Clayton Adelbert Burdick 1858-1936  
Categories: Albion, Wisconsin, Brookfield, New York, Minister / Pastor, The Sabbath Recorder Obituary, Utica, Wisconsin, Westerly, Rhode Island
"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 121, No 8, p 243, Oct. 12, 1936.
Clayton Adelbert, youngest of thirteen children of Rev. Russell G. and Adeline (Campbell) Burdick, was born at Utica, Wis., February 1, 1858. He departed this life on September 17, 1936, at the age of 78 years.
On October 1, 1884, Clayton A. Burdick and Miss Harriet E. Crandall of Chicago, were united in marriage. To this union were born four daughters: Miss Frances Burdick of Aztec, N. M.; Mrs. Grace Elaine Bergin of Bloomfield, N. M.; Mrs. Ruth Dilks, deceased; and Mrs. Rachel Bassett of Alfred, N. Y. Mrs. Burdick passed away in 1910, after a long illness. In October, 1921, Doctor Burdick was united in marriage with Miss Emma S. Langworthy of Westerly, R. I., who with three daughters and four grandchildren, survives him.
Doctor Burdick was a student at Albion Academy, Albion, Wis., from which he was graduated in 1878. For a number of years he taught in public schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin. In his youth he was converted and was baptized by Rev. John L. Huffman, uniting with the Seventh Day Baptist Church at Utica, Wis., where his father had been pastor. He studied law, expecting to make that profession his life work. In 1884, he was called upon to supply his home church as pastor. Having a call to the pastorate of the church at West Edmeston, N. Y., in 1885, he was ordained by the Utica Church before leaving for his new field of labor.
After serving at West Edmeston four years he accepted the call to the Second Brookfield Church, where he remained ten years. In July, 1899, Doctor Burdick became pastor of the First Hopkinton Church at Ashaway, R. I., where he served until February 1, 1904, when he began his last and longest pastorate with the Pawcatuck Church at Westerly, continuing until June, 1930, a period of more than twenty-six years. Upon his retirement the church elected him pastor emeritus.
During his pastorate of the church at Westerly Doctor Burdick officiated at more than 950 funerals, performed 635 marriages, and preached more than 4,150 sermons. About three-fourths of the membership of the Pawcatuck Church at the time of his retirement had been received during his pastorate. He was always in demand to supply the pulpits of churches in nearby communities. For more than fourteen years he regularly supplied the Third Baptist Church at North Stonington.
Doctor Burdick was a member of the Board of Managers of the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society the thirty-seven years of his residence in Rhode Island. For fourteen years he was the honored president of the Society. In 1932, he resigned from the presidency and was made president emeritus. His sound judgment and his kindly spirit made him a valuable member of the board.
His was a family of ministers. His father was Rev. Russell G. Burdick, his brother Rev. George W. Burdick. He had three uncles in the ministry: Rev. Alexander Campbell, who was the first pastor of the Pawcatuck Seventh Day Baptist Church at Westerly, which was organized in 1840; Rev. Zuriel Campbell, and Rev. Orson Campbell. Four of his nephews entered the ministry: Rev. George B. Shaw, Salem, W. Va.; Rev. Edwin Shaw, Milton, Wis.; Rev. Willard D. Burdick, Rockville, R. I.; and Rev. Orson Stillman, Eugene, Ore.
In 1916 he was given the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by Alfred University. This was a well merited honor because of his eloquence and power as a public speaker and his success, through untiring efforts, as a pastor. He was broad in his outlook and in his service. He belonged to the community. No man who ever lived in Westerly and vicinity was more universally loved and respected than Doctor Burdick.
Farewell services were held at his late home, 33 Elm Street, Westerly, on Sabbath afternoon. By arrangement made years ago by Doctor Burdick, his nephew Rev. George B. Shaw of Salem, W. Va., spoke. He told, intimately and feelingly, of the long and useful life of his uncle. Pastor Harold R. Crandall read the Scripture chosen and offered prayer. Miss Mildred K. Taylor and Mrs. Jessie C. Ferguson sang a favorite hymn, "Abide With Me." Interment was in River Bend Cemetery, where Dr. Shaw read "Crossing the Bar." and the committal service, and Pastor Crandall gave the benediction. H. R. C.

"The Weekly Telephone", Milton Junction, Wisconsin, Thursday, May 26, 1910, p 2.
Mrs. Hattie Eloise Burdick, wife of Rev. C. A. Burdick, died at her home in Westerly, R. I., May 11th, after a long illness with consumption. It was five years ago the coming summer, with Mr. Burdick, she was attending the General Conference in the Seventh-day Baptist church in Shiloh, N. J., that she contracted a severe cold, which soon developed into tuberculosis. Since then everything possible had been done in assisting her in battling with the disease, but the case was a marked one from the first and its steps had always been in the direction of ultimate termination. For the last few weeks, Mrs. Burdick had not seemed quite so well, but it was only during two or three days that she had lost the strength rapidly. Her death came at the last like a slipping away, it was so quiet.
Mrs. Burdick was the daughter of Charles W. and Frances Denison Crandall, and was born in Walworth, Wis., Feb. 2, 1862. She was married Oct. 1, 1881, and went to Ashaway, R. I., to live in July 1899. There she remained until February, 1903, when Mr. Burdick became pastor at the Seventh-day Baptist Church at Westerly. A husband and four daughters remain, and they have the sympathy of their many friends. Her funeral was held at her late home, Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, and the burial was in River Bend cemetery. - Alfred Sun.