Randolph T. Burdick, a prominent citizen of Milton Junction, died suddenly in the factory of the Burdick Cabinet Company of Milton, on Monday morning, February 4, just as the whistle blew for work to begin. Having reached the plant a few minutes before, he was talking to some of the employees, who upon turning to go to their work heard a noise and looking around saw Mr. Burdick on the floor. They rushed to him and a physician was called but death seemed to have come instantly.
Mr. Burdick was the son of Ethan L. and Ann Fitz Randolph Burdick and was born at Dunellen, New Jersey, July 31, 1855. While he was but a child the family moved to Farina, Ill. Later they moved to Albion, Wis., where he grew to manhood. He was educated in the public schools and Albion Academy, the latter now extinct. He later took a business course in Janesville, graduating in April, 1876, and taught bookkeeping for a time in Albion Academy. He also took a course in pharmacy and for a number of years was employed as a druggist. In order to be true to his religious beliefs he was obliged to give up this work and for a number of years worked in a green house which he had built in Milton Junction to which place he had moved more than 30 years ago. Recently he had been employed by the Burdick Cabinet Company.
On December 24, 1878, he was married to Miss Julia Osborne of Milton. To them were born two daughters, Florence, now the wife of Harry R. Robinson of Milton Junction, and Hazel H., now the wife of Uriah M. Baker, also of Milton Junction. There are three grandchildren, Marjorie Robinson, and Harold and Florence Baker.
He, with a group of others, among them Rev. M. G. Stillman, Richard E. Hull and the late Rev. Joshua Clarke, united with the Albion Seventh Day Baptist church April 24, 1869. He remained a member of that church until uniting by letter with the church of the same faith in Milton Junction on January 3, 1903. Of these churches he was always an active member. On December 6, 1903, he was elected moderator of the Milton Junction church and has acted in that capacity since, being reelected each year.
For many years he was a member of the Modern Woodman of America and at the time of his death was Venerable Counsel.
He was always interested in the welfare of the community and as a citizen will be missed.
Funeral services were held in the Seventh Day Baptist church of Milton Junction Thursday afternoon, February 7, 1924, the services being conducted by Pastor Erlo E. Sutton, who was assisted by Rev. Henry N. Jordan of Milton, and burial was in the Milton Junction cemetery.
