At Scott, Cortland county, N. Y., Feb. 9th, 1880, Mrs. Joseph Burdick. Had she lived until July 21st, she would have been 89 years of age. Her maiden name was Polly Stillman. She was born in Broadalbin, Fulton county, N. Y., July 21st, 1791. Removed, when quite young, to Brookfield, N. Y. At the age of nineteen, was married to Joseph Burdick, of Scott, N. Y. She survived her husband twenty-eight years lacking one day. She and her husband were among the earliest settlers of this region, which was then a wilderness, and wolves, bears, and panthers were quite numerous.
The Scott Seventh-day Baptist Church was organized as a branch of the Preston Church, in January, 1819. On July 16th, 1820, it was constituted as a separate church, with David Davis as pastor. Joseph Burdick came over from the Baptists, and united with them, April 14th, 1821. Polly, his wife, was baptized by Eld. Wm. B. Maxson, and united, May 11th, 1822. From that time until her death, fifty-eight years, she continued a member of this church. and lived an exemplary Christian life.
She was a person of great physical activity; this, combined with a kind heart and willing mind, made her a blessing to the community. She was especially devoted and valuable to those in sickness and afflictions.
She raised a family of twelve children, eight of whom are still living. There are living now about sixty grandchildren, and the same number of great-grandchildren; and had she lived a few weeks longer, she would have lived to see her children's children to the fourth generation, for there has now been born, a few days since, a great-great-grandchild. This large and influential family, mostly Seventh-day Baptists in belief and life, are scattered in different parts of the land.
"Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them. ... Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord, that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands; happy shalt thou be, and it shalt be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house; thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord." See Psalms 127, 128.
Sister Burdick retained activity and vigor of both body and mind, in a remarkable degree, to within a few moments of her death. Her days, full and many, were finally counted out; her time came, and her life's lamp went suddenly but quietly out, and she was gone.
A large concourse of relatives and neighbors attended the funeral, when the writer led the people's meditation on the topic, "The Christian and his Portion." J. J. W.
