JAMES H. BURNHAM 

 

James H. Burnham, banker at Folsom, was born in Galveston, Texas, November 1, 1846. His father, James G. Burnham, was a native of Kennebunk Port, Maine, where he was reared, and attained a commercial education and learned the art of civil engineering. He went to Texas when it was a republic under the rule of Sam Houston. He was sailing as supercargo of his father’s vessel from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Vera Cruz, Mexico, and during a gale the vessel was blown ashore on Galveston Island, where the city now stands. His father returned to New Hampshire after material and apparatus to get the vessel off the beach, leaving him in charge of the vessel and cargo. During his absence the tide of immigration began coming in to that point, and he decided to remain there. He was first employed to survey the city plat, and was afterward appointed collector of the port. He next engaged in the wholesale grocery business until 1850, when he came to California, and continued in the same business in San Francisco until 1855. In December of that year he located in Folsom, becoming thus a pioneer of that place. When the Folsom estate was sold off he bought largely and erected the first building there. He engaged in various pursuits until 1870, when he returned to Galveston and served as United States Census Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas, and was elected treasurer of that city. Coming again to California in 1873, he engaged in business in San Francisco, and died there February 26, 1878, at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife was a daughter of Captain Henry Parker, also a ship owner and master. She was a native of Charleston, South Carolina. Their marriage occurred in 1844, in Galveston, Texas; she died in 1859, in Folsom, leaving three sons and one daughter; the daughter has since deceased. The sons are all residing in this county, viz.: Charles E., teller in the California State Bank at Sacramento; Fred P. and James H., residing at Folsom. James H. Burnham, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Folsom and San Francisco. In 1864 he engaged in business pursuits, purchasing an interest in the drug store of Alfred Spinks, a pioneer of this city, and a prominent Democratic politician, and since then has carried on this business. In 1878 he succeeded to the banking business and the Wells, Fargo & Co. express agency, formerly conducted by C.T.H. Palmer, once a prominent factor of Folsom, and now of Oakland. Mr. Burnham has been very successful in business, becoming one of the substantial men of the place. Republican in politics, he has always taken an active interest in political matters, although never a candidate for office. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 1874, and for eight years has been master of Natoma Lodge, No. 64, F. & A.M., at Folsom. In 1866 he married Mary A., daughter of Reuben Clark, architect of the State capitol at Sacramento. They have two sons and one daughter: Clark J., a graduate of the Sacramento High School, and now a student in the Toland Medical College in San Francisco; William P., engaged in business with his father; and Emma M., the daughter, residing with her parents in Folsom.