Senator Anthony Rollins Burnam - Anthony R. Burnam was born October 10,1846 in Richmond, Kentucky, and is a son of Hon. Curtis F. Burnam, now the oldest as well as one of the most distinguished and honored members of the Madison county bar. On the paternal side he is connected with the prominent families of Burnam and Weed, many of whose members, in Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri, have high and honorable positions. On the maternal side the Judge is connected with the Rollins, Rodes and other families of equal note.

His early education was acquired in it's public schools.  He next attended Asbury College at Greencastle, Indiana and later took a course in law.  After completion of his professional studies, he passed the required examination and in 1869 became the junior member of the law firm of C. F. and A. R. Burnam. 

In all departments of the law and in all the courts of the state, he has shown himself especially proficient. His legal knowledge is comprehensive and accurate, his reasoning is logical, his arguments forceful and convincing. Success in no profession depends so entirely upon merit as it does in the law, and the high abilities of Mr. Burnam are indicated by his eminent position at the Kentucky bar. When he began practice he entered into partnership with his father, and for twenty-five years the firm was connected with every important civil or criminal cause tried in their district.

Judge Burnam gives his political support to the Republican party. He was elected and served as mayor of Richmond and administered the affairs of the city government in a most satisfactory manner. He was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison collector of internal revenue for the eighth district of Kentucky, and in November, 1896, was elected a member of the Kentucky court of appeals, his opponent being Judge William S. Pryor, one of the most prominent lawyers of the state, who for twenty-five years had been upon the bench of Kentucky's highest court.  Judge Burnam was a man of resourceful ability, and in addition to his law practice he long administered the affairs of the Madison National Bank of Richmond, of which he was president.

He was also a member of the board of trustees of the Madison Female Academy. His real-estate holdings in Madison county were extensive, and he was largely and successfully interested in the breeding of fine trotting stock. In November, 1874, Judge Burnam was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Summers, of Quincy, Illinois, and they had eight children, five sons and three daughters. No man in the community stood higher in the estimation of the public than Judge Burnam.  He has been identified with all the movements looking to the advancement of the general welfare, and especially the patron of charitable, educational and benevolent institutions. In January, 1897, he became a member of the court of appeals, was a representative of one of the Kentucky pioneer families that was prominent in the founding of the commonwealth.

He was elected to the state senate in 1907 and became an influential member of that law-making body.  He championed every measure destined to prove of benefit to the Commonwealth, and was instrumental in promoting legislation providing for the establishment of normal schools for the training of teachers for the common schools of the state.  His influence for good was potent and far reaching and his death on the 9th of September, 1919 was a distinct loss to his city and state.  He is buried in the Richmond Cemetery, Section H, Lot 95.