A biosketch reports [1]:
Henry Burn, a representative citizen of the city of Harrisburg, noted for his business ability, foresight, prudence and integrity, is a descendant of a Scotch-Irish lineage. The pioneer ancestor was Jacob Burn, grandfather of Henry Burn, who emigrated to this country. Henry Burn was born near Sporting Hill, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1837, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Metz) Burn.
Jacob Burn (father) was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1799. He followed agricultural pursuits, conducting his operations first on a farm in Lancaster county, where he resided until 1842, and later on a farm near Churchtown, Cumberland county, which he subsequently sold, and then moved to Boiling Springs, where he led a retired life until his death, January 3, 1874. He served as supervisor and school director for a number of years at Boiling Springs, performing his duties to the credit and satisfaction of all concerned. He attended the services of the Mennonite church, and cast his vote with the old line Whigs. He married Elizabeth Metz, born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1799, died November 18, 1870, and they were the parents of eight children: Maria, Anna, Esther, John Christian, Jacob, Henry, born October 22, 1837, 0f whom later; Elizabeth. The remains of Mr. and Mrs. Burn are interred in the cemetery at Boiling Springs.
Henry Burn was reared in the village of Boiling Springs, Cumberland county, whither his parents removed when he was a small child, and his education was acquired in the public schools thereof. He served an apprenticeship at the trade of carpenter in early manhood, but did not follow the same, preferring to devote his attention to teaching, which profession he followed in South Middleton township for six years. During the year 1863 he was in the quartermaster's department of the Army of the Potomac, and in September, 1864, enlisted in Company A, Two Hundred and Ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Captain John B. Landis and Colonel T. B. Caughman. As soon as the company was organized he was commissioned sergeant-major, fought in the Petersburg and Richmond campaigns, and although participating in numerous skirmishes and battles came through without a mark or a wound. He received an honorable discharge at the close of the war, May 31, 1865. He then went to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and engaged in the grocery business at No. 1206, later at 1217, North Sixth street, conducting the same successfully from 1867 to 1884, when he sold out and accepted a position as travelling salesman for a wholesale grocery firm, and is at present (1906) representing the firm of Thompson, Taylor & Company in the same line. He also conducts a stand in the Broad Street Market, Harrisburg, which yields him a goodly income. He is a member of the Memorial United Brethren church, in which he has filled all offices, also served as superintendent of the Sunday school connected therewith for many years. He is a member of Post No. 116, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was commander one term and then resigned, and was also chaplain, declining a re-election. He is a Republican in politics.
Mr. Burn married, September 16, 1860, Sarah Elizabeth Wise, of Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, born November 3, 1838. daughter of Jacob and Sophia (Zeigler) Wise. Three children were the issue of this union: Ida May, born August 16, 1861, wife of DeWitt A. Fry. Emma Sophia, born March 14, 1863, widow of George Z. Zimmerman, whose sketch follows this in the work. Carrie Elizabeth, born January 18, 1807, died May 26, 1874.
[1] Luther Reily Kelker, History of Dauphin County, Vol. 3 (1907), 75, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].