WHO WAS SHERIFF JAMES BURNS?
James Christopher Burns was the son of John and Lydia Ann Porter Burns. He was born in Linden-Rock Port, Atchison Missouri in September of 1849. His parents were headed for California in the Great Gold Rush of 1849.
At the place known as “the Last Crossing of the Sweetwater”, in the State of Wyoming, two-month-old baby James Burns was found by a company of other travelers. He was lying at his mother’s breast. Both parents lay cold in the embrace of death. They had succumbed to the deadly disease of cholera. Deadly cholera is a very contagious disease. One brave soul from the company by the name of Milton Dailey risked his life to save the baby, if possible. The kind-hearted people of the wagon train did what they could for the baby, and they put forth efforts to find any relatives.
Arriving in Salt Lake City, they found the Saints gathering for the conference, and Milton Dailey gave the baby to Brigham Young who held him in his arms before the conference gathering, told of his parents' tragic death, and asked for information. The baby’s aunt, his mother’s sister, was among the saints and claimed the child.
He was then taken to the home of his grandmother at Provo, Utah. His early boyhood and manhood were spent in Mt. Pleasant, where he was educated and grew to the type of man that earned the love and respect of all who came in contact with him.
He fell in love with Matilda Josephine Anderson. It was thought by many to be “love at first sight”. James Burns often remarked that when he gazed into Matilda’s eyes of blue, he knew she was the one being in the world to make him happy. They were married on the 22nd March 1869.
After the Blackhawk War, he made friends with the red men, allowing his children to play with them, learn the Indian songs and dances, and many of their phrases.
James Burns prospered and progressed and became the Sheriff of Mt. Pleasant, and later served the people of Sanpete County in the same capacity.
Then on the 24th of September 1894, he received a telegraph notice from Scott Bruno, asking him to meet him in the morning at Moroni, as there had been a sheep-stealing case.
The following is taken from the writings of Niels Heber Anderson:
‘Bill Brewer, Scott Bruno, Niels Heber Anderson, and Sheriff James Burns confronted sheep rustlers at Reader’s Ridgeback of the Horseshoe Mountain. Evidence of the changing of the earmarks and brands made it quite clear that certain sheep had been stolen.
Sheriff Burns made an attempt to place the rustlers under arrest without first disarming them. As he approached them, they shot and killed the sheriff, then warned the other men that if they did not stay out of the affair, they would receive the same treatment as had been given the sheriff.
Bill Brewer and Anderson brought the news to Spring City and Mt. Pleasant. Thomas Braby, with the Mt. Pleasant Militia, was soon on the scene of the shooting, and the body of James C. Burns was taken to Mt. Pleasant. Although the Militia searched and guarded for a couple of weeks in the ledges and dense timber, the murderers were never apprehended.
“James Burns’ life was short but some there are who do not have to live long to accomplish big things. He was killed in the performance of his duty.” Olivia Burns – daughter in law and author of James Burns History
James Christopher Burns was the son of John and Lydia Ann Porter Burns. He was born in Linden-Rock Port, Atchison Missouri in September of 1849. His parents were headed for California in the Great Gold Rush of 1849.
At the place known as “the Last Crossing of the Sweetwater”, in the State of Wyoming, two-month-old baby James Burns was found by a company of other travelers. He was lying at his mother’s breast. Both parents lay cold in the embrace of death. They had succumbed to the deadly disease of cholera. Deadly cholera is a very contagious disease. One brave soul from the company by the name of Milton Dailey risked his life to save the baby, if possible. The kind-hearted people of the wagon train did what they could for the baby, and they put forth efforts to find any relatives.
Arriving in Salt Lake City, they found the Saints gathering for the conference, and Milton Dailey gave the baby to Brigham Young who held him in his arms before the conference gathering, told of his parents' tragic death, and asked for information. The baby’s aunt, his mother’s sister, was among the saints and claimed the child.
He was then taken to the home of his grandmother at Provo, Utah. His early boyhood and manhood were spent in Mt. Pleasant, where he was educated and grew to the type of man that earned the love and respect of all who came in contact with him.
He fell in love with Matilda Josephine Anderson. It was thought by many to be “love at first sight”. James Burns often remarked that when he gazed into Matilda’s eyes of blue, he knew she was the one being in the world to make him happy. They were married on the 22nd March 1869.
After the Blackhawk War, he made friends with the red men, allowing his children to play with them, learn the Indian songs and dances, and many of their phrases.
James Burns prospered and progressed and became the Sheriff of Mt. Pleasant, and later served the people of Sanpete County in the same capacity.
Then on the 24th of September 1894, he received a telegraph notice from Scott Bruno, asking him to meet him in the morning at Moroni, as there had been a sheep-stealing case.
The following is taken from the writings of Niels Heber Anderson:
‘Bill Brewer, Scott Bruno, Niels Heber Anderson, and Sheriff James Burns confronted sheep rustlers at Reader’s Ridgeback of the Horseshoe Mountain. Evidence of the changing of the earmarks and brands made it quite clear that certain sheep had been stolen.
Sheriff Burns made an attempt to place the rustlers under arrest without first disarming them. As he approached them, they shot and killed the sheriff, then warned the other men that if they did not stay out of the affair, they would receive the same treatment as had been given the sheriff.
Bill Brewer and Anderson brought the news to Spring City and Mt. Pleasant. Thomas Braby, with the Mt. Pleasant Militia, was soon on the scene of the shooting, and the body of James C. Burns was taken to Mt. Pleasant. Although the Militia searched and guarded for a couple of weeks in the ledges and dense timber, the murderers were never apprehended.
“James Burns’ life was short but some there are who do not have to live long to accomplish big things. He was killed in the performance of his duty.” Olivia Burns – daughter in law and author of James Burns History
~~~~~
Niels Heber Anderson Account
 |
| Niels Heber Anderson |
 |
| Niels Heber Anderson |
Father lived in a most exciting period of the earth's history. He drove oxen and lived to see
automobiles and the airplane.
Apparently some sheep stealing had been going on in Sanpete County. Bill Brewer of Mt. Pleasant, Scott Bruno and my father, Niels Heber Anderson, of Moroni, on the 26th day of November, 1894, in company with Sheriff James Burns, came upon Moan Kofford and Jim Mickle at Reader's Ridge, back of the Horse Shoe Mountain.
Evidence of the changing of the ear marks in sheep and brands made it quite clear that certain sheep had been stolen. Sheriff Burns made an attempt to place Moan Kofford and Jim Mickle under arrest without first disarming them. As he approached them they shot and killed the sheriff, then warned the other men that if they did not stay out of the affair they would receive the same treatment as had been given the sheriff.
Hilda Madsen Longsdorf, in her book entitled Mount Pleasant, recorded the incident as follows: "November 26, 1894, Sheriff James Burns, while attempting to place Moan Kofford and Jim Mickle under arrest for stealing sheep, was shot and killed by them, several shots entering his body. The shooting took place on Reader's Ridge, back of the Horse Shoe Mountains, also called Orson Hyde's Arm Chair, or the Bishop's Chair. Bill Brewer, Heber Anderson and Scott Bruno witnessed the shooting. Bill Brewer and Anderson brought the news to Spring City. Thomas Braby, with the militia of Mt. Pleasant, was soon on the scene of the shooting, and the body was taken to Mt. Pleasant.
Although the Militia searched and guarded for a couple of weeks in the ledges and dense timber, the murderers were never apprehended." (Mount Pleasant, 1859-1930, Hilda Madsen Longsdorf, Stevens and Wallacis, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 175)
Father was nervous about the threat Kofford and Mickle had given him and the two other men and shortly after the incident, purchased a "six shooter" which he carried for several years thereafter. He told me that he had decided to sell his life as dearly as possible if ever he met Kofford or Mickle and the occasion might require it.
Many years after the shooting of Sheriff Burns took place, Father was asked to accompany the Sanpete County law officials into Idaho. A certain man, while drinking in a bar boasted of having killed Sheriff James Burns in Sanpete County, Utah. He claimed to be Moan Kofford. He was arrested and was being held in jail until the matter could be investigated. Bill Brewer and Scott Bruno were deceased and father was the only living witness to the shooting.
Father was well acquainted with Moan Kofford and as he entered the jail, he could hear a man singing and this was something he had never known Kofford to have ever done; but to be positive of his identification, he asked the man to walk down the hallway. As he did so, Father was positive that he was not Moan Kofford because Kofford had a peculiar gait as he walked.
Father said that he had seen Moan Kofford only once after the shooting. Kofford was driving a freight wagon near Levan and as their eyes met, Kofford pulled his hat down so as to cover his face and at the same time put the whip to the team.
 |
| Sheriff James Burns |
Niels Heber Anderson
Niels Heber Anderson
Father lived in a most exciting period of the earth's history. He drove oxen and lived to see
automobiles and the airplane.
Apparently some sheep stealing had been going on in Sanpete
County. Bill Brewer of Mt. Pleasant, Scott Bruno and my father, Niels Heber Anderson, of
Moroni, on the 26th day of November, 1894, in company with Sheriff James Burns, came upon
Moan Kofford and Jim Mickle at Reader's Ridge, back of the Horse Shoe Mountain.
Evidence of
the changing of the ear marks in sheep and brands made it quite clear that certain sheep had been
stolen.
Sheriff Burns made an attempt to place Moan Kofford and Jim Mickle under arrest without
first disarming them. As he approached them they shot and killed the sheriff, then warned the
other men that if they did not stay out of the affair they would receive the same treatment as had
been given the sheriff.
Hilda Madsen Longsdorf, in her book entitled Mount Pleasant, recorded
the incident as follows: "November 26, 1894, Sheriff James Burns, while attempting to place
Moan Kofford and Jim Mickle under arrest for stealing sheep, was shot and killed by them,
several shots entering his body. The shooting took place on Reader's Ridge, back of the Horse
Shoe Mountains, also called Orson Hyde's Arm Chair, or the Bishop's Chair. Bill Brewer, Heber
Anderson and Scott Bruno witnessed the shooting. Bill Brewer and Anderson brought the news
to Spring City. Thomas Braby, with the militia of Mt. Pleasant, was soon on the scene of the
shooting, and the body was taken to Mt. Pleasant.
Although the Militia searched and guarded for
a couple of weeks in the ledges and dense timber, the murderers were never
apprehended." (Mount Pleasant, 1859-1930, Hilda Madsen Longsdorf, Stevens and Wallacis,
Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 175)
Father was nervous about the threat Kofford and Mickle had given him and the two other men
and shortly after the incident, purchased a "six shooter" which he carried for several years
thereafter. He told me that he had decided to sell his life as dearly as possible if ever he met
Kofford or Mickle and the occasion might require it.
Many years after the shooting of Sheriff Burns took place, Father was asked to accompany the
Sanpete County law officials into Idaho. A certain man, while drinking in a bar boasted of
having killed Sheriff James Burns in Sanpete County, Utah. He claimed to be Moan Kofford. He
was arrested and was being held in jail until the matter could be investigated. Bill Brewer and
Scott Bruno were deceased and father was the only living witness to the shooting.
Father was well acquainted with Moan Kofford and as he entered the jail, he could hear a man
singing and this was something he had never known Kofford to have ever done; but to be
positive of his identification, he asked the man to walk down the hallway. As he did so, Father
was positive that he was not Moan Kofford because Kofford had a peculiar gait as he walked.
Father said that he had seen Moan Kofford only once after the shooting. Kofford was driving
a freight wagon near Levan and as their eyes met, Kofford pulled his hat down so as to cover his
face and at the same time put the whip to the team.
Only speculation.
I'm also interested in why it was appended they were apprehended. What info was given and by whom to make the change?
Provo Dispatch | 1895-08-06 | Handy with a Pistol
7 comments:
Haha, not sure I should admit this here, but Mickel is my ancestor. We have lots of speculative information passed down through our family, but we also do not know exactly what happened, after the boys the ran.
We have several versions of the story, though.
Does it matter today. I am a Burns decedent, and quite proud of it. And there are several versions. One includes Marshall Aquila Nebeker. It appears he was appointed in July of 1894?
If you have another version which Marshall Aquilla Nebeker appears, we would welcome you to email it to us. pandk@cut.net
I would also love to see any versions others have. kaeli.chae@gmail.com
@Anonymous, no I don't feel that it matters at this point, but most of the comments and resources seem to come from the other side... so I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested in hearing from us. Haha. We are also of the opinion that this is all done and over in the past.
Of course, I think everything I have heard and read is readily available online and in Family History documents through various websites.
We have heard/read that Kofford died of more or less natural causes (illness) in a hospital in California.
We've also been told that Mickel was eventually found and shot in Arizona, working in mines.
But we've never found any documentation to support it. It's just hearsay passed down between families and others involved or interested parties.
Curious is Moen Koffard is my ancestor. I’ve seen his name spelled “Koffard” and “Kofford”, my last name being the former. Our family has lived in Utah, California, and Washington over the century. Does anyone have any more information about him? I would love to learn more.
I have seen various spellings of it as I've researched, so it's possible. We have no definitive information of what happened to either of them after they ran, but it seems there's more evidence that Kofford died of illness.
Post a Comment