Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-08-18

WATERMAN X BURNHAM
ton was fairly promising until Tues
day. when his heart failed to do its
work.
Waterman Rufus Burnharn was born
December 4. 1881 in Windham. and
attended the district school and the
village school kept at Wirdham Cen
ter, by Miss Jane Fuller and others.
He later attended the Connecticut Lit
erary Institute at Sufield. After con-
Pleting his schooling he entered the
drug store OF Col Samuel Tyler IN this
city, as clerk, remaining there four
years Then, in company with F. n
Lincoln, his brother-in-iaw, he pur-
chased the drug store conducted by
Edward Moulton in Wtiiiniantic and
under the name Of BurnhaIn & Lincoln
engaged in business there He later
purchased his partners interest and
conducted the business alone for a
time. In 1855 Mr. Burnharn disposed
Of the drug store and became connect
ed with the business owned by Mr..
Wood and known as the Uncasville
Manufacturing company He was at
first an accountant, but later became
assistant treasurer and finally treas
urer. He was serving in this position
when he retired in 1897 after a term
Of service with that firm covering
period Of a years.
Mr.. Durham was married. Dec Is,
1858, to Miss Julia A Wood, dauglI-
| ter of Willet R. and JUIi2 A Reed
Wood. Mr.. and Mrs. BuTnharn had
one son. William, who cied at the age
| Of three months MIS-. Burnham's
death occurred on January 81, 1882
| and Mr.. Durham was united in mar
! rage Dec. 4, 1883. with Mss Ella A
Bradford, a daughter OF Rev E B.
/ Bradford, a minister Of the Methodist
| Episcopal church at Hyde Park, Mass
4 Two children were born 20 them, Har-
| old. who died in infancy. and Rufus
| Bradford. at present located in Buff
| falo, y. Y
In his political views 5Ir. Burnham
was a republican and vas called to
many positions of honor and trust
/ during his residence in Uncasyille. In
] 1852 he represented the town Of Mont
Vile in the legislature. He also served
as chairman of the hoard Of relief in
Montville and was Tor years school
| visitor in that town He took very
active interest in educational matters
and was instrumental in securing the
/ building Of the present schoolhOuse at
lJncasville. Mr. Burnharn attended the
Congregational church at Windham,
when a boy. during the pastorate Of
| Rev John Tyler, and or removing
to Uncasville where there y as no Con-
gregationaI church he attended the
| Methodist church When the question
of building q new Methodist church
at UncasviIle arose, IL was Mr. Burn
ham who raised the funds and he
served on the building committee
When the edifice. which was much
possible to have was dedicated, Il
was entirely free from debt
His interest and activity in church
work by no means ended with this, as,
in addition to being one Ot its main
stays. he took a foremost rart in its
lperintendent for a number Of years.
During his residence in Norwich he
was active in the affairs of the Broad
way Congregational church. He served
as superintendent of the Sunday
school for years and was also deacon
in the church.
Mr.. Burnham was ore Of the state
Sunday school representatives at a
large number of the international Sun
day school conventions. ser-ing on va
rious committee and was for some
years a member of the international
Sunday School executive committee
In 1880 he represented Con1ecticut II
the centennial of modern Sunday
schools IN London, at that time spend
ing several months IN travel through
the old world
For years Mr. Durham was chair
man of the State Sunday School asso-
| citation and chairman OF the New Lon
don County Sunday School Union He
was a corporate member 81 the Amer
lean Board Of Commissioners OF For
the Connecticut Bible society: was the
first president of the Norwich Young
Mems Christian association, serving IT
that capacity for five :ears; was one
| of the oldest members OF the state
Y NJ. c A committee and for years
was the state corresponding member
of the International Y NJ G. A COM
mittee and a corporator Of the NOR
witch Free Academy When the Nor
witch City Mission, an organization
now under the auspices Of the United
Workers, was in existence he served
as its president for several years
In business circles aIr. Durham
| was equally well known He was vice
president and one OF the directors OF
the Dime Savings bank, a director OF
the Thames National bank, and when
istence he served as one OF ITS directors
for some years For some time he was
a director of the New London Fire In
surance company and at ono time held
membership in the New EnEland Cot
ton Manufacturing association, the
Home Market club. AMI at the time OF
his death held membersl'sip in tbs
Board of Trade Of this City and the
Arcanum club.
Mr.. Durham is survived ry mis- wife
one son, Rufus Bradford, of Buffalo
niece Mrs. VI. E. Lincoln Of Will
mantle and a nephew, R w Burnhan
of Los Angeles, Cal.
As a conductor of Sunday schoo
institutes, and a leader OF conventions
throughout the state, as q presiding
officer and as a practical and earnes
. speaker. his words and work will lon,
be remembered The intense and &C
! tive interest taken by Air. Burnhan
: in all kinds of religious and charitabl,
4 L. =r b.