ROBERT ELAM BURNHAM
The Nickerson Argosy, Thursday, May 25,
1916, Pg. 8
Vol. 39, No. 25
Date/place of death and unit information also from "Journal of the Thirty-sixth Annual Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Kansas" held in Salina, Kansas May 16, 17, 18, 1917. Contained in the Chaplains Memorial Roll.
ANSWERED
THE LAST CALL
Our old friend and respected
citizen, Robert Elam Burnham, whom everyone called Grandpa Burnham passed away
at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Agnes Michels last Sunday afternoon. He
was sick but a few days, and the community was unprepared for the sad news.
He was born at Wisbech, England
Nov. 2, 1827; died at Nickerson Kansas, May 21, 1916, aged 88 years, 6 months
and 19 days.
In early manhood he came to this
country and settled in Ohio, where he lived until 1869, when he moved to Kansas,
locating north of Emporia on a farm, which was his home until he moved to
Nickerson seven years ago last September.
In 1853 at Monroeville, Ohio, he
was married Miss Anne L. Green. A rather unusual circumstance connected
with the marriage was that his wife was also raised in England about four miles
from his birthplace, but neither knew the other. She came to this country
and located at the same place in Ohio and so they found each other.
To this union six children were
born, the first dying in infancy. The others are, Mrs. Agnes Michels of
Nickerson, W. H. Burnham of Abilene, A. E. Burnham of Topeka, Mrs. E. J.
Stephens of Van, Mo. and Robert G. Burnham of Nickerson. These were all
present at the funeral.
Grandpa Burnham was an earnest
Christian man, having accepted Christ as his Savior in his youth. All his
long life he had lived close to his Master in humble simple faith doing His
will. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in Company K, 133rd
Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was a member of the local G. A. R. Post and
the Methodist church.
Besides his children he leaves to
mourn his departure a brother in Michigan and sister in Ohio.
The funeral was held Tuesday
afternoon, in charge of the G. A. R. from the Methodist church, the sermon being
preached by Rev. McNeil. Interment was made in Wildmeade Cemetery.
We tender our deepest sympathy to
the sorrowing family.