Burham, W. H.

BURHAM, STEWART, SIGAFOOS

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 8/8/2020 at 08:50:54

W. H. Burham, residing on section 32, township 76, range 8, and attachment to Franklin Township, is a native of Hampshire County, Va., born in 1832, and is the son of Augustus and Rebecca (Stewart) Burham, both of whom were also natives of Virginia. Augustus Burham was born in Hampshire County, Va., in 1800, and there married in 1827, Rebecca Stewart. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom twelve are yet living – John Thomas, Hiram B., William H., James Gibson, Nelson C., Henry Harrison, L. R., Franklin P., Martha Ann, Harriet A., Custer A., Julia A., and Lucy A. The family came to Iowa in 1852, Mrs. Burham dying here Aug., 8, 1879, and Mr. Burham, June 28, 1887. At the time of his death he had twelve living children, fifty-three grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren.

William H. Burham came to Iowa in 1852, in company with his parents. He settled two miles south of Washington, where he lived four years, working on a farm and brick-making. He then went to Clark County, Iowa, where he engaged in blacksmithing and carpentering for seven years in Hope Village. He then enlisted in the war for the Union in Co. B, 18th Vol. Inf., and served two years. He was in the battles of Prairie D’Anne, Poison Springs, Jenkins’ Ferry and Clarksville. He was wounded at Ft. Smith, Ark., while on picket duty, being shot in the left hand, and losing one finger. He was discharged at Little Rock, Ark., June 10, 1865, for disability received while he was in the service. On receiving his discharge, he returned to Washington County and located on section 33, Cedar Township, where he lived one year, and then moved to another farm on the same section, belonging to Calvin Craver. Here he lived four years, and then moved to a farm on section 34, which he rented for five years. At the expiration of that time, he went to West Chester, where he lived six years, and then moved to his present farm section 32, where he bought forty acres of improved land. In 1854, he was united in marriage with Mary E. Sigafoos a native of Virginia. They are the parents of seven children: George H., now of West Chester; Louis Nelson, now in Oregon; Elizabeth Susan, born Jan. 29, 1860, and died Oct. 27, 1862; Phoebe Jane, wife of George Barnett, of Washington; Emma L., the wife of Milton Barr, of North English; Rosetta, the wife of George L. Hays, of Franklin Township; Charles W., at home. Mr. Burham and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For twelve years he has held the position of Constable. He is a well-known and highly respected citizen of West Chester, and is a live man in every respect.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of W. H. Burham, pages 543-544.