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Harry Burnham

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Harry Burnham
Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 35th district
In office
January 5, 1943 – January 2, 1951
Preceded byA. C. Van Diest
Succeeded byK. W. Peterson
Personal details
Born(1875-10-09)October 9, 1875
Norway, Maine
DiedJuly 26, 1951(1951-07-26) (aged 75)
Alliance, Nebraska
PartyRepublican
Spouse
Maggie M. Copley
​
(m. 1900)​
Children2
OccupationFarmer, rancher

Harry Frost Burnham (October 9, 1875 – July 26, 1951) was a Republican politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 35th district from 1943 to 1951.

Early life

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Burnham was born in Norway, Maine, in 1875, and moved with his parents to Nebraska in 1877,[1] and they settled in Custer County in 1881 and began farming.[2]

In 1910, Burnham ran for the Custer County Board of Supervisors from the 1st district. Incumbent Supervisor J. E. Grint declined to run for re-election, and T. P. Owens won both the Republican and Democratic primaries to succeed him.[3] Burnham filed to run in the general election as a petition candidate, and defeated Owen.[4] He was re-elected in 1912.[5]

Burnham Burnham declined to run for re-election in 1914, and instead ran for Custer County Clerk. He won the Republican primary over O. W. Barnard, W. H. Osborne, Chalmers Empfield, and Harry Knapp, receiving 37 percent of the vote.[6] Burnham was narrowly defeated in the general election, receiving 40 percent of the vote to Democrat Robert Waters's 43 percent and Progressive H. F. Hanson's 16 percent.[7] He challenged Waters in 1916, and won the Republican primary.[8] In the general election, he lost to Waters again, receiving 43 percent of the vote to Waters's 57 percent.[9]

In 1926, Burnham ran for the Board of Supervisors from the 1st district, challenging incumbent Democratic Supervisor R. J. Mills for re-election.[10] He won the Republican primary unopposed,[11] and in the general election, narrowly defeated Mills, winning 53–47 percent.[12] He was re-elected over Mills in 1930 in a landslide,[13] and was re-elected in 1934[14] and 1938.[15] He did not seek re-election in 1942.

Nebraska Legislature

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In 1942, State Senator A. C. Van Diest declined to seek re-election,[16] and Burnham ran to succeed him in the 35th district, which included Custer, Garfield, and Loup counties.[2] In the nonpartisan primary, he faced former State Senator James P. Murray and attorney Ross G. Moore.[17][18] Burnham placed first in the primary, winning 45 percent of the vote to Moore's 32 percent and Murray's 23 percent.[19] He and Moore advanced to the general election, which he won in a landslide, defeating Moore, 61–39 percent.[19]

Burnham ran for re-election in 1944, and was challenged by Murray.[20] He placed first in the primary by a wide margin, receiving 70 percent of the vote to Murray's 30 percent.[21] In the general election, Burnham defeated Murray, winning 71–29 percent.[21]

In 1946, Burnham ran for a third term.[22] He faced three opponents: Edith Haynes, Harry Massie, and Murray.[23][24] Burnham placed first in the primary, winning 37 percent of the vote to Massie's 28 percent, Haynes's 23 percent, and Murray's 12 percent.[25] Burnham and Massie proceeded to the general election,[26] which Burnham only narrowly won, defeating Massie with 51 percent of the vote.[25][27]

Burnham sought a fourth term in 1948,[28] and was challenged again by Haynes and Massie.[29] He narrowly placed first in the primary, winning 39 percent of the vote to Massie's 36 percent and Haynes's 25 percent.[30] He faced Massie again in the general election, and won re-election, 53–47 percent.[30]

In 1950, Burnham ran for re-election,[31] and was challenged by Haynes and businessman K. W. Peterson.[32] Burnham received 36 percent of the vote in the primary, and advanced to the general election with Peterson, who narrowly placed second with 34 percent.[33] Peterson ultimately defeated Burnham by a thin margin, winning 51 percent of the vote to his 49 percent.[33][34]

Death

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Burnham died on July 26, 1951.[35][36]

References

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  1. ↑ Nebraska Blue Book 1948 (PDF). Nebraska Legislative Council. 1949. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Harry Burnham Files for Unicameral". Sargent Leader. May 21, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Supervisors". Custer County Chief. Broken Bow, Nebraska. August 19, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "For a New City Hall". Nebraska State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. November 13, 1910. p. 15. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Wilson Sweeps the Country in a Landslide". Sargent Leader. November 7, 1912. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Custer County Official Vote". Custer County Chief. Broken Bow, Nebraska. August 27, 1914. p. 3. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Republicans Elect Their State Ticket". Custer County Chief. Broken Bow, Nebraska. November 5, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Some Close Contests in Primary Election". Loup Valley Queen. Callaway, Nebraska. April 20, 1916. p. 5. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Official Vote of Custer County, Nebraska, General Election 1916". Custer County Chief. Broken Bow, Nebraska. November 16, 1916. p. 7. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Good Competition for Primary Race". Custer County Chief. Broken Bow, Nebraska. July 1, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Primary Election Holds the Center of the Stage". Loup Valley Queen. Callaway, Nebraska. August 6, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "The Official Vote, General Election, November 2, 1926". Custer County Chief. Broken Bow, Nebraska. November 11, 1926. p. 8. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Complete Returns From 13 of Custer's Precincts". Custer County Chief. Broken Bow, Nebraska. November 4, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Two New and Two Holdover on Co. Board". Custer County Chief. Broken Bow, Nebraska. November 8, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Big Vote Cast In Off Election Year -- State Goes Republican But Cochran Re-elected Governor". Sargent Leader. November 10, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Senate Will Have At Least 7 New Faces". Columbus Telegram. August 13, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "James P. Murray, Sargent, Is Unicameral Candidate". Lincoln Star. April 21, 1942. p. 5. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Wherry completes filing for congress; others announced". Evening State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. June 25, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1942). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, Held August 11, 1942, General Election, Held November 3, 1942 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  20. ↑ "James P. Murray Files". Kearney Hub. January 10, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1944). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, April 11, 1944, General Election, November 7, 1944 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Harry F. Burnham seeks re-election". Lincoln Evening Journal. January 8, 1946. p. 2. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Mrs. Edith Haynes files for unicameral". Nebraska State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. March 27, 1946. p. 5. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Ladd Hubka Seeking Re-Election To Post". York Daily News-Times. Lincoln, Nebraska. April 4, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1946). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, June 11, 1946, General Election, November 5, 1946 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Light Primary Vote Cast In Custer County". Loup Valley Queen. Callaway, Nebraska. June 13, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "Burnham Victor In Close Race For Legislature". Custer County Chief. Broken Bow, Nebraska. November 8, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "Burnham Seeks State Legislature Re-election". Lincoln Evening Journal. January 2, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Interest Growing In Coming Primary Election April 13". Custer County Chief. Broken Bow, Nebraska. April 1, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1948). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, April 13, 1948, General Election, November 2, 1948 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Senator Burnham Asks Re-election". Lincoln Evening Journal. March 28, 1950. p. 3. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ "Last Minute Flood of Filings Makes Full Ballot Here". Ord Quiz. July 6, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1950). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, August 8, 1950, General Election, November 7, 1950 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  34. ↑ "K. W. Peterson Unseats Burnham In Close Race". Custer County Chief. Broken Bow, Nebraska. November 9, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ↑ "Senator Burnham Dies at Alliance". Lincoln Evening Journal. July 27, 1951. p. 10. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ↑ "Harry F. Burnham, Ex-Legislator, Dies". Lincoln Star. July 28, 1951. p. 3. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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