Burlingame Farmhouse

1895: Kasson, PA
Burlingame Farmhouse

photo credit: Pamela Burlingame Collection
The Burlingame Farmhouse was built by H. L. Burlingame in the early 1860s. The farm and house
remained in the family for a number of years, until it was sold by Lydia Burlingame, H. L.'s daughter, for $1500 during the Depression to the Ponikuar family.

Herman Leroy Burlingame

H. L. was born June 10, 1842. On August 18, 1862 he married Miss Alice F. Stark. He enlisted in the 150th PA Bucktails, Company G shortly after his wedding. While he was fighting in the Civil War, Alice and her brothers built the farmhouse. H. L. was wounded July 1 at Gettysburg while fighting Daniels Brigade. He was held prisoner for a short time by Rebel forces and gained his freedom in a prisoner exchange. He later served as Lincoln's homeguard--soldiers who protected the President at his residence. H. L. was a part of this capacity when President Lincoln was shot.

H. L. died at age 89 on August 14, 1931 from complications of a leg wound which was an old war injury. The wound had festered for many years, eventually became infected and took his life. He was one of the oldest Civil War veterans to die from war wounds.

After H. L. died, his daughter Lydia sold the farm for $1500 during the Depression to the Ponikuar family. The original acreage of the farm has not yet been determined, but is in the process of being investigated through Deeds at the Courthouse. Part of the land was used by the railroad as a right of way. In the early years of the farm, there was a cheese stand along Route 6 and train station.

Fred Burlingame Jr. is all Grown Up
McKean County Democrat
June 23rd 1949

Miss Margaret Cochran, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Cochran of Windy City, and Fred Burlingame Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Burlingame Sr., Bank Street Smethport, were united in marriage at the Methodist parsonage by the Rev. E. J. Burton in a quiet ceremony. Mrs. Everet Swanson of Kane and Bernard Huffman, of Smethport, attended the couple.

The bride was pretty in a white gabardine suit with gold accessories and wore a picture hat. Mrs. Swanson wore a pink gabardine suit.

Following the ceremony a reception was held at the home of the bride’s parents for about 50 friends and relatives, in rooms attractively decorated with peonies, red roses and orange blossoms. Norma Gregerson of Warren and Mrs. Swanson were aides at the bride’s table.

Mrs. Burlingame is a graduate of Kane High school with the class of 1946 and was employed at the Kilmer Wholesale Co. in Kane. The groom is a graduate of Smethport High school and attended St. Bonaventure College and Texas Wesleyan College. He served in World War 2 as a lieutenant in the Army Air Force.

After the wedding trip the couple will reside in Windy City.

Out of town guests attended from Warren, Port Allegany, Smethport, Hazelhurst and Kane.

Hiram Wolcott Burlingame

H. W. was the father of H. L. Burlingame. He was born March 3, 1818. He worked with his father as a stone mason until 1841, when he married Miss Sally Rifle. He changed professions from stone mason to farmer. They had four children, including H. L. He and his family resided in Norwich township until 1848, when they moved to Hamlin Township. Sally died in 1849, and in June of that same year H. W. married again to Miss Cassandra King. The two had five children together. They were members of the Methodist Church. H. W. built by contract many of the roads in Hamlin township, and was an enterprising and successful businessman. He held various township offices, including those of State road commissioner, supervisor, school director, town clerk, auditor, and postmaster.

Isaac Burlingame, born May 3, 1794, was the father of Hiram Wolcott Burlingame. He married Sophronia Wolcott on May 8, 1814. He moved to Hamlin Township with his family in 1815 and settled on a farm near Smethport shortly after. In 1816, a volcanic eruption in the South Pacific caused a darkened sky during the summer and it snowed in June freezing the crops. Isaac and his brother-in-law, Joseph, travelled to Pittsburgh via canoe to bring supplies. The family history tells the story that Seneca Indians were watching with amusement as one of the canoes laden with potatoes spilled in the creek near their home destination. The Seneca word for potato is "nunundah" -- and that creek is today called Potato Creek. (for anyone who attended Smethport High, the yearbook is still to this day called Nunundah)

Isaac was a stone mason and built the first grist mill in this region, the first school foundation, the Court House foundation, and the first jail. He built this structures between 1820 and 1840. He moved to Utica, NY in 1840. He died there May 18, 1868 and his grave can be found in Utica.