The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-01-11
VAS PIONEER
Of TWO STATES
SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
OF JOHN WINTHROP RuRNHAM
WHO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY.
IN FAReo-pEscENpANT OF
OLD NEW ENGLANp FAMILY.

John Winthrop Burnham was born
in Derry, N. H, Nov. 19, 1929; died
Jan. s 1912. He was the son OF George
and Eliza Ann Mcneil Burnham. His
rather was of English descent and his
mother Scotch Irish. He was Of the
seventh generation, being a direct de-
~scendant Of John Burnham, who came
from Norwich. Norfolk county, Eng
land, early in 1886, settling in Ipswich,
Mass, while q boy of 10. John Burn
nam or the fifth generation, grand
father OF this sketch. was major in the
Revolutionary army; serving from the
battle of Bunker hill to the close of the
war, eight years. He was one of the
founders Of the order of the So
ciety of Cincinnati of which John
Winthrop was a member, being in di-
rect line.
He came to Minnesota territory in
1856 and settled where Plainview is
now located; engaged in farming and
was at one time a merchant. He was
elected the first justice Of the peace,
held the first court. married the first
couple in that community. He was
elected to the Minnesota Legislature in
1853 and 1850, introduced the school
LAM bill, which became a law and
brought many millions Of dollars to
the school fund Of the state.
He enlisted in Co. C, Tenth Mime
sofa volunteers, as a private in Aug
ust, 1862. The regiment was sent at
once to fight the Indians with Sibley in
Minnesota and Dakotas. After the In.
dian outbreak they were sent south.
Their first service was guarding the
military prison at st. Louis. On Aug.
18, 1865 he was commissioned second
lieutenant of the One Hundred Tween
ey-Fffth U. S. Co. T. and promoted to
be first lieutenant in December Of the
same res At the close of the Civil
war his regiment marched form Fort
Leavenworth, Kan, to Fort Union,
now Ell Paso, Tex, a distance of 1900
miles in 100 days, where they remain
ed a year guarding the border against
the Indians While living here in the
fort his eldest. daughter Eliza was
born. He vas mustered out of serv-
ice Oct. 81, 1857; having served FIVE
a and eighty days. He then re-
turned to Minnesota with wife and
SAAAiN "iASAS hC CAASdSSu Ia q IAlliiS I'LL
1877, when he came to the territory of
Dakota and filed on two claims at
Wheatland and moved his family there
the next year. He was elected to the
territorial legislature of Dakota in
1887 and 1889.
He was married to Ada j. Lawrence
in Jan. 5, 1885, who died in 1897, leav-
ing beside her husband four children:
Mrs. JOS. Matters, 11O5, Tenth street
south, Fargo. Benz. L., Wheatland, Ida
M. and Ella ]. Burnham Of Moscow,
Ida. After the death of his wife he
returned to Plainview, Mimi, where on
June II. 1900 he married Mrs. Lydia
Reed of Ripon, Wis, who with four
children survive him.
Mr.. Burnahm held many responsible
positions, civil and political in both
Minnesota and North Dakota. He was
a member Of the order of Loyal Legion
Of the Comrhandery of Minnesota. He
was for many years a member of the
Congregational church-the church Of
his fathers-to which he was very
much attached. He was a devoted
husband and father, respected by all.