John Aloysius Burns (1896 - 1944)

Born 6 Jun 1896 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States

Husband of Sadie M. Burns — married 24 Apr 1922 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States

Died 17 Mar 1944 at age 47 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Robert Haviland [send private message]

Biography

SGT John Burns served in the United States Army in World War I
Service started: 29 Jun 1917
Unit(s): Company I, 14 INF NY NG; Battery E, 105 FA, 27 DIV; 322d Field Remount Squadron
Service ended: 11 Nov 1919

John "Jack" Aloysius Burns, son of Michael and Nellie Burns, born in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, 6 June 1896; died at the Stamford Hospital, Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, 17 March 1944, age 47; buried Spring Grove Cemetery, Darien, Fairfield County, Connecticut; Roman Catholic; soldier, postal clerk, Yale & Towne employee, Airadio employee; married in Stamford, Fairfield County, 24 April 1922, Sadie M. Burns. [See below for sources.]

Timeline

(Non-family, contemporary events are indented.)

1896, Jun 6. Birth of John Aloysius Burns in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]}

1900, Jun 12. U.S. Federal Census. 12 Jun 1900. The Burns family renting at 9 Fourth Place in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. Head of household Michael Burns, born May 1866 Ireland, age 34, married 8 years, day laborer, immigrated 1884; wife Nellie, born May 1875 Ireland, age 28, married 8 years, 2 children and 2 living, immigrated 1890; son John, born Jun 1896 New York, age 3; daughter Annie, born Apr 1898 New York, age 2.^[1]

1903, Dec 7. "Orville Wright travels 40 yards in the first successful powered flight, at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina." History World.. National Park Service.

1913, Feb 3. The 16th Amendment to the Constitution made income tax a permanent part of the United States tax system. Wikipedia.

1917, Jun 29. Enlisted as Private in Company I, 14th Infantry Regiment, New York National Guard at Brooklyn, NY.^[3][4]

1917, Jul 22. Mustered in to service.^[3]

1917, Aug 5. The New York National Guard was drafted into the service of the United States by presidential order.

1917, Oct 18. Transferred as Private to Battery E, 105 Field Artillery, 27th Division.^[3][4]

1917, Nov 19. Transferred to Remount Depot 307, Quartermaster Corps.^[4]

1918, Jul 31. Quartermaster Dept. Camp Johnston, FL.^[4]

1918, Aug 12. Transferred to 322d Field Remount Squadron (until discharge).^[4]

US ARMY FIELD REMOUNT SQUADRONS OF WW1 It was the field remount squadrons that trained at the Auxiliary Remount Stations in the US that went overseas to France to handle the resupplying of Horses and Mules for the Army. There was Field Remount Squadrons in many units of the US Army in France. . . .
FIELD REMOUNT SQUADRON NO. 322

Organized July 1918 at Camp Joseph E Johnston, Florida, Stationed at Camp Merritt, New Jersey, Point of Embarkation Newport News, VA. . . .
These Squadrons took part in every phase of animal care in the A.E.F. and were in constant demand for duty in Armies, Corps and at Remount Depots. The services rendered by them were invaluable where ever they were placed, and those that were sent to Armies received the commendation of the Army authorities, not only for the Remount work they performed but for the assistance they gave in evacuating debilitated animals. The services rendered by these Squadrons, compared with the conclusively that experienced personnel should be provided for the handling of animals. The following listing shows the Squadrons that arrived in France. . . .
Remount Squadron No 322: Date of Arrival, September 28, 1918; Number of officers 5; Number of enlisted men, 152; Commanding Officer, Captain H.E. Reed; Original Station, Carbon Blanc.^[9]

1918, Sep 8. Overseas.^[4] Point of embarkation was Newport News, VA.^[9]

1918, Sep 28. Date of Arrival in Europe.^[9]

1918, Oct 8. Made rank of Corporal.^[4]

1919, Aug 18. Made rank of Sergeant.^[4]

1919, Nov 9. Return to United States from overseas.^[4]

1919, Nov 11. Honorably Discharged.^[4]

1922, Apr 24. Marriage of John Aloysius Burns and Sadie M. Burns at St. John's Catholic Church in Stamford.

Burns--Burns. A pretty wedding was held this morning in St. John's Catholic church, when Miss Sadie Burns, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Burns of West Avenue, became the bride of John A. Burns, son of Michael Burns of Brooklyn. Rev. John J. Kelly performed the marriage. Miss Evelyn Mitchell of Stamford was the bridgesmaid and Frank Bunien of Kingston, N. Y., was Mr. Burns best man.
The bride wore a periwinkle canton crepe dress with a picture hat to match. She carried a bridal bouquet of white roses. Miss Mitchell wore a French blue crepe dress with hat to match. She carried pink roses.
A wedding breakfast and reception at the home of the bride's brother, James Burns, Ardmore Road, followed the ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Burns will make their home in Greenwich upon their return from the honeymoon which will be spent in Atlantic City.^[10]

1923, Oct 25. Birth of daughter Helen Ann Burns in Stamford.

1928, Jun 2. Birth of daughter Eileen M. Burns in Stamford.

1929. The Stamford City Directory has the entry: "Burns John A (Sadie) mgr S Norwalk h Harvard av".^[11]

1930, Apr 8. U.S. Federal Census. The Burns family owning a home, with radio set, on Harvard Ave. Head of household John A. Burns, age 33, postal clerk, WW veteran; wife Sadie, age 34; daughter Helen, age 6; daughter Eileen, age 1 10/12.^[2]

1937, Jan. This is the first month that Social Security taxes were collected. Social Security.

1938. The Stamford City Directory has: "Burns John A (Sadie M) h[ouse] 148 Harvard av".^[11]

1942, Apr 2. John's WW II draft card includes: Serial No. 95; Name: John Aloysius Burns; Residence: 148 Harvard Ave., Stamford, Fairfield, Conn.; Age: 45; Birth: Brooklyn, NY, 6 Jun 1896; Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Mrs. John Burns (same address); Employer: Yale & Towne, Henry St., Stamford; Height: 5'-11", Weight: 145; Complexion: light, Eyes: brown, Hair: brown; Dated 2 Apr 1942 Stamford, CT.^[7]

1944, Mar 17. Death of John Aloysius Burns in Stamford. John died after being struck by an automobile while crossing West Main Street near West Avenue. Perhaps he was walking to home at 148 Harvard Avenue at the time. John was buried in the Soldier's Section of Spring Grove Cemetery, Darien, Fairfield County, Connecticut on 20 March.^[5][6]

Struck by a car at West Main St. and West Ave, last night at 8:55, John A. Burns, 45, of 148 Harvard Ave., died at 10:35 p.m. in Stamford Hospital. The driver of the car, George H. Stadel, 38, of 426 Shippan Ave., was booked on a technical charge of manslaughter and was released after posting a $2,500 surety bond.
Walking from the north to the south side of West Main St., Burns was hit by Stadel's station wagon which was traveling east.
Dr. Ralph W. Crane, Stamford medical examiner, stated that Burns suffered a fractured skull, fractured nose and fractured left leg.
Stadel told police that he didn't see Burns until it was too late to avoid striking the man.
Burns was taken to the hospital in the police ambulance, driven by Policeman James Riley. The police investigation was conducted by Acting Dets. John McInervey and Frank McGuinness, and Policemen Thomasson, Lionetti, J. Lynch and Stephen Black.
Native of Brooklyn,
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Burns resided here for the past 24 years. He was employed at Airadio, inc.
He is survived by his widow, Sadie Burns; two daughters, Helen and Eileen Burns of Stamford; also by two sisters, Mrs. Anna Curley of Bronx, N.Y., and Mrs. Margaret Farrell of Brooklyn, N.Y.
The funeral will be from the Pritchard Funeral Home Monday morning at 9:30 to St. Clement's Church at 10 for Requiem Mass. Interment will follow in Spring Grove Cemetery, Darien.^[8]

Her husband [John A. Burns] died on St Patrick's day.
My Mom and some of her girlfriends were walking into the Hibernian Hall for St Pats day festivities and PopPop was rushing out, his brother in law had just been hit by a car.
Mom says he was a real nice man and had very fond memories of him.^[12]

Research Notes

John's service record in the timeline was compiled from the New York Abstracts of National Guard Service in WW I. A best effort was made to compile the dates and places but due to conflicting information, abbreviations, and date, it may contain some errors.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} 1900 Census.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} 1930 Census.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} New York State Archives.
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10} New York State Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917–1919
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Find A Grave.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Social Security Applications and Claims.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Stamford Advocate, Saturday, 18 Mar 1944, pp 1, 6, John A. Burns, 45, Killed by Auto On West Main St.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} Krenzelok, Greg.
10. ↑ Stamford Advocate, Monday, 24 Apr 1922, p 7.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} U.S. City Directories.
12. ↑ Cody, John James.

• 1900 United States Federal Census. Brooklyn Ward 6, Kings, New York; Page: 16; Enumeration District: 0064.

• 1930 United States Federal Census. Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut; Roll: 259; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0188; FHL microfilm: 2339994.

• Cody, John James. Recollections of his mother, Ann Marie (Burns) Cody, as told to Robert Alan Haviland via email, 30 Jun 2019.

• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com). Find A Grave: Memorial #70602282. Memorial includes a photograph of the gravestone.

• Krenzelok, Greg. "The Army Veterinary Service During The Great War, WW1." freepages.rootsweb.com. Accessed 29 Jun 2019.

• New York State Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917–1919. Adjutant General's Office. Series B0808. New York State Archives, Albany, New York. [Ancestry.com. New York, Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.]. John A.; Army Serial No. 1,224,300.]

• New York State Archives; Albany, New York; Abstracts of National Guard Service in World War I, 1917-1919; Series: 13721; Box: 11; Volume: 33. [Ancestry.com. New York, Abstracts of National Guard Service in WWI, 1917-1919 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.]. John A.; Army Serial No. 1,224,300.]

• Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. [Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.] [Name: John A. Burns; Birth Date: 7 Jun 1895; Birth Place: Brooklyn, New York; Death Date: 17 Mar 1944; Claim Date: 22 Mar 1944; SSN: 043018161.]

• Spring Grove Cemetery (Darien, CT, USA). John A. Burns' headstone. Photographed by John James Cody, 30 Jun 2019. Used with permission.

• Stamford Advocate. Stamford, CT: Gillespie Bros., Inc. [Copies are available at the Ferguson Library in Stamford, CT and on www.genealogybank.com (pay site with free trial.]

• U.S. City Directories (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Provo, UT, USA), (Stamford, CT. 1929, p 157; 1938, p 204.)

• U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 (4th Draft) (National Archives Microfilm publications M1936, M1937, M1939, M1951, M1962, M1964, M1986, M2090, and M2097). [United States, Selective Service System. Selective Service Registration Cards, World War II: Fourth Registration. Records of the Selective Service System, Record Group Number 147. National Archives and Records Administration. Serial No. 95; Name: John Aloysius Burns; Residence: 148 Harvard Ave., Stamford, Fairfield, Conn.]