Biographical Sketch of

Joseph Clark Burdick

Transcribed by Barbara Voss



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 500 - 501

Joseph Clark Burdick, a farmer residing on section 17, in the town of Berlin and the present Chairman of the Green 
Lake County Board, is one of the pioneer settlers of this community, dating his residence from 1848. He was born in 
the town of Berlin, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., January 26, 1830 and is a son of Joseph C. and Polly (Peckham) Burdick. 
His father was born in the city of Westerly R.I., in June 1790. He was a farmer and removed to Green Lake County in 
1848, his death occurring in the town of Berlin March 14, 1875. The Burdick family was founded in Rhode Island, in 
1644 by Col. Cary Burdick who emigrated from England. Prior to the marriage of Joseph Burdick Sr., he engaged in 
mercantile pursuits, but subsequent to that event devoted his energies to farming. His family included the following 
children, the eldest of whom is Joseph C., the subject of this sketch; Lewis is unmarried; Mary L. wedded Wallace W. 
Wilcox, but is now deceased; Cinderella I. is the wife of Dr. O. D. Harran of Beatrice, Nebraska; George A. married 
Loretta Payne, now deceased and resides in Windermere, Dakota; Fannie E., is the deceased wife of George D. Green; 
Augusta, the youngest died in infancy. The mother of this family was a daughter of Abel Peckham and was born in the 
town of Grafton, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in 1802. One of her ancestors, Major Braddock Peckham, won distinction in the 
Revolutionary War under General Putnam. Both Mr. and Mrs. Burdick were consistent members of the Baptist Church.

Our subject was reared to manhood upon the farm and in the common schools of his native State acquired his education. 
In 1848 he accompanied his parents to Berlin and in that city began work as a joiner when twelve years of age. On the 
first of January 1854, he was married in the town of Berlin to Miss Justina C. Lewis, daughter of Datus E. and Tacy W. 
(Maxwell) Lewis of Rhode Island. Her parents came to Wisconsin in 1846, settling in Rock County, whence they came to 
Green Lake County in the spring of 1847. The father died in 1884 but the mother still survives. Mrs. Burdick was born 
in the town of Scott, Cortland Co., N. Y., and is the mother of four children, daughters namely; Mary Agnes, Fannie 
Eveline, Tacy Lois and Hattie L., all born in the town of Berlin. Fannie is now the wife of John L. Root and is living 
in Nepuesken, Winnebago Co., Wis.

Mr. Burdick is a Republican in politics and has held various offices of honor and trust. He has served as Justice of 
the Peace several years; Chairman of his town twenty five years; Chairman of the County Board two years and is the 
present incumbent. He was elected and served one term as a member of the Legislature in 1870 and for the past eight 
years has served as a member of the Fox River Flowage Commission for the United States, which has adjusted damages 
for claimants between Appleton and Montello to the amount of $175,000 equal to about 12 per cent of the amount of the 
claims. The total claims made amount to between $2,000,000 and $3,000,000. Between $500,000 and $600,000 still remain 
to be adjusted. Mr. Burdick is and enterprising, public spirited man, who possesses good executive ability and makes 
an efficient and faithful public officer. He is not only one of the oldest settlers of Green Lake County, but is one 
of the leading farmers as well as one of the most popular of her many prominent citizens.

 




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