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- Mrs. BURDICK was the daughter
of Captain Jabez CAMPBELL, and was born in
- Adams, Jefferson Co., N.Y., Dec. 30,
1815, and died in Milton, Rock Co., Wis., July 5, 1897, being
in the 82nd year of her age. She was the youngest, and for a
number of years the last surviving member, of a family of seven
children. Three of these children were the brothers, Alexander,
Orson, and Zuriel CAMPBELL, so well known among Seventh-day
Baptists in the generation now passing away. Of the sisters the
eldest, Clarissa, married Willet BURDICK, late of Utica,
Wis., and was the mother of Rev. Charles A. BURDICK, of
Farina, Ill., and Rev. Frank O. BURDICK, of North Loup,
Neb. The second sister, Calista, was the wife of William POOLE,
of Adams, N.Y., and the third, Azubah, married William DAVIS,
of Lincklaen, N.Y. None of these are now living. The father of
this family was a military officer in the American army in the
war of 1812-14, and was a descendant of the CAMPBELLs
of Scotland, famous in history and song. They were sturdy defenders
of the principles of religious liberty of the Scottish Presbyterian
type; but early in the history of the family they all became
Seventh-day Baptists.
- In the 21st year of her age, Sept.
20, 1836, Adaline CAMPBELL, the subject of this
- sketch, was married to Russell Green
BURDICK, whose home was in Persia, Cattaraugus Co., N.Y.,
and whose first wife had died some time before, leaving him with
a family of four small children. Shortly after their marriage,
the family removed to what was then known as Truxton, near DeRuyter,
N.Y., now known as Cuyler Hill. Here Mr. BURDICK, who
had preached some as a licentiate of the Methodist church, was
ordained as a Seventh day Baptist minister, the late Elder James
BAILEY having the principal charge of the service. Mr.
BURDICK was soon called to Scott, N.Y., where he served
as a pastor for five years, thence back to Truxton for two years,
thence to Lincklaen, N.Y., for five years, and finally to Utica,
Wis., in 1856, where he lived and labored for nineteen years,
except two years spent as missionary pastor at Berlin, Wis. Mr.
BURDICK died at Utica, Sept. 22, 1875.
- During these years of frequent changes
and largely of pioneer work, there were born
- to them nine children, two of whom
died in infancy, and one daughter died in the dawning of womanhood.
The remaining six-four daughters and two sons-survive their mother.
These are Mrs. B. H. STILLMAN and Mrs. J. L. SHAW,
of Milton, Mrs. J. T. POLK, of Greenwood, Ind., Rev. Geo.
W. BURDICK and Mrs. E. D. COON, Milton Junction,
and Rev. Clayton A. BURDICK of Brookfield, N.Y. Of the
four children of Mr. BURDICK by his first wife, to all
of whom Mrs. BURDICK was a true and devoted mother, only
one survives, D. D. BURDICK, of Scott, N.Y. Deacon Dighton
BURDICK, the other son, died in Milton twelve years ago,
and the two daughters, many years before.
- It is worthy of mention that an unusually
large proportion of Mrs. BURDICK's family
- and near relatives have occupied and
do occupy positions of prominence in the world. As already noticed,
her husband, three brothers, two sons and two nephews were Seventh-day
Baptist ministers. To this list are to be added two grandsons,
including the son of Dighton BURDICK, above mentioned,
Rev. W. D. BURDICK of Jackson Centre, Ohio, and Rev. Geo.
SHAW of Nile, N.Y. Another grandson, Mr. Orson STILLMAN,
is a licentiate in another denomination, and expects soon to
be ordained to the work of the ministry. All of her children
are, or have been, teachers, and among her grandchildren are
college graduates prepared for professional study and work, and
others engaged in such work. Prof. Edwin SHAW, of Milton
College, is one of these.
- Mrs. BURDICK herself was not
much in the eye of the public. Having the care of so
- large a family, and her husband preaching
to small churches on pioneer fields, this would have been impossible
had she desired it. But she did not seek it. Devoted as she was
to the work in which her husband was engaged, she was more than
content to live in the quiet of her own home, exercising those
economies and practicing those self-denials which in no small
measure contributed to the success of her husband's labors, and
gave to her children those advantages which have fitted them
for usefulness in the world. The heroism of such a life surpasses
that of battle fields, and merits a crown of honor brighter than
human hands can ever bestow. She possessed a spirit of sweet
charity. Kind words for everybody and kind words about everybody
were native to her lips, because her heart was free from guile.
Few persons possess a more methodical mind than did she. Though
the earlier years of her life were devotedly given to the care
of her family, she found time to read the denominational papers,
and to the day of her death she was authority upon the persons
and events of our denominational history during the long period
of her natural life. During the later years of her life, when
cares were laid aside, her reading took in a wider range and
she became familiar with current history, politics, etc., to
a remarkable degree.
- Her religious life was of that even,
quiet, undemonstrative but unfaltering type that
- belongs to a nature so evenly balanced
and so nobly endowed as was hers. The CAMPBELL blood lost
none of its richness in her veins and like all the other gifts
of nature her life came to its highest perfection when it was
by the power of the indwelling Christ, transformed into his glorious
likeness. Such transformation came to Mrs. BURDICK in
early youth, glorified her earth-life, and at a ripe old age
was the signal for her translation to the realms of endless day.
- The funeral was held July 8, in the
Seventh-day Baptist church at Milton Junction,
- where her son, Geo. W. BURDICK,
is pastor, the services being conducted by L. A. Platts, pastor
at Milton, after which seven grandsons tenderly bore the remains
of grandmother to their resting place in the silent city. Over
the open grave the memory of her blessed, Christ like life was
felt to be a glorious heritage; and the words of Jesus, "I
am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though
he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever believeth in me
shall never die," brought comfort and healing to stricken
hearts. L. A. P. [Vol. ?, No. ?, p. ?]
-
- Courtesy of Jon Saunders
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