Eli S. Burrows was born 7 September 1823 in Chenango County, NY. He was the son of Nathan and Sarah (Barnum) Burrows. He married Sarah L. Elliot about 1843. On the membership register of Christ Episcopal Church, Belvidere Village, Allegany County, NY, Eli and Sarah were listed as Family #28. 

Eli purchased 38 acres from his father on 17 April 1849 and on the same day gave a mortgage on the property to Frederick Juliand in the amount of $368.00. He sold the property for $450.00 on 1 April 1850. In the summer of 1850, Eli and Sarah were living in Elmira, NY where his occupation was listed as laborer. He was probably working as a lumberman. About 1853, Eli and Sarah moved to Scio, Allegany Co. NY and in 1855, he is listed as a "sawyer". By 1875, he was a farmer and raised corn and potatoes, had 30 apple trees and six cows.

Eli died 10 December 1897 at age 74 in Belvidere. He left $150.00 to Grandson, Franklin J. Bullock of Bradford, $150.00 to grandson, D. M. Bullock of 532 Fox St., Dunkirk, NY and $5.00 to his granddaughter, Maude Bullock of Gardeau, PA, with the remainder to be divided between his daughter, Sarah E. Bullock of Gardeau, PA and Alice [?] Proctor, the widow of Ephraim Proctor, deceased, who resided in Wellsville, NY. (No relationship has been found between Eli Burrows and Mrs. Proctor). Eli is buried in the cemetery beside Old Christ Church in Belvidere with his wife, Sarah and son, Joseph.