Arthur S. Burdick
There is no one more popular or better known in Postville,
Iowa, than Arthur S. Brudick, who for the past twelve years has
been the faithful and efficient postmaster of that place of which
he is a native son, born July 18, 1875. He has been identified
throughout his entire life with the interests of that locality,
where he attended the public schools as a boy, worked at various
occupations and served an apprenticeship in the office of the
Postville Review. He also took a course at Valder Business
College to round out his education. Shortly after the death of
his father, who was then postmaster of Postville, he was
appointed to that office, having the unique distinction of being
the youngest man ever called upon to fill such a position by
presidential appointment. Mr. Burkick was first appointed by
President McKinley, was reappointed by President Roosevelt and
received his third appointment at the hands of President Taft.
Conscientious, capable and painstaking, he is accurate in the
performance of his duties and accommodating in his ways with the
public. He is intensely loyal to Postville, and has taken an
active part in various enterprises which have gained for his city
the reputation of a live and progressive community.
Mr. Burkick is a son of William Nelson Burdick, without mention
of whom no history of Allamakee county would be complete. One of
the pioneer editors of this district, the father was a man of
more than local fame, for his influence in politics and
journalism was felt throughout the state, especially among
newspaper men, and he war readily recognized as one of the
strongest and most able editorial writers in Iowa. His command of
English, his clear thought and fearless expression marked him as
one of the great writers of the country press and it is not too
much to say that for many years Postville was largely known
throughout the state of Iowa as the home of Burkick, of the
Postville Review. Mr. Burkick was born near Buffalo, New York, in
1835, and migrated with his family to Illinois when still a
youth, later coming to Iowa and settling near West Union. Later
he removed to New Oregon, Howard county, at a time before the
railroad had penetrated that section and all supplies were
brought by team from McGregor. When the railroad came Mr. Burdick
removed with other inhabitants of New Oregon to the new town of
Cresco, of which he became the first postmaster and where he
began his remarkable career as a publisher, editing the Howard
county Times. He later published the Winneshiek County Register
and in 1875 moved to Postville, purchasing the Review and there
beginning the work which gained him such a reputation among the
thinking people of the state.
While in Cresco W. N. Burkick was married to Miss Amy E.
Halstead, the loving helpmate who survives him and who was to him
such a loyal, helpful and intelligent coworker in all that he
undertook. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster of Postville, a
position which he filled most acceptably without relinquishing
his editorial work until his death, which occurred in 1899. His
memory is still revered and held dear by the people of Postville
and hundreds of old-time friends in all parts of the state.
Arthur S. Burkick the subject of this review, was, on May 10,
1899, united in marriage to Miss Lillian Riley and their home has
been blessed by a son, Edward, who is now a promising lad of
thirteen years. A man of strongly marked character, Mr. Burkick
has become a forceful element in the business and public life of
his community where his sterling traits of character have won him
the high regard and confidence of all who have had social or
business relations with him. He is a loyal son of his native
city, in the advancement and development of which he has been a
serviceable factor and which he has served in an official
capacity for so many years with faithfulness and with conspicuous
ability.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
Return to 1913 biographies index