beall (born c. 1825 in OH), a fairly well-off physician. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Troy, Miami, Ohio; Roll: M593_1244; Page: 270B, accessed 06/07/2024.) She died after three years of marriage at the age of 24 years, 8 months, and 10 days.
He then wed Nettie B. Yeamans (born 1864 in OH-d. 07/11/1889 in Dayton, OH) on 12/07/1886 in Dayton, OH, Probate Court. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016, accessed 06/07/2024.) Her father worked as a carriage maker in 1880. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1880, p. 487.) In 1884 and 1885, Nettie worked as a teacher before her marriage to Silas. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1884, p. 579 and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1885, p. 588.) Like his first wife Laura, Nettie passed away at the age of either 24 or 25, following three years of marriage.
Burns then married Louise Latham Devereux (born 01/06/1868 in MA-d. 07/27/1945 in Sacramento County, CA) in Cincinnati, OH, in 1891. She was about 14 years younger than he and came from a prominent Cincinnati family. Her father was Arthur Forrester Devereaux (born 04/27/1838 in Salem, MA-d. 02/13/1906 in Cincinnati, OH), a prominent Civil War veteran who rose from captain, to lieutenant colonel to colonel during the Civil War. He played a key role at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 helping to turn back Pickett's Charge by the Confederates. After the war, he was brevetted to brigadier general by President Andrew Johnson for his wartime activities. Devereaux moved to Cincinnati, where he became a state representative. The Deverauxs assumed a leadership role in local society, his wife Clara Anna Rich (born 11/14/1838 in Boston, MA-d. 02/26/1910 in Cincinnati, OH) publishing the social register for the city, Mrs. Devereux's Blue Book of Cincinnati, in 1894. His last wife Louise was by far the most socially prominent of his three wives and likely the wealthiest.
Children
He and Louise Devereux had four children all born in the Dayton area: Shirley D. Burns (born c. 03/1892), Paul D. Burns (born c. 10/1893), Charlotte D. Burns (born c. 05/1895), and Bruce Burns (born c. 11/1897). All of the children were alive in 1910.
Biographical Notes
Who's Who in American Art, vol. IV, 1940-47.
PCAD id: 188
