Darius Burnham
Darius J. Burnham, a native of Madison County, is one of its foremost citizens, possessing more than ordinary energy, enterprise, business talent and public spirit. He is not only one of the most extensive farmers and stockmen of the county, but he is one of its leading civic offlcers, holding various important public positions, and he is widely and favorably known. His home is one mile south of Rosedale, in Pike Township, on his large and finely appointed farm, where he carries on a big business in raising various kinds of stock.
Mr. Burnham was born in the township where he still lives April 3, 1848. His father, John H. Burnham, is a native of Connecticut, and a son of Darius and Lucretia (Hunt) Burnham, who left their New England home when he was about two years old, and came to this county to found a new one in the wilderness. After attaining manhood, he was married, in Pike Township, to Miss Scelina Fullington, who was born in this township, of which her parents were early settlers. After marriage, the Burnhams located on an undeveloped tract of land, which he improved into a fine farm, first erecting a log house for the shelter of himself and his bride, and afterward replacing it by a substantial frame residence. He became one of the largest land-holders in the county, owning at one time twelve hundred acres in Pike Township. He now lives in retirement at Mechanicsburgh, where he is serenely passing his declining years in the enjoyment of the wealth that is the fruit of his early labors. The amiable wife who walked by his side many years, encouraging him in his work and performing her part as a true helpmate, departed this life in 1889. Unto them were born eight children, six sons and two daughters, who grew to manhood and womanhood, and seven of whom are still living.
Our subject is the third child and third son of his parents. He obtained the preliminaries of his education in the schools of Monroe Township, and finished his studies at the University of Delaware. He remained at home until he was twenty-one, and for a time was engaged in business with his father, trading and dealing in stock, and farming. October 4, 1876, he was wedded to Miss Mattie L., the eldest daughter of Henry and Eveline Burnham, of Pike Township, and her unselfish devotion to his interests has contributed not a little to his success in life and to his welfare generally.
After marriage, Mr. Burnham at once established himself and his wife on the pleasant location, six miles east of Mechanicsburgh, where they have ever since made their home. His farm of nine hundred and fifty acres of choice land, all lying in Pike Township, is considered one of the best in all Madison County. The most of the improvements have been made by himself, and are first-class. The land is well drained, as he has put in about twenty-eight miles of tile within the last fifteen years, and is continually adding more. He is one of the most successful and largest stock farmers in the county, and feeds now about one hundred and fifty bushels of corn to his stock a day. He has fifteen hundred sheep, two hundred head of two-year-old cattle, two hundred hogs, and thirty fine horse His farm is supplied with a fine set of buildings, including a handsome residence, erected in 1877, and five neat dwellings for his work people, who, with their families, number twenty-five. Mr. Burnham also does a flourishing business in baling and shipping hay to various markets.
Although his own private interests are so extensive and varied, our subject has had much to do with the administration of public affairs, and the same thoroughness, forethought, tact and able business management have been noticable features in the discharge of his civic duties that have ever characterized his course in looking after his own concerns. He is President of the Central Ohio Fair Association, which comprises Fayette, Union, Madison and Clarke Counties. He is now, and has been for many years, Trustee of Pike Tovvnship, and no man has done more personally for its advancement than he. He is one of the Directors of the Central Bank of Mechanicsburgh, of which he is also a stockholder. In politics, he is an uncompromising Republican.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]
Darius Burnham, farmer and stock-dealer, P.O. rosedale, a prominent young farmer of Pike Township, was born April 6, 1848, in Madison County, Ohio. His parents are John H. and Salina (Fullington) Burnham. He, in his youth, received a good English education, and on October 4, 1876, he married Miss Mattie L. Burnham, daughter of Henry and Eveline Burnham, of Monroe Township, this county, whose sketch appears in this work. Mr. burnham has a fine farm of 515 acres, upon which he built a very desirable and commodious residence.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]