JUDGE HENRY C. BURNHAM
Page 287
JUDGE HENRY C. BURNHAM
Page 287
 JUDGE HENRY C. BURNHAM. This county is the home of quite a number of men who were thrown upon their own resources at an early age, and whose natural aptness and energy were developed and strengthened by contact with the world, resulting in making their lives more than ordinarily successful in worldly prosperity. Among this number is Judge Burnham, who has not only attained a competency, but has won an honorable record on the Judicial Bench and as a private citizen. Heredity is so important a factor in life that it may be well before noting the chief incidents in the career of our subject to make brief mention of the family history. The first representatives of the Burnham family in America were three brothers, John, Thomas and Robert, who came from England and located in Massachusetts at an early day in its history. Our subject is descended from John, who was born in 1618. Ebenezer, a grandson of John, and the Judge's great-grandfather, migrated in 1733 to Hampton, Windham County, Conn. The grandfather, Daniel, served as a patriot in the Revolutionary War. The father of our subject, Festus Burnham, was a native of Connecticut, and served as a member of the Legislature of that state from 1837-39. A man of good judgment, he was often consulted upon matters of public importance, and was a pronounced Abolitionist. His death occulted in Connecticut April 12, 1865. His wife, who preceded him to the better land March 7, 1864, was Lora, daughter of Daniel Clark, and a native of the Nutmeg State. The subject of this sketch remained in Windham County, Conn., until reaching his eighteenth year, when he removed to Ohio, and after four years spent in the mercantile business and in teaching returned to his native state, and resided there for the following two years. He was born in the above place in Connecticut January 30, 1826, and was this in his twenty-sixth year when, in October, 1852, he came to Mason County. Here he located and began the work of a general farmer. Having received a good common-school education in Connecticut, he was fitted to occupy almost any position in life. Mr. Burnham was very successful in his operations as an agriculturist, and continued thus employed until the spring of 1883, when he came to Havana. He still owns his estate, which comprises thee hundred and sixty acres of valuable land on section 33 and 28, Salt Creek Township. The property is under an admirable state of cultivation, and from its rental he derives a good income. In 1882 he was elected Judge of Mason County on the Republican ticket by a handsome majority, although the county was Democratic by five hundred majority. He filled the position for a term of four years, during which time he gave entire satisfaction to all who were interested in the county's welfare. December 16, 1847, Judge Burnham and Miss Angeline Courrier, a native of New York State, were united in marriage. Mrs. Burnham is the daughter of Eliab and Mary (Blaisdel) Courrier, the former born in New Hampshire, of English descent, while the latter traced her ancestry back to Scotland. Remaining in New York until thirteen years of age, Mrs. Burnham then accompanied her parents on their removal west to Ohio. By her union with our subject there have been born seven children, of whom those living are, Alonzo F., a prominent physician in Ashland; James E., who is practicing law in Unionville, Mo.; George T., also an attorney in the same place; Henry P., who is engaged in farming in this county, and Carrie, Mrs. Thurman D. Ellsberry, who resides in Englewood, a suburb of Chicago. |