The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-11-07
COL. BURNHAM.
An Old Wacoan's Splendid
Luck--.Life in the Old
Land yet, il Seems.
a Big Transact,OD In Chatta-
nooga Real Estate-what the
Tenuessee Papers say.
business visOr Kept Up, Eve n
After a L"rge Fortune Has
Been Amassed.
Expected in Waco Soon, and
Some Mtg Deals 10 Follow
His Early Return.

In 1872 or, perhaps, early in 1873.
Colonel IL. Il. Durham arrived in
Waco from Tennessee, and quietly
aud unosten.aiiously went to work.
lie was noted for a quiet, self-con-
tanned and, wiihal, modest and unas-
suming manner. without constilta-
ton with anybody he rented large
siore-honse on Bridge street, the then
street of the city, andeshipped in an
immense stock of liquors from Ten
nessee. The genteef bearing of the
man, his business acumen, the excel
lent quality of his goods, and the
business methods of the house, very
soon attracted an immense trade.
This was kept up without let or in.
terruption for nearly ten years, and
the result was a fortune, one of the
largest and most honorably acquired,
which has ever distinguished the bus
iness history of the place. A branch
house at
GALVESTON
soon became necessity of the situa.
ton and the Colonel was equal to the
demand. Together tho two houses
had practically monopoly upon the
liquor business of the state and money
flowed in from every quarter. Colonel
Burnham made very wise invest
ments. His was the true Midas
touch, which turned everything into
gold. Waco city property, farms
ranches and wild lands were bought
aud always with a nicely of judg-
ment and a justness DISCRIMINATION,
which insured always vast advance
in values at once. This sound and
clear headed
BUSINESS MAN
applied himself closely day and night
No single one of his many vast enter
prises was suffered to lag or retro
grade from want of attention A
touch here aud an investment there,
kept all moving, and an even step TO
the the front was the result. Colonel
Burnham's mind was well stored.
Ills literary taste, nice and discrimi-
mating. just how he managed to find
time TO Indulge it, we never could
see, but he did, and many beautiful
song or touching story we read from
his graceful pen, in the days OF the
long ago. We never knew If they
were published or not, but incline to
the theory, that the veteran modesty
of the man, held them out of priut
lie was genial, gentle and compau
ionable man, one who gathered about
him friends who were attached by nc
ordinary ties.
A few years since his health gave
way, and he returned 20 his old home
In Tennessee, where we are glad to
to say he has measurably
recovered his once robust
strength. While there he
has been busy IL seems and with the
usual result. In late copy of the
CHATTANOOGA TIMES,
we find the following brief article
which tells us that the good sound
sense which distinguished our friend
here, attended him in his retirement
from active business cares: "Mr. Nj
w. Lcgg, of Cleveland, Tenn, yester.
day purchased the II. f. Burnham
property on the east side of Market
street, between Seventh and Eighth
tor $4,000 cash in hand. The prop
crty consists of n three-ttory brick,
fronting fifty feet on Market street
and extending TO Cherry street. The
building consists of two stores which
are at present occupied by Forstner's
saloon add Mrs. Wallace's millinery
establishment. Mr.. Burnham bought
the property less than five years ago
for $4,000, and including his net ear
nings on rents, has cleared over 49,
900 on his purchase IN that short pc