BIOGRAPHY: Burdick, Theodore W.
From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875

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THEODORE W. BURDICK, Cashier of the First National and Savings Bank of 
Decorah, is a native of Pennsylvania, born October 7, 1836. He removed with his 
parents to Winneshiek County at the age of seventeen, having previously acquired a 
good English education, his father having intended him for a collegiate course at 
Oberlin. The removal to the West, however, interfered with that arrangement; and on 
their arrival at Decorah, in the Spring of 1853, he was employed as the first school 
teacher in the place, the first school house having just then been completed. The 
following Spring his father was elected County Treasurer, and he took charge of the 
office and also that of County Recorder, discharging practically the duties of both till 
he became of age in 1857. At the next election following he was elected County 
Treasurer, and filled the office in a most faithful and satisfactory manner till 1862, 
when he resigned to enter the army. He was commissioned Captain of Company D, 
6th Iowa Cavalry, in which capacity he served three years--till 1865. Four brothers 
besides himself were in the army, and three of them lost their lives in their country's 
service.
	On his return from the army, Mr. Burdick purchased an interest in the First National 
Bank of Decorah, of which he was elected cashier in February, 1866. During this 
connection with the bank the present elegant bank building was erected, at a cost of 
$15,000. While engaged in banking, he is also operating quite extensively in real 
estate. Since the war he has held no public office, but has devoted himself 
exclusively to business. Both in his public and private relations, for a period of twenty 
years, since he became a citizen of Decorah, he has been noted as a gentleman of 
honor integrity, of good business talents and irreproachable character. Having a 
considerable taste for literature and private study, he has collected a library of about 
twelve hundred volumes, embracing the leading classical and standard works.
      He was married in 1858 to Miss Nancy Graves, of Freeport, Winneshiek County, 
and has four children living.