At Utica, Wis., Sept. 22d, 1875, of diabetes, Elder Russell G. Burdick, aged 70 years. Bro. Burdick experienced religion at the age of twelve, while living at Plainfield, N. Y., and was baptized by Eld. Wm. B. Maxson. After he became of age he married, and joined the Methodist Church, and was licensed as an exhorter. With them he lost his companion by death. He afterward married again, and returned to the observance of the Sabbath, and at the age of thirty-three was licensed to preach with the church at Persia, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y. Two years after, he was ordained and took the pastoral care of the Truxton Church, served them two years, and then accepted a call from the Scott Church, where he resided six years, serving the church five years, after which he returned to Truxton and filled the office of pastor two years more, when he accepted a call from the Lincklaen Church, and served then five years, stayed one year longer, and then removed to Wisconsin, and settled at Christiana, intending to retire from the ministry.
He has, however, served the church at Utica, when they have been without a pastor, at different times. He has been with the Berlin Church, Wis., and served them as pastor two years, since he removed to this state, and for three years past, as health would permit, he has very acceptably filled the place of the pastor with the Christiana Church.
He died with the harness on. Bro. Burdick has been one of those faithful sacrificing ministers so much needed by our feeble churches, preaching for a very small salary, or none at all. His funeral services were held in the church at Utica, which was filled with an attentive audience, who listened to a discourse by Eld. J. C. Rogers from Rev. 14: 13, 'And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.' J. C. R.
