Joseph M. Burns, a pioneer business man of Jackson county, was born in Daviess county, Indiana, March 20, 1859, and is a son of Charles R. and Emalie J. (Hasting) Burns. The father was a farmer and stock raiser and when Joseph M. was four years old the family came to Kansas and settled on the green rolling prairies where the father was engaged in farming and stock raising for several years. He was prominent in early day politics and was elected to the legislature from Jackson county in 1871. He also served as township trustee and held other local offices. He retired from business in the sunset of his life, and spent a few years in Hoyt, where he died in March, 1910, and where his widow now resides. Joseph M. Burns began his education in the subscription schools of the early days in Kansas, and later attended the public schools, and he was a student at Washburn College for a time. He then engaged in farming and stock raising in Jackson county for four years, and about this time the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad was built into the town of Hoyt. There was a store and post office named Hoyt, two miles west of the present town of Hoyt, and Mr. Burns bought this stock and accepted the appointment of postmaster, with the understanding that the post office should be moved to the railroad. This was the beginning of the present town of Hoyt, and his store building was one of the first, if not the first, building in the town. He continued in the general mercantile business there three years when he sold out, and engaged in the grain business at that point. There was no elevator at that time, and grain was loaded direct into the cars from wagons. Mr. Burns operated in this way about five years, when an elevator was built, which he managed a few years, when he engaged in the insurance and collecting business, and about the same time, became assistant cashier of the Hoyt State Bank and served in that capacity for six or seven years. He is still interested in the bank, and has various other local interests. He was married July 1, 1880, to Miss Susan F. Maris, daughter of L. D. and Sophrono Maris, natives of Iowa who came to Jackson county in 1879, where the father engaged in farming and stock raising. Mrs. Burns is a native of Iowa and was educated in the public schools of her native State. To Mr. and Mrs. Burns have been born four children: Lewis C., a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Reuben, an employee of the United States Express Company, Topeka, married Maggie O'Brien and they have one child, Elenor Belle; Raymond, assistant cashier of the Hoyt State Bank, and Elenor, deceased. The wife and mother departed this life January 20, 1903. On September 20, 1905, Mr. Burns married Miss Clemma Peyrouse, daughter of John and Mary Peyrouse, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Kansas and located in Pottawatomie county. Mrs. Burns was born in Pennsylvania and was educated in the public schools of that State and Kansas. She taught school in Pottawatomie county five years prior to her marriage. Mrs. Burns is a member of the Catholic church.