Usher
Burdick was born in Owatonna, Minnesota, on 21st February, 1879. His
family moved to Graham's Island, Dakota Territory and was raised among
the Sioux Indians.
In
1900 Burdick became deputy superintendent of schools of Benson County,
North Dakota. He also attended the University of Minnesota and was
admitted to the bar in 1904.
A
member of the Republican Party, Burdick
served in the Minnesota House of Representatives (1907-1911). Burdick
was also the attorney of Williams County (1913-1915) and assistant
district attorney for North Dakota (1929-1932).
Burdick
was elected to Congress in November 1934. Over the next few years
he played a leading role in the campaign to free Tom
Mooney and
Warren Billings. Burdick served ten
terms in Congress (January, 1935 to January, 1945 and January, 1949
and January, 1959). Usher Burdick died in Washington
on 19th August, 1960.
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