Albert C. Burnham was born February 20th, 1839, at Summerfield, Michigan, the son of Calvin B Burnham of Montague, Mass., and Mary Ann Bruce (Burnham) of Templeton, Mass., whose ancestry was colonial of English descent. He received a common school education in his native place and came to Champaign about 1859, possessed with good sense, willing hands and a determination to win.
Rumor said that his first enterprise here was a confectionary stand, of short duration, however.
He read law with James B. McKinley and was admitted to the bar. His first case in court was against him, which so mortified his sensitive nature that he quit the law with the remark "that he was not cut out for a lawyer, but he knew that he could make good at something else." The Loan and Brokerage business was then entered into and carried to a very marked success, leaving a large estate in trust for, the benefit of his heirs. He founded the banking house of Burnham, Condit and Scott, which later be came Burnham, Trevett and Mattis, and was finally incorporated in the present Trevett-Mattis Banking Company.
Besides the Library gift mentioned above, he also provided for the Julia F. Burnham Hospital in the same liberal manner, by setting aside a similar amount for the Hospital building.
A veteran of the Civil War, he served his country as Q. M. Sergeant of the 76th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, following his regiment in all its campaigns and engagements. He was a republican in national issues and a sound money advocate on all occasions.
He married Julia F. Davison of Newark, N. J. in 1866 and issued a son and daughter, the former serving for 28 years on the Library Board and the latter in a similar capacity on the Julia F. Burnham Hospital Board.
A.C. died September 13th, 1897 and was laid to rest in Mt. Hope cemetery.
Albert Calvin Burnham's magnificent gift to the Champaign Public Library, stands as a monument to a generous spirit and for the good of the public.