Henry C. Burnham, a prominent citizen and druggist of Fairport, was born in McKean County, Penn, on May 9, 1835. He is the son of J. C. and Phoebe (Moses) Burnham, the former a native of Franklin County, Mass., born November 6, 1805, and the latter, a native of Livingston County, N. Y., born on December 11, 1914. The paternal grandfather was Josiah Burnham, a native of Franklin County, Mass., and his father was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War, and removed from Connecticut to Massachusetts. Josiah removed to McKean County, Penn., before his death. J. C., the father, removed to McKean County previous to his father's removal, and engaged in farming until his death in 1861. The maternal grandfather was Reuben Moses, a native of Vermont, who removed to Livingston County, N. Y. The mother is still living in McKean County, Penn., with a son. To the parents four children were born, of whom Henry C. is the eldest. He was partially reared on the farm, and attended the district schools, but finished his education at Olean Academy in New York. After leaving school he engaged in various occupations, including school teaching, merchandising and lumbering. In 1868 he located on a farm in De Kalb County, Mo., and embarked in farming for several years. In 1875 he removed to Fairport, and engaged in clerking, but subsequently in merchandising. In 1878 he began his present business. In 1870 he was elected justice of the peace for two years. He was elected district judge of De Kalb County in 1873, and re-elected in 1878. In 1887 he was again elected justice of the peace, which office he holds at present. He served as postmaster at Fairport from 1880 to 1887. He is a charter member of Ryland Lodge, No. 332, F. & A. M., of Berlin, and is also a member of Mitchel Royal Arch Chapter, No. 89, of St. Joseph. In January, 1862, he wedded Charlotte Moses, who was born in Allegany County, N. Y., in 1840. She is the daughter of Alfred Moses, and is a member of the Methodist Church.
Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), pp. 552-553.