MARK L. BURNS

Sacramento County

Biographies

MARK L. BURNS

MARK L. BURNS.--Blackstone can have no idle regrets if he is able to see with what consummate mastery he is represented by the scholarly and high-minded bar of California, among whom one of Sacramento County’s most devoted members is Mark L. Burns, the attorney of the capital city. He was born near Porterville, on March 9, 1873, the son of Frank G. and Caroline (Woody) Burns—the former a sturdy emigrant who came over the great plains with a slow-moving oxen-train. The party was attacked by Indians, and as a consequence lost all they had, and our subject’s father was lucky to reach the Golden State at all. He was only seventeen then, however, young and lusty, and for five years he continued at hard work in the mines. Then he removed to Porterville, and took up the stock business, and for a number of years, he was deputy sheriff, and it fell to his lot to arrest John Best, the outlaw. He died in 1912, having rounded out an eventful and exceedingly useful career. He was survived by his wife, who is now the center of a circle of devoted friends.

After finishing the grammar-school and high-school three-year courses, Mark Burns put in three years in Kent’s Law School at San Francisco, and in 1911, after successfully sustaining the exacting bar examinations, was admitted to the practice of law in California. He hung out his shingle a year and a half in Siskiyou County, and a year in Oroville, Butte County, where he was fairly successful, and now he confines himself to general practice in Sacramento. He belongs to the state and county bar associations, and the Native Sons of the Golden West; and he is a Democrat whose experience is prized in the counsels of the party.

Mr. Burns has been twice married, first to Miss Emma Longenbaker, by whom he had eight children: Lena May has become Mrs. A. L. Wible and has one child living; Raymond L. is the eldest son; Elsie is Mrs. H. A. La Salle and has two children; then come John F., Albert, Emma, Marie and Mark L., Jr., who died aged twelve. The wife and mother died in 1908. His second marriage united him with Miss Georgia Jones, cousin of the celebrated minister, the Rev. Sam Jones, and their union has resulted in the birth of two children, Virginia and Edwin P. Mr. Burns belongs to the Knights of Pythias and also to the Moose.

Transcribed by P. J. Delventhal.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 517. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.