Polk D. Burns was born in 1844, in Tennessee. His father, Samuel L. Burns, was a farmer and stock raiser, and lived the greater part of his life in Wayne County, Tenn. He married Sarah A. Baker, and both were born in 1814. They married in 1830, and became the parents of thirteen children, seven of whom are yet living. The father died June 20, 1880, and his widow February 24, 1874. Our subject was married in 1871 to Sallie Kelley, who was born in Tennessee in 1847, and is the daughter of Riley and Sallie Kelley. Mr. and Mrs. Burns became the parents of nine children: Lou E., Sam (died in 1881), Riley K., Thomas T., Bill B., Biffle F., Jennie P. and two infants (deceased) unnamed. Our subjects early days were spent on a farm, and at the age of twenty-six he began doing for himself. He opened a mercantile store in Flatwood in 1868, but at the end of one year sold out and resumed farming. In 1880 he purchased his present farm of 1,000 acres, on which he raises corn and stock. He also owns interest in 300 acres of land near Ashland, in this county. He served in the Confederate Army in the late war, enlisting in 1862. He served until the close of the war, and surrendered at Jonesboro, in May, 1865. He was not wounded nor taken prisoner during his entire service. He was a Mason, and a stanch Democrat in politics, and one of the worthy citizens of the county.