Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1882-04-08
st. Paul Pioneer Press, March Ia.

The presence in the city of the Burn
ham Novelty company recalls one Of the
most remarkable histories known tC
many Minneapolis people by reason oi
one Of the other actors in the strang,
domestic drama having for a period been
a resident Of that city. A good many
people will recall Maj. w. L. Powell
who for short time, along about 1878
was the editor Of the Tribune. Prior 10
this time Powell had led the life of a
Bohemian, and in his travels wen,
to Broadhead, Wis, where he met a
charming young lady, possessed OF
talent as musician. Maj. Powell was
then lecturing, and made a favorable
impression, both upon the young lady
and her parents, and the friendship for
the girl ripened into love and marriage.
The young lady was then about 10 years
of age, had always been reared delicate
ly by a family of the highest repectabili-
ty. The father was a physician and
druggist. Soon after her marriage to
Maj. Powell change began TO take
place; her complexion became swarthy
and beard began to grow, which de-
manded and received the assiduous at
.ention Of razor. Other physical
changes won't on, and after the couple
had been reasonably happily married
for q period of nearly three years, de-
spite the ma iors dissolute habits, it be-
came impossible to deny the fact that
the girl was more man than woman
A visit was made TO Chicago, an emil
nent physician was consulted, who con-
drmed the suspicion, surgical opera
ton was performed, and Maj Powell
and wife separated there being no
matrimonial provision to bind two
males together The disclosure was ex-
tremely mortifying to the parents of the
eX-wife, and they shortly afterward re-
moved 10 another place. The metamor-
phozed individual availed himself of
his prcrogdtive and put away crinoline
and donned male habiiments, and COM
menced work in drug store in Chicago
under the name of T.. w. Burnham, a
change in the given name only being
made To suit the change in Sex During
the period young Burnham had lived az
a woman the acquaintance had been
e.. ,,fo ,l. &
musical predictions. The two girls
were chumS, even roOm-mateS together,
without suspicion of another condition
being present. The regard then formed
into love, and after a period had
ELAPSED the two were married, and have
since lived happily together, making
their home at Waterloo, 10. The hus-
band and wife are none other than T..
w. Burnham, the head Of the Burnham
Novelty company, and Mrs. Ger,ie
Evcrettc Burnham, one of the members
of the party. There is nothing in Mr..
Burnham's appearance to indicate the
strange history, and he is now thorough
ly masculine in appearance, capable Of
raising a heavy beard, though to meet
the requirements of his business, he is
cleanly shaven. The facts are all well
authenticated. Mr.. Burnham is the
nephew of a prominent citizen of
Minneapolis in whose family he lived
as charming young girl for consider
able time, and is the subject of one of
those freaks of nature which are rare,
but undoubtedly occur He is above
the average in talent and ability, and
has turned his taste for music into the
organization which made its appearance
at Pence operahouse last evening.
Burnham takes no part in the per-
formance of the company that bears his
name other than to preside at the piano
Mrs. Burnham appears in the first part
and in the drama with which their