Albert S. Burnham
Commanding Officer - Company H, 2nd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, 1917-1918 Grand High Priest – Royal Arch Masons of Virginia, 1940
Albert S. Burnham was born on 12 January, 1874, in Lynchburg City, Virginia. Son of William Emmaus Burnham and Sarah Jane Brown.
Albert married Emma C (Unknown) in 1897. Together, they had four children: Walter E. Burnham (1901-1957), Edith M. Burnham (1904-1920), William O. Burnham (1905- ) and Archibald C. Burnham (1907- ).
Brother Burnham was issued his commission to be first lieutenant and adjutant of the Third Battalion of the First Regiment, at Lynchburg, Virginia.
Times Dispatch, June 29, 1910.
Albert served as adjutant to Major Stanley W. Martin, First Virginia, National Guard, on the Mexican border campaign in 1916.
Capt. Burnham was put in command of H Company, 2nd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, which was formed from D Company (“Monticello Guard”), Charlottesville, 2nd Battalion (Richmond Greys), 1st Virginia Regiment and H Company, Covington, 2nd Battalion (?), 1st Virginia Regiment, Virginia National Guard.
Capt. Burnham departed Hoboken, NJ to Europe aboard the U.S.S. Finland on 15 June, 1918.
Image courtesy of fold3.
He is listed at “Severely Wounded” in the Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger on 20 December, 1918.
Evening Public Ledger, Philadelphia PA, December 20, 1918
Major Burnham departed Saint-Nazaire, France to the U.S. aboard the U.S.S. Matsonia on 9 May, 1919. He was commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, 116th Infantry.
Image courtesy of fold3.
On 7 September, 1919, Bro. Burnham was honored by the residents of Covington, Virginia.
The Times Dispatch, Richmond VA, Monday, September 8, 1919
On 29 June, 1926, Albert’s mother, Mrs. Sarah Jane Burnham, died at his home at the age of 87.
He was promoted to Grand Scribe for the 1939 year on 26 October, 1938[vii]. He served as Grand Scribe for the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Virginia in 1939. He served as Grand King in 1939 and as Grand High Priest in 1940.
Brother Major Burnham passed away unexpectedly at his home in Lynchburg, VA, after a short illness on 26 January, 1941. He was still employed by the Southern railway. He now rests in Lynchburg City, Virginia, the place of his birth and where he lived his entire life.
The Daily News Leader, Tuesday, 28 January, 1941.
Soft and safe, my brother, be thy resting place. Bright and glorious, be thy rising from it.
Lest we forget…