Biography of Henry C. Burnham
De Calb County, Missouri
From "History of Missouri, Andrew & DeKalb County" Published 1888,
Goodspeed Publishing Company
Henry C. Burnham, a prominent citizen
and druggist of Fairport, was born in McKean County, PA., on May
9, 1835. He is the son of J. C. and Phoebe (Moses) Burnham, the former
a native of Franklin County, Mass., born November 6,
1805, and the latter, a native of Livingston County, N.Y., born on
December 11, 1814.
The paternal grandfather was Josiah
Burnham, a native of Franklin County, Mass., and his father was a lieutenant
in the Revolutionary War, and removed from Connecticut to Massachusetts.
Josiah removed to McKean County, PA., before his death. J. C., the
father, removed to McKean County previous to his father's removal, and
engaged in farming until his death, in 1861. The maternal grandfather
was Reuben Moses, a native of Vermont, who removed to Livingston County,
N.Y. The mother is still living in McKean County, Penn., with a son.
To the parents four children were born, of whom Henry C. is the eldest.
He was partially reared on the farm, and attended the district schools,
but finished his education at Olean Academy in New York. After leaving
school he engaged in various occupations, including school teaching, merchandising
and lumbering. In 1868 he located on a farm in De Kalb County, MO.,
and embarked in farming for seven years.
In 1875 he removed to Fairport,
and engaged in clerking, but subsequently in merchandising. In 1878
he began his present business. In 1870 he was elcted justice of the
peace for two years. He was elected district judge of De Kalb County
in 1873, and re-elected in 1878. In 1887 he was again elected justice
of the peace, which office he holds at present. He served as postmaster
at Fairport from 1880 to 1887.
He is a charter member of Ryland
Lodge, No. 332, F. & A. M., of Berlin, and is also a member of
Mitchell Royal Arch Chapter, No. 89, of St. Joseph.
In January, 1862, he wedded Charlotte
Moses, who was born in Allegany County, N.Y., in 1840. She is the
daughter
of Alfred Moses, and is a member of the Methodist Church.