An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL. 1893 HIRAM BURNETT, one of the well-known pioneers of the Puget Sound country, and an honored citizen of Seattle, was born at Southburg, Massachusetts, July 5, 1817. His parents were Charles and Kezia (Pond) Burnett, both natives of time Bay State and descendants of pioneer ancestry, all of whom followed agricultural pursuits. Our subject was educated in time public schools of Southburg and at the city of Worcester, Massachusetts. At the age of eighteen years he began learning the carpenter's trade, and after four years of service went to Rhode Island, where he continued in that occupation. He was married in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1845, to Miss Elizabeth M. Gibbs, and continued to reside in the State of Rhode Island until 1852, when, after providing comfortable arrangements for his family he started for California. Duly arriving in San Francisco, he found ready employment in one of the planing mills at $7 per day. He remained in San Francisco until 1855, and then came to Port Gamble, under engagement with the Puget Mill Company, as superintendent of their planing mill, in 1856 he returned to time East for his family, but instead of returning at once to the Pacific coast he located in Kansas. After a short time, however, he became dissatisfied with that State, and in 1856 he removed to Puget Sound again, returning to the employ of the Port Gamble mill, in his old position of superintendent. In 1862 he removed his family to Seattle, in order to improve the educational advantages of his children. At that time he purchased four lots on Fourth street, between Marion and Columbia, and subsequently added two more lots, at an average price of $100 each. His was the first house erected on Fourth street. After thus providing a home for his family, he returned to mill work in various localities, at which he continued until 1878, when he retired from active labor and permanently settled in Seattle and began improving his property, which is now well covered with substantial houses for tenants, in 1880 he bought ten acres of land at Edgewater, in Lake Union addition, which he subdivided and sold for residence purposes, except four lots on time corner of Richard and Henry streets, upon which, in the summer of 1890, he erected an elegant and spacious residence, overlooking the beautiful lake, where he now resides in the full enjoyment of the fruits of his labors, accompanied by his dear wife, the companion of his pioneer struggles. Two children have been born to Mr. Burnett and wife, one of whom survives, - Charles H., - who is superintendent of the South Prairie Coal Company at Burnett, Pierce county, and who is active in the coal development of time State. Politically, Mr. Burnett is a stanch Republican. While at Port Gamble he served as Justice of the Peace, and for ten years as Probate Judge, and has also served a term as Commissioner of King county. Mr. Burnett is the recognized father of Trinity Episcopal Church, of Seattle, which was founded in 1865, and the first church erected in 1869. He was one of time first Vestrymen, and served in that capacity and as Senior Warden up to 1889, when he withdrew to assist in time organization of St. Mark's Church, in which he has continued as Senior Warden. While in the performance of mill work about the Sound he was always active in Sunday-school work, and lots done much pioneer work in that capacity, always exerting his influence on the side of morality and in the upbuilding of Christian institutions. As a pioneer and citizen Mr. Burnett stands in the same relation to Seattle and the Sound country as such old citizens as A.A. Denny, Thomas Mercer, Henry Van Asselt, George Whitworth, J.J. McGilvra, Orange Jacobs, Dexter Horton, and many others, who are regarded not only as the pioneers but as the most honored men of the State of Washington today. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.