Son of, William H. Burnham
From Connecticut, Illinois to California
Ralph Burnham House
built in 1912
Joan Hall Photo
Submitted by: Sue Poole
Taken from the, Riverside County, Western Historical Association 1922
Of Ralph F. Burnham, of Riverside, it may be said that he is one of his community's fortunate men. He is fortunate in having a good parentage , a fair endowment of intellect and feeling a liberal education, in attaching himself to a healthful and honorable vocation, and above all, fortunate in casting his lot with the paople of Riverside at a time when its enterprises were at the full tide of developement, and under circumstances which have enabled him to co-operate in her material growth without that engrossment of time and faculty, which hinders the fullest indulgence of the intellectual faculty, the refining and elevating influences of the aesthetic nature, and the kindly cultivation of the graces of social and private life. While he has borne a fair share of the labors of civic life, he has at the same time preserved his love of letters, his pursuit of manly and invigorating pastimes, and his indulgence in the amenities of a refined and gentle life.
Mr. Burnham was born at Batavia, Illinois, March 6, 1883, a son of William H. and Catherine (French) Burnham, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Illinois. William H. Burnham was a manufacturer at Batavia for a number of years, and when he retired from business affairs removed to Orange, California, whence he subsequently went to Los Angeles, his present home. Both he and his wife are living as are their three children; Ralph F., Mary, the wife of Henry O. Wheller, of Los Angeles, and William H. Jr. of Riverside.
Ralph F. Burnham commenced his education in the public schools of Batavia, Illinois, was still a lad when taken by his parents to Orange, California. There he completed his primary school education, subseqently pursuing a course at the California Polytechnic Instutate, Pasadena, California and later at the Columbus University, New York City. After his graduation from the latter, as a member of the class of 1904 he returned to California and engaged in the manufacture of automobiles at Los Angeles, where for eight years he was secretary of the Auto Vehicle Company. When he vacated this field it was to enter the insurance business at Los Angeles, but in April 1912 he gave up this line and came to Riverside, where he and his father and brother purchased 142 acres of valuable land three miles southeast of the city, of which they are devoting 120 acres to citrus fruit ranchung. Mr. Burnham has made a success of his activities and is accounted one of the highhy skilled and well informed men in his line of business. He is a director in the United States Supply Company of Omaha, Nebraska.
Politically Mr. Burnham is a republican. He is a member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club, the University Club of Los Angeles, the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, the Riverside Victoria Club, the Alpha Delta Phi College Fraternity, the Alpha Delpha Phi Club of New York City, the Riverside Chamber of Commerce and the Riverside Polo Club. Worthy civic, educational and charitable movements have always had his hearty support, and he was one of the substantial contributors to the building fund of the new hospital of Riverside.
On October 16, 1905, Mr. Burnham was united in marriage with Miss Ruth Wilson, daughter of Franklin I. and May (Allen) Wilson, of Chicago, Illinois, the former a native of Elgin, Illinois, and the latter of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Mr. Wilson, a manufacture, upon retirement from active life removed to Hollywood, California, where he died, his widow now being a resident of Los Angeles, this state. Mrs. Burnham was born at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, but as a child was taken to Chicago, where she recieved her education in the public schools and at Lewis Institute. She is a member of the Riverside Victoria Club. She and her husbasnd are tha parents of four children: Barbara, John W., Richard W., and Elizabeth L.
The Burnham brothers William H. Jr. and Ralph F. Burn ham bought adjoining land, together they owned 140 acres of choice citrus property which included a portion of the original Monte Vista Nursey tract. The Burnhams called their land the La Colina Ranch. Each brother built his own house on opposite sides of the same hill. In 1924 both William and Ralph Burnham returned to Los Angeles. James F. Kent bought the entire ranch.