Burns, Charles S.

Cinclare plantation and Central Factory, which is situated five miles below Baton Rouge and comprises 1,900 acres, is the finest sugar plantation in West Baton Rouge parish. On this exceedingly fertile and well-tilled land 775 acres are under cultivation, the eastern portion fronting on the Mississippi river being devoted to the culture of sugar cane. This property is owned by Harry L. Laws, of Cincinnati, Ohio, but at the time of his purchase, in 1878, it was a dilapidated tract of land, and considered almost worn out. During the season of 1890, 20,000 tons of cane were ground, and made nearly 3,000,000 pounds of sugar. During the cultivating season sixty or seventy men are employed, but when the sugar is being made, 200 and more are used to a good advantage. The coming season they expect to increase the amount of cane ground to 1,000 tons per day, and will otherwise improve their plans of doing business. In the sugar house the latest improved machinery is used, and the building is of brick, 230x180 feet, but this they expect to enlarge in the near future.

Charles S. Burns is the resident manager of this plantation and sugar refinery, and under his supervision the place has prospered. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 2, 1843, and in the high school of that city his education was obtained. In 1861, at the first call of President Lincoln for troops, he joined the Cincinnati Zouaves, Company D, Second Ohio regiment, and was a participant in the battle of Bull Run. After serving a short time he returned home, his time during the remainder of the war being spent in merchandising, his establishment being a wholesale grocery concern.

In 1865 he went to Vicksburg, Miss., and was there in the grocery and commission business for two years, but at the end of this time he returned to Cincinnati, and until 1879, when he came to Louisiana, he followed various callings. In his present capacity he has gained the confidence of all as a man of high standing and soundest judgment, whose success has been developed upon the sure basis of efficiency and integrity. He is a broad-spirited, liberal-minded man of the highest business capacity, and is honored in all circles of society. He is a prominent member of the American Legion of Honor, and is as prominent socially as he is successful in business. December 25, 1865, he was married to Miss [Mary] Biggs, of Cincinnati, a daughter of Thomas R. Biggs, and by her is the father of four interesting children - three sons and one daughter.

Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana; Chicago; The Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1892

[Charles Samuel Burns died in 1910 and is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio. His wife, Mary Biggs Burns died in 1909 and is also buried in Spring Grove Cemetery.]