San Francisco County
Biographies
JAMES
W. BURNHAM
James W. Burnham
is reckoned among the California pioneers, and for nearly forty years has been
closely identified with the commercial interests of the State. He was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts,
December 25, 1836, his ancestors being among the early settlers of the
State. At the age of twelve years he
went to sea as cabin boy for his uncle, Captain William Varinia,
his first cruise being to the West Indies, and his second cruise with another
uncle, Captain Nicholas Varinia, on the brig Forest,
bound for California, loaded with a cargo of general merchandise and sixty
passengers, the father of our subject, James Burnham, being among the
number. The ship sprung a leak off the
coast of South America and they ran in at Port St. Catharine, and beached the
vessel and made necessary repairs. While
there they had much trouble with the natives, and when they sailed were fired
upon from the forts. They then rounded
Cape Horn, where they met very heavy weather and were three weeks battling with
the elements, and four men were lost, being washed overboard. Once entering the Pacific they proceeded
without delay and arrived safely at San Francisco, July 6, 1849, landing at the
corner of Clay and Montgomery streets, the voyage being of 180 days’ duration. James W. and his father then started for the
mines, boarding a small overloaded schooner for Sacramento, being two weeks in
making the trip; then proceeding to Sutter’s mill they began placer-mining; but
the exposure was too much for them, and after about three months both were
taken sick with chills and fever and they returned to San Francisco, and in
January, 1850, started for home. Taking
a Chilian bark to Panama, they crossed to Chagres, there re-embarking on a small brig for New
Orleans, thence up the river to Sandusky, Ohio, across to Buffalo, and by
Albany and Boston back to Newburyport, where they remained until February,
1852, and again started for California, Mr. Burnham bring out his wife,
daughter and subject, which composed his family. They embarked from Boston by ship, and again
rounded Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco without accident or particular
incident. Mr. Burnham then followed his
trade of hatter until his death in 1852.
The subject began work for William M. Hixon, a
carpet dealer on Clay street, remaining until 1861,
the latter year filling positions of trust and responsibility, having entire
charge of the store during Mr. Hixon’s absence in
Europe. In 1861 Mr. Burnham went to
Virginia City, Nevada, and in partnership with a Mr. Hall, opened a carpet
store, which they continued about two years, then sold out and returned to San
Francisco, and again clerked in the carpet house of McIlwee
& Ackerman, on Montgomery street, remaining until 1868. Mr. Burnham’s sister, Sarah E., had
previously married Mr. John L. Eckley, and in 1868
Miss Burnham and Eckley formed a copartnership
and purchased the carpet stock of J. M. Troutt,
located on the junction of Post and Market streets, in a one-story frame
building. With the increase of trade
they erected a beautiful four-story building of pressed brick and stone
trimmings, having a twenty-six foot frontage on Market street and forty-five
feet on Post, the building being 150 feet deep, which was then considered one
of the finest buildings of the city.
Here they continued business until 1880, when Mr. Eckley
sold his interest to Thomas Beck and the firm of Burnham, Beck & Co., was
organized, who continued until 1883, when disaster settled upon them and the
establishment was closed out with heavy loss to the proprietors, though the
creditors received dollar for dollar.
Mr. Burnham then bought the “Oak Lawn” fruit farm and ranch of thirty
acres, two and a half miles from Santa Clara, built a handsome residence and
there resided until 1887. The ranch was
highly improved, with a variety of fruit, and was considered the finest of its
size in the valley, and he sold it for $21,500; then returned to San Francisco,
where he has since resided, owning a fine residence at No. 7 Scott street. In 1887 he entered the real-estate business
at 428 Montgomery street, with F. D. Marsh, in which
he is still engaged, buying and selling property and doing a general rental and
collection business. He was married in
San Francisco in 1863 to Miss Sarah J. Gibbons, a native of England, and to the
union has been added three children: James G.,
Genevieve B., now Mrs. F. D. Marsh, and William. Mr. Burnham is a member of the Society of
California Pioneers, being among the youngest in the society of those who
arrived in ’49; also a member of the blue lodge, chapter and commandery, F. & A. M.
He was one of the active members of the Vigilance Committee of 1856, and
is always found on the side of law and order.
He has done considerable building in the city, in apartment and business
property, and in real estate has important and extensive transactions.
Transcribed by Donna L. Becker.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 1,
pages 706-707, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2005 Donna L. Becker.