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EDWARD S. BURNEY
Vol. 3, p. 1182-1183

A native of the Indian territory and a scion of fine old Chickasaw
and Choctaw Indian lineage, Mr. Burney is one of the sterling
citizens and representative business men who have made in these later
years of progress and prosperity in Oklahoma a mark of distinction
for the race of which he is an able and honored representative, a
race whose members also can claim the title of pure Americans. The
father of Mr. Burney was a man of strong character, fine mentality
and much ability, with the result that he became one of the prominent
and influential figures in the government and civic and industrial
activities of the highly enlightened Chickasaw nation, the entire
family record of the subject of this review, along both paternal and
maternal lines, being one in which he may well take just pride and
satisfaction. As a man of affairs he has had an exceptionally active
and successful career and through his own well directed efforts has
achieved large and worthy success. He stands today as one of the
leading exponents of the real-estate business in the thriving little
City of Chickasha, Grady County, is essentially loyal and public-
spirited and commands the unqualified confidence and good will of all
who know him.

Mr. Burney was born in the Chickashaw [sic] Nation of Indian
Territory in the year 1861, and is a son of David C. and Emily (LOVE)
Burney, the father having been of Choctaw and Chickasaw strains of
lineage and having been born in the State of Mississippi, whence he
accompanied the Chickasaws on their exodus to their assigned
reservation in the Indian Territory. He became specially prominent in
the councils of the Chickasaw Nation, served as a member of its
Legislature and also as district judge, his superior intellectual
powers and unswerving integrity having made him a leader in sentiment
and action. He died in the year 1870, and his widow passed away in
1884. She was a daughter of Isaac Love, a Chickasaw Indian, who
likewise accompanied the other members of the tribe from Mississippi
to Indian Territory and who became one of the prominent men of the
nation of which he was a distinguished representative. His brother,
Ben Love, was a representative of the Indian Territory in the
national capital and before Congress for many years, and there found
his chief mission in the presenting and protecting of the interest of
the Chickasaw Nation.

After profiting fully by the advantages afforded in the schools of
the Chickasaw Nation, Edward S. Burney, completed an effective course
in the Chickasaw Manual Training School, at Tishomingo, Indian
Territory, under the preceptorship of Prof. John M. HARLEY. At the
age of sixteen years he initiated his active career in the capacity
of cowboy, and his physical prowess and alert mentality came into
effective play in this strenuous and invigorating vocation, as a
representative of which he gained wide and varied experience during
the period when the great ranges were still open and untameled. [sic]
In 1882 Mr. Burney engaged in the cattle business in an independent
way and eventually he became the owner of a large number of cattle
and conducted an extensive and profitable business. In 1890 he
disposed of his interest in this industrial enterprise and turned his
attention to agricultural pursuits in a minor way, besides becoming
largely interested in real estate in the Chickasaw Nation. Mr.
Burney, now in the prime of his vigorous manhood, may consistently be
termed the father of the City of Chickasha, for when the Chicago,
Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company extended its line through
this section, in 1892, he organized a company which purchased land,
entered into a definite contract with the railroad company, effected
the proper survey and platted the new Town of Chickasha. On the 28th
of April of that year Mr. Burney personally initiated his active and
successful efforts in the selling of lots in the new town, and his
energy and discrimination proved potent forces in the early stages of
development and upbuilding. [sic] Within a short time after the
organization of the village government he was elected a member of the
board of education of Chickasha.

In 1895, Mr. Burney was appointed deputy United States marshal, of
which office he continued the efficient incumbent until the 1st of
August, 1898, when he resigned, this action having been taken
principally for the purpose of giving him opportunity to render
assistance in the campaign of Hon.. Douglas H. JOHNSON, candidate for
the office of governor of the Chickasaw Nation. He made a most
spirited and effective canvass in support of Governor Johnson, who
was elected September 1, 1898, and who soon afterward appointed Mr.
Burney representative of the Chickasaws on the Dawes Commission, to
assist in the preparation of the enumeration rolls of the Choctaws
and Chickasaws. With characteristic vigor and ability Mr. Burney
continued his services as a member of this important commission until
1902. In 1906 he was re-appointed Deputy United States marshal, under
George A. PORTER, and of this position he continued the incumbent
until Oklahoma was admitted to statehood, in the following year.

Since that time Mr. Burney has not been actively engaged in farming,
but has given the major part of his time and attention to the
supervision of his substantial landed interests and real-estate
business, the while he has secure vantage-ground as one of the
representative business men and progressive and liberal citizens of
Chickasha, with vital interest in all that touches the civic and
material welfare of the fine little city which he assisted in
founding and developing.

Mr. Burney is an appreciative and honored member of Masonic bodies
in his home city, where his affiliations are with Chickasha Lodge No.
94, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he served three terms
as master, and with Chickasha Chapter, No. 77, Royal Arch Masons.
Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South.

In the year 1882 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Burney to Miss
Ada CROSS, daughter of Joseph P. and Martha Cross, of Cook County,
Texas, where she was born and reared. Her father became a substantial
farmer and stock-grower in that section of the Lone Star State, where
he established his residence when the hostile Indians were still
making frequent depredations, and he took part in various conflicts
with these marauding bands, on one occasion having his horse shot and
killed beneath him. In later years he came with his family to
Oklahoma, where his death occurred in 1905, his wife having passed
away in the preceding year. In the concluding paragraph of this
article is entered a brief but interesting record concerning the
children of Mr. and Mrs. Burney, the date being pertinent at the time
of this writing, in 1915: Wessie Ella is the widow of Rev. George H.
RAY who was a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and
she has one son, Howard Burney Ray. Joseph C. remains at the parental
home. Edward C. was afforded the advantages of the Oklahoma and
Austin College, in the capital city of Texas. He and his wife now
maintain their residence at Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he holds an
executive office in the Muskogee Commercial Club. Overton L. was
graduated in the Chickasha high school and is now assistant
storekeeper at the celebrated Indian school at Carlisle,
Pennsylvania. Ada Bessie is a student in the Oklahoma Woman's
College, and Alice M. likewise is attending the public schools, the
family home being at 1702 South Thirteenth Street.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Marti Graham, 22 October 1998.

[NOTE: Matthew Lofton [ m.lofton@gte.net ]wrote on Tue, 11 Jan 2000 -
I am the grandson of Ada Bess Burney Lofton, and I am interested in
any information anyone might have on the lineage of William David
Lofton whom Ada was married. My mother is Betty Jo Van Sant Lofton of
Marietta, OK (currently residing in Kirland Washington). Sister of
Virginia Smith of Quapaw and AnnaBelle Alexander of Marietta. Perhaps
someone who grew up with my father will email. My father, William
David II, served in the 381st Bomb Group (Heavy B-17) 532 bomb
squadron at Ridgewell England beginning June 1943. Perhaps someone
knew him while there, he was a bombadier. His B-17 was named Baby
Huey after the then popular cartoon character.

William D. Lofton family in Healton, or Marietta between 1930 and
1960. My great grandfather was Frank Lofton and his wife was Mollie
Rey of Texas. My grandfather was William David and his wife was Ada
Bess Burney. My father was William David II and my mother is Betty Jo
VanSant. I have not been able to find any historical data about
either the Rey family, nor the Lofton family. Fortunately, the Burney
and VanSant families are well documented.]