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

ISAAC BURNSIDE.

     Isaac Burnside, deceased, was one of the wealthy citizens of Knox county who, after following for many years, extensive agricultural and stock-raising pursuits, retired to Abingdon where he lived peacefully till death claimed him. He was born in Pocahontas county, Virginia, August 26, 1826. His parents, William and Margaret (Callison) Burnside, were both natives of Virginia removing to Indiana when Isaac was a small boy. In 1852 they came to Illinois locating in Chestnut township, Knox county, where Mr. Burnside followed the pursuit of farming until his death.
     Isaac Burnside received his education in the district schools of Indiana. When ready to enter upon a career he followed the calling in which his father had trained him. In April, 1857, he married Miss Elizabeth Price of Chestnut township, and established his home on a farm that he had previously purchased in the vicinity of his father's farm. There he lived until 1884 when he retired and took up his residence in Abingdon. During the twenty-seven years in which he operated and improved his farm he was extensively engaged in stock-raising and in buying and selling stock. His tireless devotion to duty and his business acumen brought him unusual success and on his retirement he was accounted one of the rich men of this section of the county, owner of six hundred acres of land of which he still owned five hundred and eighty acres at the time of his death, having sold twenty thereof some years earlier. He was heavily interested as a stockholder in the First State Savings Bank. He had also become by purchase the owner of the old family homestead.
     Mr. Burnside was twice married. In April, 1857, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Price, of Chestnut township, with whom he lived thirty-one years. Her death occurred May 20, 1888. To his second wife he was united in marriage on August 25, 1889. She was Mrs. John Ruth, her maiden name having been Miss Susan E. Soliday. Mrs. Ruth's parents were Samuel and Catherine A. (Shafer) Soliday, both natives of Fairfield county, Ohio, where they were married, coming to Illinois in 1852. They located first in Tazewell county, and in 1860 came to Knox county, making their home in Salem township. In 1875 they removed to Iowa, where they bought a farm in Adams county. There they remained till the last, Mr. Soliday passing away in 1902 and his wife in 1909. Miss Susan Soliday's marriage to Mr. Ruth occurred on July 8, 1875. His death on March 30, 1888, left her a widow until she was again united in the bonds of matrimony the following year. There was no issue to either marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Burnside. The latter is, however, the mother of an adopted daughter, Dorothy C., whom she is tenderly rearing, giving her the excellent opportunities of education and travel which her position and means permit. She is a woman of culture and refinement, possessing a charm of personality that wins many friends. During the past two winters she has resided in California. She is an active church worker, being a member of the Christian Woman's Board of Missions, and also a member of the Ladies' Aid Society of the Christian church, in which faith Mr. Burnside, too, was an earnest believer. At the time of his death Mr. Burnside was nearly seventy-nine years, passing away August 14, 1905. Throughout his life he had been a man of high moral principles, serious in his purposes, successful in his undertakings, generous and kind in his public life as well as in his private relations. In the memory of his nobility his widow finds the greatest comfort that can soften her loss. (pages 867-868, submitted by Janine Crandell)