John Burnham was born on November 19, 1829 in Derry, New Hampshire.  In 1862 he enlisted in Company C. 10th Minnesota Volunteers and took part in Sibley's 1863 Dakota Campaign.

Besides a military career, Burnham was also a farmer and pioneer.  After farming in Minnesota, Burnham and his wife moved to Dakota Territory and homesteaded in Wheatland, ND in 1877.  Burnham also wrote many manuscripts and two deal with early life in North Dakota: one on the attempted lottery in 1889 and the growing of wheat. 
 

Frontier and Pioneer Life Military  Personal and Family Papers