BURNHAM, Bessie May 1891-1918

BURNHAM

Posted By: Phyllis Montour (email)
Date: 2/11/2004 at 21:22:08

Bessie May Burnham was born in Monona, Clayton County, Iowa, June 19th 1891, and spent her entire childhood and young girlhood in the vicinity of Luana.

In June, 1911, she with her brother Ray graduated from the Postville high school. During the next few years she attended Carleton College at Northfield, Minn. and taught in the public schools near her home, graduating from Carleton College in June 1916.

That year she accepted a position as one of the faculty of the high school at Monona, which position she filled until the summer of 1918. For the ensuing year she accepted a position as instructor in the schools at Fontanelle, Iowa, leaving her home in Waukon on Aug. 29th, 1918, for that place.

On Oct. 5th she was stricken with the dread malady influenza, developing pneumonia which caused her death on Oct. 12th, 1918, at the age of 27 years, 3 months and 23 days.

She leaves to mourn her untimely death, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Burnham of Waukon and one brother, Ray H. Burnham of Luana, and a host of other relatives and friends. She was converted and joined the Congregational church at Northfield, Minn., in 1914. Of a cheerful, winning disposition, her friends were numbered by her acquaintances.

Her mother was called to her bedside, reaching there one hour and a half before her spirit took its flight, but not before unconciousness had claimed her from which she never rallied.

The remains were brought to Postville Oct. 14th, thence by auto to the cemetery at Hardin where in the ?? shine of a beautiful autumn afternoon at 4 o'clock, short services were conducted by Rev. H. Williams pastor of the M. E. church at Postville and also by the members of the order of the Eastern Star of Monona, of which she was an honored member. A number of songs were sung by the Monona and Luana church choirs, and all that ?? mortal of Bessie was laid to rest with a wealth of flowers seldom seen ?? season of the year.