1889 History of Madison County, Arkansas
Goodspeed, 1889. Page 1085.
BURNEY, James Wesley, was born in Lauderdale County, Ala., December 4, 1825, and has resided in Madison County, Ark., longer than any other man in the county. His father, Charles Burney, was born near Dublin, Ireland, and came with his father to America, locating in North Carolina, then in Tennessee, and afterward in Alabama. The grandfather, Samuel Burney, served throughout the Revolutionary War, and was flag-bearer at the battle of Bunker Hill. He died in Lauderdale County, Ala., in 1848, and was buried with military honors. Charles Burney was a farmer, and during the late war, owing to the persecution he was obliged to undergo at the hands of the Southern sympathizers, was compelled to leave Alabama. He was a strong Union man. He was married to Mary King, and by her became the father of nine children, only four of whom are living: Carson P., Frances (wife of David Cook), James Wesley and John F. The mother died in Lawrence County, Mo., in 1874, being about seventy-three years of age, and the father died near Sedalia. Mo., in 1870, aged seventy- [sic] Mrs. Burney's parents were born in Sheffield, England, and after coming to the United States located first in South Carolina, then in Alabama, and lastly in Missouri. James Wesley Burney, whose name heads this sketch, was married at the age of nineteen years to Elizabeth Renick, who was born in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1828, and a daughter of William Renick. Ten children blessed their union: Thomas J. (deceased), Phoebe Ann (wife of Thomas Neal), William Pickens (deceased) Mary Matilda (wife of Samuel Wethers), Robert R., John M. (deceased), Haswell K., Louisa Jane (wife of Jacob Norris), Frank X. and Rebecca E. When first married Mr. Burney followed the occupation of farming, and the following nineteen years were spent at marble cutting and engraving, which he had learned at Fayetteville, Ark. He served in Company D, First Arkansas Infantry, United States Army, and was honorably discharged August 10, 1865. He participated in many battles, and served as orderly-sergeant. He is a Republican and a member of the I. O. O. F., and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.