A History of Masonry in Madison County, Kentucky 1812-1913, compiled 
and written by Robert R. Burnam, 1914, p.  69.

CURTIS F. BURNAM was born May 24, 1820 in Richmond, Kentucky.  He was the 
son of Thompson Burnam and Lucinda Field.  The former was born in Wake 
County, North Carolina, while Lucinda Field was born in Culpeper County, 
Virginia.  All of Mr. Burnam's grand parents saw service in the 
Revolutionary War.  Col. John Field, his mother's grandfather, was killed 
at Point Pleasant, Virginia, 1774, in battle with Indians led by the 
famous Chief Cornstalk.  The subject of this narrative was prepared for 
college at the Madison Seminary.  He entered Yale College in January, 
1837, and graduated with the highest honors of his class in 1840.  
Immediately upon his return home he began the study of law with Judge 
Daniel Breck, which he continued for one year.  He was admitted to the 
bar after graduating from the law department of Transylvania University 
in 1842.  Associating himself with W. C. Goodloe, afterwards for years a 
celebrated Judge, he began a life work that extended over nearly seventy 
years.  He was honored by his County people in many ways, serving as a 
member of both houses of legislature and also as a member of the 
constitutional convention of 1890.  He was the first assistant and at 
times acting Secretary of the United States Treasury during Gen. Grant's 
second term as President.  It is needless to recount his many virtues.  
Few men have ever lived in our County or State who left a more aiding 
fame; not so much by reason of great deeds or prominent positions as by 
a long life of great usefulness.  His name in his county became a synonym 
for integrity, for justice, for culture, for all the qualities which go to 
make up a noble character.  He married Miss Sara Rollins, daughter of A. W.
Rollins, the Master U. C. of Richmond Lodge, in 1845.  Both lived to 
enjoy a beautiful old age.  They lived to see their children and grand 
children grow to manhood and womanhood filling stations of honor and 
usefulness.  Those who once partook of the delightful hospitality of their
beautiful home, Burnamwood, never forgot it.  Mr. Burnam, died March 19, 
1909, having survived his wife five years.  He was buried in the Richmond 
Cemetery with full Templar honors.  He was made a Master Mason in 1842. 
Elected Master, June, 1848, serving for six months and re-elected 
December, 1850.  He served the Lodge also as Secretary for one year.  He 
was made a Royal Arch Mason in 1848, elected High Priest of his Chapter, 
1853.  He was dubbed and created a Knights Templar, May, 1848, in Webb 
Encampment at Lexington.  After the formation of Richmond Commandery in 
1874, he was affiliated with it until his death.  He was for a number of 
years Prelate.
     On his eighty-seventh birthday a beautiful dinner was given in Mr. 
Burnam's honor by the craft in token of his services to both his State 
and Lodge.  At the time of his death he was the oldest Templar in point 
of service in Kentucky.  He loved the Masonic Order both for its moral 
teachings and for its beautiful ritualistic service.

Burnam Field Breck Goodloe Rollins Cornstalk
=
Wake-NC Culpeper-VA 

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/madison/burnam.cf.txt