Appeared in the Gazette: Fall/Winter 2008

Many visitors to the Schmidt-Burnham Log House wonder if there is a family connection to the architect and planner Daniel H. Burnham. Alfred Burnham, husband of artist Anita Willets Burnham, was a first cousin once removed of the famous architect and city planner. Daniel Burnham and Telford Burnham (Alfred’s father) were first cousins, because Daniel’s and Telford’s fathers were siblings. Thus Daniel’s grandfather, Nathan Burnham (1772-1862) was Alfred’s great-grandfather. It is not known how well the two may have been acquainted; although they both worked in Chicago, there was a 32-year age difference between them.