Dr. Alfred and Rachel Hord Burnham
Dr. and Mrs. Burnham and their children left their home in Albert Lea, Minnesota and arrived in Tacoma in 1883. In 1884, the family came to
Gig Harbor by steamboat, but Dr. Burnham chose to use a large rowboat
to bring their belongings, including a cow, across the Narrows.
They took a 160-acre homestead at the head of the harbor, which Dr. and Mrs. Burnham platted into a town site in 1888. This was the original town
site of Gig Harbor. Like other early settlers, Dr. Burnham was very far-sighted. He was so eager to promote this new community, he offered a free lot to anyone who would settle in the town site, build a house and paint it white. He persuaded some of his friends from Albert Lea to join him in Gig Harbor. Later, he would provide land for the Methodist Episcopal Church, chartered in 1892.
Burnham was the town's first physician. He opened the first general store, operated by his son Clarence (better known as "Nick"). Mrs. Burnham served as the postmaster of Rosedale. Overland travel between settlements was still very difficult. Dr. Burnham had the rights of way for roads to Purdy and Olalla surveyed. The most convenient way to travel was still by boat.
At about 18 years of age, Dr. Burnham's eldest son, Bismark, began operating his first steamboat. From that point on, known as Captain "Biz" Burnham, he worked on the water. He captained many different steamers on a number of different routes. The boats carried freight, mail and passengers. They stopped at the many small-town docks and at the floats anchored out from houses along the shoreline. Everyone along the route knew him and waved a greeting. He always responded with a short toot from the boat's horn.
