The History of Knox County
pub. in 1912 by S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. 

   CARL S. BURNSIDE.

     Carl S. Burnside, who is engaged in the operation of six hundred acres of land in Chestnut township, four hundred and forty of which he owns, is numbered among the highly successful and prosperous agriculturists of Knox county. He was born on the farm, where he now resides on the 1st of April, 1873, and is a son of William and Julian (Terry) Burnside. The father is a native of Ohio, whence he was brought when a little child, to Illinois by his parents, who located in Knox county and here spent the remainder of their lives. His father, who was an agriculturist, acquired a tract of government land, in Chestnut township, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his attention during the remainder of his active career. It was there William Burnside was reared to manhood, and educated and trained for an agriculturist, this vocation engaging his energies until his retirement in 1893, since which time he has made his home in Galesburg. The mother, who was a native of Chestnut township, passed away in 1895. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Burnside there were born six children: Mark, who is a farmer in Chestnut township: Nellie, the wife of D. E. Meeks, a resident of Galesburg; Charles, who is living in Maquon, Illinois; Albert G., who is a resident of Spirit Lake, Iowa; Carl S., our subject; and Fanny, who is deceased.
     The entire life of Carl S. Burnside has been spent in the community, where he is now living. His boyhood and youth were very similar in every respect to those of other lads of the neighborhood. He attended the district schools in the acquirement of his early education, assisted with the work of the fields and indulged in such sports as usually afforded amusement to country youths. After completing the course of the country schools he went to Quincy, where he pursued a business course, thus acquiring a more comprehensive knowledge of modern commercial methods. Returning home he once more resumed agricultural pursuits, having decided to adopt farming for his life work. He has been very successful in his undertakings, having applied himself to the intelligent direction of his affairs in accordance with the best accepted modern methods of scientific farming. Clear judgment, practical ideas and unremitting energy are the secrets of his prosperity. In addition to his own fine farm Mr. Burnside is operating one hundred and sixty acres of land which he rents, thus making the aggregate of the acreage he has under cultivation six hundred. He is also the owner of a tract of land in the vicinity of Hereford, Texas.
     Mr. Burnside has not married. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, of Galesburg and of the Galesburg Club. His political support he accords to the republican party, but his extensive interests have always demanded so much of his time as not to permit of an active part in township affairs. Mr. Burnside is constantly forging ahead, his business sagacity and progressive ideas making of him a practical agriculturist, who realizes that success in farming as in any other vocation depends upon system and method in the execution of the work. (pages 541-542, submitted by Janine Crandell)