George Franklin Burnham

George Franklin Burnham was born Oct 26, 1839 in McHenry, Illinois to James Lewis Jr. and Mary Ann Huntley Burnham. George is a Pioneer of Richmond. George is a veteran of the Indian Wars.

Early Life

Soon after the birth of George, the Burnham family was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. In 1846, George's father died, and soon after, the remaining Burnham family was forced out of Nauvoo to Winters Quarters by mobs. They lived in Winters Quarters before everyone was forced out due to being on Native American land. Due to not having the means to take her whole family west, Mary Ann had to let George and his older brother Wallace go with the Heber C. Kimball company in 1852. Soon, the rest of the Burnham family was able to meet the Wallace and George, and moved to Bountiful, Utah.

After the construction of the Richmond Fort in 1860 and other forts in Cache Valley, the Territory of Utah created the Cache Military District on Oct 15, 1861 with Church Apostle Ezra T. Benson as Colonel. Richmond was organized as the 5th Battalion Infantry, with Thomas L. Whittle as Major, David P. Rainy as Adjutant, and Robert M. Kerr and Dana Walton as Captains. On June 16, 1863, Richmond was organized into two companies of Infantry and two squads of Cavalry. George was appointed a Private in both instances.

Family

George met and married Sarah Marinda Smith, daughter of Amanda Barnes Smith, in Richmond on Nov 7, 1862.; they had 12 children with 10 living to adulthood. George entered the practice of polygamy on June 26, 1871 when he married Elizabeth Barnett; and Emma Jane Stevens on May 27, 1885. George fathered 20 children with 17 living to adulthood.

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