Mrs. Mary Bond Burdick was born in Fayette County, Penn., November 29, 1837, and died at Milton, Wis., Dec 23, 1914.
Her parents were Jonathan and Mary French Bond. Mr. Bond was a deacon of the Woodbridge church in Pennsylvania, and held the same office for many years in the Milton S. D. B. church. It was a family of marked virility. All of their children lived to maturity.
Mary came with her father's household to Wisconsin in the spring of 1847. The family home was for many years on a farm which is now part of Milton Junction. Her father sold this farm and moved into Milton village that his children might have better educational advantages. After spending some time in school and teaching several terms, she was married to A. Delos Burdick on Christmas eve, 1857, fifty-seven years ago. Mrs Burdick was a soldier's widow, as her husband served as an officer in the 13th Wis. Infantry. They lived for a time in Whitewater and in Racine. For six years their home was in Janesville, where Mr. Burdick held the office of County Treasurer. They also lived for a time at Walworth where Mr. Burdick was postmaster. The most of Mrs. Burdick's life, however, has been spent in this vicinity.
Three children were born to them: Alfred who died at the age of six months; Cora Belle whose little life went out when she was eighteen months old; and Mary Dell, now the wife of Dr. E. E. Campbell, at whose home Mrs. Burdick has spent most of her time since the death of her husband in 1907. There are two grandchildren, Howard and Mildred.
Mrs. Burdick was baptized by Rev. William C. Whitford when about eighteen years of age and united with the S. D. B. Church of Milton. This has been her church home during all these years till called to join her loved ones in the home beyond. Her religion was a sweet and vital influence permeating all her life and stealing out like a subtle fragrance into the lives of others. There was a great spirit within that made the face winsome and beautiful. She was a gentlewoman moving among the common things of life and glorifying them. For many years she taught a Sabbath School class of boys. She was always a friend to the young people. She had a noble influence in the community.
For several years the six surviving children of Jonathan Bond have been neighbors to each other in Milton: the three brothers, Samuel, James and John; the three sisters, Mrs. Jennie Morton, Mrs. Mary Burdick and Mrs. Fannie Dennett. They have been bound together by very strong ties. Through all these six months of suffering she has had all the care that experienced nurses, loving friends and medical skill could give. This careful treatment has kept the live in its frail tenement for many months, but could not stay the fell destroyer. There has been a beautiful atmosphere of love and good cheer in the home and sick room. It has abided to the end an inspiration to all who came within its reach.
Farewell services were held at the home of Dr. Campbell on the afternoon of December 25. Clark Siedhoff sang the song that Mrs. Burdick loved during her illness, 'Face to Face'; and the favorite hymn that her husband used to sing, 'Home of the Soul.' Dr. L. A. Platts, for many years Mrs. Burdick's pastor, offered prayer. Pastor Randolph's text was II Cor. 5:9 'Wherefore we labor, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.'
