James Burns

As printed in 1889

JAMES BURNS was born November 10, 1810. At the age of nine years he left his home in Lewis County, New York, started in life for himself, and in 1826 commenced to learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner, in Turin, New York. Subsequently he attended the Louisville Academy, studying in the winter, and in the summer working at his trade.

In 1834 he came to Detroit, where he pursued his trade for a year. The succeeding year he traveled on horseback over a large part of the wilds of Michigan, and bought for himself and others large amounts of wild land.

He afterwards became clerk in the dry goods house of Olney Cook, and after two years' service became a partner, under the firm name of Cook & Burns, For seven years they transacted business in a store on Jefferson avenue, where the Old Masonic Hall now stands, and during that time their establishment became one of the best known Business houses in the city. After several years Mr. Cook retired, and T. L. Partridge was taken into partnership, and the firm then became James Burns & Co., and under this name carried on a very successful business for fully twenty years. In 1850 the business was removed to the east side of Woodward avenue, just north of Jefferson avenue. In 1866 Mr. Partridge retired, and Lucien A. Smith was admitted as partner, the firm name changing to Burns & Smith, and remaining thus until 1874, when Mr Burns retired, having been in the dry goods business in Detroit for nearly forty years.

In 1 86 1, when the first Board of Review for the city was provided for by the Legislature, Mr. Burns was nominated by Mayor C. H. Buhl as a member of the Board, was confirmed by the Council, and served in this position twelve years, having been nominated and re-nominated by five successive Mayors and appointed by five successive Councils of different political principles from his own. He resigned in 1873, when elected as Representative in the State Legislature. As a member of that body he was appointed upon the Committee of Ways and Means, and on many of the most prominent special committees, and strove to make himself useful rather than conspicuous.

In 1873 he erected the Burns Block on Griswold street, and in 1877, with Mr. Buhl, he erected a block on Woodward avenue, on the site of the old Odd Fellows' Hall.

In 1876 he was Appointed, by the Governor, a member of the Board of Control of the State Public School at Coldwater, arid in 1877, was elected President of the Board, retaining the position for several years.

Mr. Burns was married on April 20, 1838, to Aurilla A. Bacon. They were members of the Central Methodist Episcopal Church of Detroit for over forty years, longer than any other married couple in a membership of over seven hundred. During this time the location of the church was changed three times, each time being moved northward on Woodward avenue. Mr. Burns filled many of the most prominent positions in the church, and always gave largely towards its support.

As a business man, Mr. Burns's unfailing characteristics were industry and integrity. As a citizen, he took a spirited interest in everything that tended to the prosperity of the city, doing much towards its material improvement by the erection of fine buildings, and contributed freely of his means to worthy and benevolent enterprises. In all his intercourse with others he was plain and unassuming; his advice and judgment on business matters was frequently sought, and he was eminently methodical in the management of his own affairs, and trusted and esteemed as a man and a Christian.

He died on December 7, 1883. His daughters, Mrs. Henry A. Newland, Mrs. Rev. J. M. Buckley, and Mrs. A. M. Henry, all died before him. His wife and three grandchildren are still living.

WILLIAM KIEFT COYL only son of James Coyl, sea captain, and Lydia (Hicks) Coyl, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, February 1 3, 1 808. The first years of his life were spent in New York City with relatives, descendants of the early settlers of New Amsterdam, after one of whom he was named. Among his earliest recollections was the crowd which ran through the streets crying Peace ! Peace ! after the War of 1812 which left him fatherless. In his tenth year he went to live upon a farm near New Haven, where in spite of a toilsome life and few opportunities for study open to a country boy at that time, he managed to obtain a fair education.

It has been truly said that *' the man is best educated who by any means has made his powers available," and energy, clear thinking, and prompt decision, were qualities brought West by this young New Englander. His first location was with Mr. John Deusler, near Canandaigua, New York, where he learned the trade of making grain cradles and other farming utensils. In his twenty-second year he came to Birmingham, Michigan, built a saw mill, and, in connection with Mr. John Benjamin, commenced the manufacture of agricultural implements, and there produced the first iron plows made in this State.

While in Birmingham he married Jane Bell, and shortly after, in 1836, moved to Detroit. His first enterprise here was the building of the ' checkered store " on Woodbridge street, between Woodward avenue and Griswold street, where he carried on a grocery and hardware business, and kept the adjoining hotel. To this house, in February, 1838, many of the wounded in the Patriot War were brought for surgical treatment, receiving from him, and other well known citizens, substantial aid and sympathy.

The records of the Pioneer Society show, that it was mainly through his " energetic efforts in raising money and employing teachers," that District School No. I was opened and kept in operation. His account book of 1838 contains an interesting statement of the running expenses of this small beginning of our present fine public schools. Other entries in the old book show that this gratuitous work was done at a time when he was sustaining heavy losses in the so-called wild-cat money of the time. Later on he moved to Woodward avenue, where he was burned out in the memorable fire of 1842. An estimate of this loss closing with the pathetic words, " I have lost all that I ever made, and now begin again," reminds one of Emerson's definition of many courage: — " It is directness, the instant performance of that which he ought."

In 1844 he moved to the then farthest up-town store, on the corner of Woodward avenue and Campus Martins, conveniently near the Pontiac and Michigan Central depots, fronting on the Campus. Here he shipped green and dried fruits, cheese, and other produce of Eastern States, to dealers in the interior of Michigan, and later on, was the first to undertake the shipping of fresh meat to Boston. His business increasing, he moved to the warehouse at the foot of Bates street, and afterwards to the foot of Wayne street, also occupying the north half of the Michigan Central freight depot, on Third street, where he stored and shelled over half a million bushels of corn, the first important shipment of grain ever received from the interior of Indiana. The biography of any old merchant is also a history of the business methods of his time, and the books kept by Mr. Coyl show that the grain, produce and forwarding business was then carried on in an entirely different manner from transactions ingrain at the present day. Farmers brought their produce directly to the warehouse, where, in one busy day, six thousand bushels of grain were bought and paid for, the teams waiting to be unloaded extending, in a double line, from the dock to the Franklin House, at the corner of Bates and Earned streets. The capacity of the largest vessels then running to Buffalo and Oswego was about 10,000 bushels, and it took forty-eight hours to load this amount, by means of box-shaped hand-carts. New inventions have lightened labor and increased trade, but a wise writer has said " the machine unmakes the man." The qualities then brought into exercise in overcoming difficulties, attending to numberless details, and in handling many men, developed strong characters; men of unquestioned integrity, who took especial pride in the fact that they "always paid one hundred cents on the dollar."

Mr. Coyl was of a retiring disposition, and, although an earnest whig in early life, had no desire to become prominent in local politics or societies. The only office he ever held was that of member of the Board of Estimates. In 1856 he retired from active business in the city, and became interested in Iowa lands. In 1860 he built the block corner of Woodward Avenue and Campus Martins, subsequently improving other property, and, with business caution, entering into all plans for the welfare of the city.

When the war opened, his two sons were among the first to respond to the call for volunteers. William H. Coyl, a student of scarcely twenty when commissioned Major, left a brilliant record as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 9th Iowa Infantry, and Judge Advocate of Kentucky. He died in 1866 of disease of the lungs, the effect of a wound received at the battle of Pea Ridge. During the war, Mr. Coyl spent much time in seeking out and assisting sick and friendless soldiers, and, in later life, a fondness for young men became characteristic. His pleasant office made attractive with means for social games and current literature became a resort for young men of all professions. Such companionship, like mercy, "is twice blessed." He found diversion and kept pace with the times in reading and discussing with " the boys " the social, scientific, and religious questions of the day. In him they found a sympathetic friend, and often a wnse helper, but he was so quiet in his benefactions that few besides the recipients knew of them.

He died August 13, 1883. Samuel B. Coyl, and a daughter, Jean L., are the only surviving children.

As printed in The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a full record of territorial days in Michigan, and the annals of Wayne County (1889). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.