Walter Dissell Burr Biography

	This biography was extracted from "History of Dakota Territory", 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V page 686-689

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JUDGE WALTER DISSELL BURR.

     For thirty-two years Judge Walter Dissell Burr, of Selby, has been a 
resident of Walworth county and during that time he has been an important factor 
in the development of the county along various lines of advancement. For twelve 
years he has served ably as county judge, his retention in the office indicating 
the confidence and esteem in which he is held by the public. Although the 
greater part of his time has been given to his official duties and to the 
practice of law, he is also interested in farming and in merchandising.

     Judge Burr was born on the 13th of May, 1850, in Middletown, Indiana, one 
of the ten children whose parents were Chauncey H. and Jane (Williams) Burr. The 
father, a native of New York, was born on the 11th of March; 1806, and about 
1828 settled in Indiana, where he continued to reside until called by death on 
the 1st of February, 1891. The family is of English descent but has been 
represented in America since colonial days. In 1631 Benjamin Burr settled in 
Hartford, Connecticut, and his descendants are now found not only in that state 
and in New York but in many other states of the Union. Judge Burr is of tile 
eighth generation in descent from Benjamin Burr.

     Judge Burr received his education in the common schools of Henry county, 
Indiana, where he continued to reside until he removed to Cedar county, 
Missouri, in 1871. He remained in Stockton, that county, until April, 1883, when 
he located in Walworth county, this state, where he has since lived. In 1871 he 
was admitted to the practice of law in Missouri and since settling in this state 
he has gained an enviable reputation as an attorney. His known ability and 
integrity have led to his eleetion to public office. While residing in Missouri 
he was for three terms or six years, prosecuting attorney of Cedar county and he 
held the office of states attorney of Walworth county, Sonth Dakota, for 
fourteen years, while for the last twelve years he has been county judge of 
Walworth county. He has discharged all of his official duties with efIieieney 
and conscientiousness and has proved that the confidence reposed in him is not 
misplaced.

     Judge Burr has also been engaged in merchandising for a number of years, 
being first located at Bangor, although he is now in business in Selby. His 
activities along that line have been profitable and he is recognized not only as 
an excellent lawyer and judge but also as a successful business man. He also has 
farming interests.

     Judge Burr was married on the 31st of March, 1878, to Miss Lizzie Nippert, 
a daughter of Charles and Evalyn (Hathaway) Nippert, the former of German 
descent and the latter of American ancestry. They were married in Wisconsin but 
in 1870 took up their residence in Vernon county, Missouri. To Judge and Mrs. 
Burr have been born three children: Bertha L.; Chauncey N., who on the 7th of 
June, 1908, married Miss Rose Personius, by whom he has four children, Walter 
C., Louis, who died in infancy, Eunice Z. and Francis E.; and Ethel, who died 
when three and one-half years old.

     Judge Burr is a republican and staunchly supports that party at the polls, 
although he never allows partisanship to influence his official acts. With the 
exception of the commandery he belongs to all of the Masonic bodies, including 
the Court of Honor and the Mystic Shrine. He has held office in the Grand Lodge 
of South Dakota, A. F. & A. M., and is at present junior grand warden, and he 
has also held office in the Grand Chapter of South Dakota, R. A. M. He is also a 
member of the independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of 
America. He is deeply interested in everything that pertains to the welfare and 
progress of his community and is the president of the Selby Improvement Company, 
which has done much to promote the general good. He is widely known and those 
who have been most intimately associated with him hold him in the highest 
esteem, which is proof of his genuine worth.