Cumberland County, Maine - Albion Hall Burnham ********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: C. Wendland SilverDrusilla@aol.com Copyright © 2005 by C. Wendland Caitlin's Gold Award Project, Girl Scouts USA, Rio Grande Girl Scout Council, El Paso, Texas ********************************************************************** Biography Albion Hall Burnham Biographical Review Cumberland County, Maine Boston Biographical Review Publishing Company 1896 Page 584-585 Albion Hall Burnham, who, without doubt, has been identified with the canning industry of this section of Cumberland County for a longer period of time than any other man now living, was born May 11, 1835, in the town of Raymond, this county. He is of pioneer ancestry, his great-grandfather, Reuben Smith Burnham, a native probably of Ipswich, Mass., having settled in Cumberland County some time during the eighteenth century, when Maine was a part of Massachusetts. Securing a tract of heavily timbered land that is now included in the village of Bridgton, he erected his primitive dwelling on High Street, and there improved a homestead, on which he resided until his death, which was caused by a falling tree one Fourth of July. Abram Smith Burnham, son of Reuben Smith Burnham, was born in Ipswich, Mass., being but a youth when he came to this county, where he assisted his father in clearing a farm. On reaching man's estate, he took up a tract of wild land in the town of Harrison, of which he was the original settler, the log cabin which he erected for his own occupancy being the very first building within the limits of that town. In this he lived alone for some time, leading a bachelor's life, going home every Sunday, ostensibly to see his parents, although a stronger attraction may have been the young maiden, Alice Scribner, who afterward became his bride. The young married couple began house-keeping in the cabin, but eventually removed to the substantial frame house which he erected, and where they passed their declining days, he attaining the advanced age of eighty six years. Four children were born to them; namely, Reuben, Timothy D., Ai, and Sarah, the second son being the father of Albion H. Timothy D. Burnham was born and bred in Harrison, and there learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a short time, abandoning it, however, to engage in mercantile business in Raymond. His parents becoming infirm, he returned to the old homestead, where he cared for them as long as they lived. During the next few years he was engaged in a mercantile and lumbering business in partnership with Major Joseph Walker and others at Westbrook. Removing thence to Gorham, associated with others, he erected a woollen-mill, for which he became selling agent, in which capacity he continued active until his decease, in 1883, at the age of eighty one years. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine J.Dingley, was a daughter of Colonel Joseph and Martha (Jordan) Dingley, and was born in Raymond. Her paternal grandfather, Dominicus Dingley, was born and reared in Duxbury, Mass., from which place he migrated to this county, being induced to come here by the offer of a tract of land to the first man to locate in Raymond. Starting for the place, he made his way on foot through the thick forest, and during the journey encountered a Mr. Jordan, who was bent on the same errand: As they camped together one night, a few miles from their destination, Mr. Dingley watched and waited until sure his companion was asleep, and then he stole out and hastened onward. When Mr. Jordan found him the next day, he had secured the land and was hard at work building a log cabin. Two children only were born to Mr. and Mrs. Timothy D. Burnham - Ellen K., who became the wife of Daniel S. Brown, of Gorham; and Albion Hall. The mother outlived her husband, attaining the age of eighty-four years. Albion Hall Burnham, having finished his education at the Bridgton Academy, which he attended three terms each year for seven years, learned the tinsmith's trade. When about eighteen years old, the canning of corn became an established industry in this county; and he was employed to seal the cans in the pioneer factory. From that time until the present Mr. Burnham has been connected with this business in some capacity, coming to Bridgton in 1865 to take charge of a factory here. He is now manager of the Bridgton Canning Company, which has a plant in Bridgton and one in East Fryeburg; and in addition to managing these Mr. Burnham owns and superintends a canning factory in Waterford. He also is a stockholder and Director in the Bridgton & Saco Railway. Mr. Burnham was married in 1866 to Mildred Johnson, a native of Yarmouth, whither her grandfather, David Johnson, and his wife, Mary (Marston) Johnson, removed in pioneer times from Gorham, buying a farm and engaging in tilling the soil. Mrs. Burnham's father, Jasper Johnson, was born in Gorham; but reared on the homestead in Yarmouth. After his marriage he located in North Yarmouth, where he conducted a hotel until his decease at the age of sixty years. He married Sarah Clark, whose mother, Mrs. Judith Stinchfield Clark, was a daughter of Elder Ephraim- Stinchfield and a granddaughter of John and Mehitable Stinchfield. Mrs. Sarah C. Johnson died at the age of forty-four years, leaving four children; namely, Mildred B. (Mrs. Burnham), Sarah M., Jennie, and Clara Ella. Jasper Johnson subsequently married Mildred Burton, who bore him five sons -Walter R., David, Joseph, Andrew R., and Charles H. Mr. and Mrs. Burnham are not identified with any religious organization by membership, but are regular attendants of the Congregational church.