Wallace Kendall Burnham

Wallace Kendall Burnham was born Jan 24, 1838 in Woodstock, Illinois to James Lewis Jr. and Mary Ann Huntley Burnham.

Early Life

Soon after Wallace was born, the Burnham family converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1832, then moved the family to Nauvoo, Illinois in 1845. In 1846, Wallace's father died, making survival for their family difficult with the mobs that were threatening the Saint's survival. In 1848, the Burnham family moved from Nauvoo to Winter Quarters for refuge until they could get the means to move west.1 

Journey West and Life in Salt Lake Valley

Due to not having the finances and means to go west with her whole family, Mary Ann sent Wallace and his other brother George to go west before the rest of the Burnham family. Wallace and Luther were with the Daniel Woods family as they crossed in the Heber C. Kimball Company of 1852, arriving the same year.1 

While in the Salt Lake Valley, Wallace helped move church equipment and records south during the preparation of the Utah War.1 

Life in Richmond

Wallace and his family moved to Richmond in 1861.

In 1877, Wallace was called to be the second counselor of the Richmond Ward Bishopric to Bishop Marriner W. Merrill, his brother-in-law. He served as Bishop Merrill's councilor until he was called to be the President of the Cache Stake, where William L. Skidmore was called to replace Marriner as Bishop. Wallace served as the second counselor of the Bishopric until 1900.2 

Member of the City Council (1872 - ?)

Wallace K. Burnham served as a member of the City Council for a unknown number of years.

Family

While working in Jordan, Utah, Wallace met Philanda Standley whom he married on Nov 30, 1856 in Bountiful, Utah.1 They had five children before her death on Oct 20, 1867.

Wallace entered the practice of polygamy when he married Lydia Standley April 11, 1865 in Salt Lake City, Utah. They had 13 children with 11 living to adulthood.

Epilogue