BIOGRAPHY: James P. BURNS, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 214-6
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JAMES P. BURNS, well-known as the popular proprietor of the Arlington hotel, 
Johnstown, this county, was born at what is now South Fork, on November 25, 
1855, and is a son of James and Mary (Kelly) Burns.
     In county Donegal, Ireland, on March 10, 1832, was born James Burns, the 
father of the subject of this record. James Burns was reared upon his native 
island until eighteen years of age, when, desiring to better his condition and 
to seek a liberty not attainable in that country, he emigrated to America in 
1850. What is now known as South Fork was then known as the Halfway House. It 
was to this point that Mr. Burns came. The Pennsylvania railroad was then being 
built, and he secured a position in the construction of that road as sub-
division boss. He was in this employ about four years, when he removed to what 
is now Cambria city, where he purchased a tract of land and became one of the 
earliest settlers and founders of the place. For about eighteen years after 
locating in the latter place he was engaged in the ore mines of the Cambria Iron 
company. After the expiration of that time he purchased a farm in Lower Yoder 
township, and lived upon it a quiet life as a tiller of the soil, until death 
ended his active and industrious life on January 27, 1878.
     Politically he was a democrat of the strongest convictions, a man who 
labored zealously for his party; and although he had but a limited education, 
yet was frequently called to political positions of trust and honor. He was a 
man of considerable mathematical talent. He served a number of years as tax 
collector in Cambria city borough, and also in Lower Yoder township. When the 
district court was held in Johnstown, he served a number of years as tipstaff.
     His marriage with Mary Kelly resulted in the birth of nine children: 
Cornelius, who resides on the old homestead, in Lower Yoder township; James P., 
subject; John A., who is a locomotive engineer, of Chicago, Illinois; Charles, 
alderman of the Fifteenth ward, Johnstown; Daniel, now deceased, was a traveling 
salesman for Corliss Brothers, collar and cuff manufacturers; Jerre, in the 
hotel business, in Elyria, Ohio; Mary, the wife of Edward Waltz, of 
Morrellville, this county; Patrick and Katie both died in infancy.
     James P. Burns had the advantages of but a common school education. 
Striking out into the world on his own account, he cast his fortunes among the 
coal miners of the anthracite coal regions of Penesylvania [sic], following this 
line of work about one year, when he returned to Johnstown. He took a position 
under the employ of the Cambria Iron company, where he learned the trade of a 
wire galvanizer, and worked at that trade for that company about sixteen years. 
He then learned the trade of a roller, and for a year and a half was engaged in 
the rolling of clock springs, paragon wire and brush wire. This was a line of 
work requiring the greatest skill; and so apt was Mr. Burns in the conception 
and execution of the work, that he was given a foremanship in that department a 
short time prior to the flood, which destroyed the enterprise. Although the 
establishment which had given him employment had been carried down in the path 
of destruction, yet Mr. Burns was not without a business and an avocation. A 
short time prior to that great calamity he had built a hotel in Minersville, now 
the Fourteenth ward of Johnstown, and after the flood devoted his energies to 
the running of this popular place, the Arlington hotel, a first-class frame 
building.
     June 29, 1880, Mr. Burns and Kate, a daughter of Michael Connelly, were 
happily married, and their union has resulted in the birth of six children: 
Daniel, Mary, Susan, Irene, Katie and Columbus.
     Politically Mr. Burns is a democrat, and formerly took an active part in 
the affairs of his party, holding the offices of treasurer one term, and 
councilman two terms, of Millville borough, before it became a part of the city 
organization.