The Burden Town Company was first organized in 1879.
The Board of Directors were:
R. F. Burden President
E. A. Henderson Secretary
E. Q. Burden
R. R. Phelps all of Burden
O. B. Gunn of Kansas City Missouri.
In Oct. 1879 the blocks, lots, streets and alleys were plotted out and filed on the 31st of Oct. 1879 at the Register of deeds office of Cowley County held at that time by E. P. Rinne.
PETITION TO INCORPORATE
To the Honorable Judge of the 13th Judicial District of the State of Kansas: We the Citizens and Taxpayers of the town of Burden in the County of Cowley State of Kansas, do hereby petition your Honor to grant an order to Incorporate said town of Burden a city of the third class, said city to be known as The City of Burden setting forth its metes and bounds as follows: Beginning at a point 80 rods East Of the S.E. corner of Section Twenty-seven (27) To Thirty-one (31) South of Range Six (6) East Cowley County, Kansas, and running North 120 rods thence West 200 rods, thence South 280 rods thence East 200 rods thence North 160 rods to place of beginning. said town of Burden now having a population of 293.
State of Kansas
SS
Cowley County
J. W. Henthorn being duly sworn says on his oath that he is one of the publishers of the Burden Enterprise, a weekly paper published in Burden, Kansas, and that the Notice, a copy of which is hereto attached, was published three consecutive weeks. The first insertion being Jan. 11th, 1883 and the last insertion being Jan. 25, 1883.
| J. W. Henthorn |
| Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 26th day of Jan. 1883. |
| SEAL A. J. Henthorn, |
| Notary Public |
|
ORDER FOR INCORPORATION |
|
STATE OF KANSAS |
|
SS AT CHAMBERS |
|
13 JUDICIAL DISTRICT |
In the matter of the Incorporation of the town of Burden as a city of the Third Class:
Whereas, a petition in writing, signed by a majority of the electors of the unincorporated town of Burden, in Cowley county, State of Kansas, has been presented to me the undersigned, Judge of the 13th Judicial District of the State of Kansas sitting in and for said county of Cowley, setting forth the metes and bounds of said town as hereinafter stated, and stating the number of the inhabitants of said town to be two hundred and ninety-three (293), and praying that said town be incorporated as a city of the Third Class, and it appearing by satisfactory proof that said petition has been published in full in the BURDEN ENTERPRISE, a newspaper published in said town of Burden at least once in each week, for three consecutive weeks, the last insertion being made on January 25th, 1883; and: the undersigned being satisfied that a majority of the taxable inhabitants of said town are in favor of the incorporation of said town as prayed for in said petition, and that the prayer of the petitioners is reasonable, and that the number of the inhabitants of said town exceeds two hundred and fifty (250) and does not exceed two thousand (2,000): It is hereby ordered by me, the undersigned as Judge as aforesaid, that the said town of Burden, be, and the same is hereby incorporated as a city of the Third Class, by the name and style of "The city of Burden" and that the metes and bounds of such a point Eighty (80) rods east of the south-east corner of section twenty-seven (27), township thirty-one (31), south of range six (6) east, Cowley county, Kansas, and running north one hundred and twenty rods, thence west two hundred rods, thence east two hundred rods, thence north one hundred and sixty rods to place of beginning. It is further ordered by me that the first election in said city for city officers shall be on the 27th day of February, 1883, at the office of Harvey Smith, Esq., a Justice of the Peace of Silver Creek township in said county, the said office being within the limits of the said city of Burden as hereby incorporated: that Joseph Reed, H. W. Young and Harvey Smith, three qualified electors of said city shall act as Judges of said city election; that Polk Tull and E. W. Woolsey, two qualified electors of said city act as clerks of said election, and that S. S. Moore, D. B. Cunningham and H. P. Snow, three qualified electors of said city act as a Board of Canvassers of said election. It is further ordered that this order be forthwith entered at length on the journal of proceedings of the District Court of said county, and that it be published once in some newspaper printed in said city, at least one week before said election. Witness my hand, at Chambers, in the city of Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, this 6th day of February A.D. 1883.
E. S. Torrance, Judge
FIRST CITY ELECTION HELD FEBRUARY 27, 1883
Pursuant to Notice of District Judge ordering an Election in Said City for City Officers Said Election was held in the Office of Harvey Smith, Esq. a Justice of the Peace of Silver Creek Township in Said County "further reference being had to order of Judge of District Court for first Election" First Election held in the City of Burden, County of Cowley, State of Kansas, February 27, A.D. 1883 at which time and place the following Gentlemen were elected to the following offices:
| Mayor: R. R. Phelps. |
| Councilmen: H. P. Snow, H. W. Young, E. A. Henthorn, J. C. West, and Thomas Dyer. |
| Police Judge: Harvey Smith. |
Feb. 28, 1883
Board of Canvassers met in accordance with the order of the District Judge at 2 o'clock p.m. and were duly qualified as by law directs. H. P. Snow was appointed Clerk. The vote was duly canvassed with the following result:
Robert R. Phelps received 32 votes for Mayor, being the highest number received and was duly declared Elected Mayor. Harvey Smith received 56 votes for police Judge, being the highest number received and was duly declared Elected for same.
H. P. Snow, Thos. Dyer, E. A. Henthorn, H. W. Yound, J. S. West received the highest number of votes for council and were each duly declared elected as City Council.
1893 FIRST LITTLE WORLDS FAIR of Burden Held and organized.
R. F. Burden President
Ed Reed Secretary and Manager
Joe Henderson Treasurer
J. F. Stodder Vice President
The board of directors was made up of farmers in the trade territory.
The first fair was financed by collections from business men and a 25 cent charge for admission ( kids free ) at the gate, race horse entries, drink stands, doll racks, etc.. The business men shared in the expenses by covering any losses. This was seldom more than 2 to 4 dollars each. Attractions in the early days were Professor Killebrew and his balloon ascension and Para shoot leap, the first horseless carriage and the first air plane. Camens Military Band was an attraction for several years. Also a band from Fredonia. Families would come as far away as the Indian Territory and the Strip. Later on in years the Rodeo became popular, but was unknown when the first fairs were held.
In 1902 the City Building was built at the cost of $2000.00. Noah McDonald was the carpenter and George Gray did the stone work.
The sidewalks were first built in 1904 by B. E. and A. H. Burns at 14 cents a foot.
1905 brought about the first Telephone Franchise owned by John Harris and M. Ester.
Company of Missouri and Kansas Telephone Company.1906 A. P. McBride and T. N. Barnsdall brought natural
gas to Burden. Company of Western Distributing Co. This brought about the first street lamps put at various corners in town.1908 Burden purchased a Chemical Fire Engine and apparatus. At this time Fireman were paid 25 cents per fire run.
1910 The city joins the Kansas League of Municipalities. W. A. Hodges requested permission of the city council to open a Pool Hall in Burden. A petition was presented to the council asking them to reject the request with 132 names of voters on the petition. Discussion followed with a committee selected to talk with Mr. Hodges about withdrawing request. The committee offered him $100.00 to withdraw the request which he said was not enough he wanted $200.00. The amount of $135.00 was settled upon. Request withdrawn.
1911 The City water works was brought into the city with the supply coming from Silver Creek.
1914 The Fire Alarm Bell which still stands was purchased at a cost of $40.62. This was the way people were called in around the country to answer all emergency calls.
1923 Was the year the Burden Fire Department was organized. Members were; C. E. Tredway, J. R. Galyon, Dick Alexander, E. L. King, R. F. Bill, A. G. McCormick, W. A. Brooks, J. B. Pickens, D. C. Cummingham with Nelson Gibson as Chief and E. L. Gann Assistance chief.
1924 An agreement was signed with the City of Winfield to supply Burden with Electric power by connecting to the electric line which supply Dexter. Burden owned all the lines, lights and other electric equipment which was later sold to the City of Winfield.
1936 Burdens first motor powered Fire Truck came to be. A 1934 Truck owned by the City was transformed into the Fire Truck which is still in Burden but no longer used for fires.
Taken from the Burden Times
Some weeks ago a contract was made between city officials of Burden and Mr. Kerr of the Kerr Municipal Supply Co of Independence, Kansas, whereby the city's Chevrolet truck was to be converted into a fire truck. The work was done at Columbus and the truck delivered to Burden Wednesday afternoon. Nov. 18, 1936. In the first place the truck proper is not exactly new as it was purchased by the city some few weeks ago and used about the city. The truck chassis was taken to Columbus, Kansas, where the bed and equipment was installed. The bed is constructed of steel and besides the storage will hold 1000 feet of regular hose. A 400-gallon per minute centrifugal pump complete with drive and unit is mounted on the front. A special cooling system has been installed to keep the motor cool while operating the pump. Two 10-foot lengths of 2.5-inch suction hose are mounted on one side and one 14-foot roof ladder with folding hooks and one 26-foot extension ladder, equipped with rope hoist on the other side. The ladders are finished in natural color and mounted on brackets with quick release clamps. One 2-quart carbon tetrachloride and one-foam 2.5-gallon fire extinguishers are mounted in clamp type quick opening receptacles on the side. Other equipment includes: Two electric moisture proof F. D. lanterns in holders. One electric siren horn or flusher siren. One F. D. axe in brass holder. One F.D. crowbar in brass holder. One running board flange for carrying nozzles. One running board flange for carrying strainer and hydrant connection. One brass play pipe with shut offs and swivel handles. One nozzle tip. One double female hydrant, connection. Two electric searchlights mounted on dash. Two electric searchlights mounted on rear standards of body to furnish light for handling hose after dark. One ten foot pike pole with holders. 1 large toolbox mounted on running board. One brass nickled cap for suction of pump. Two brass nickled caps for discharge of pump. One brass suction strainer. One 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 siamese connection. One 200 gallon steel booster water tank, absolutely rustproof. Tank attached to pump so contents can be pumped thru chemical hose. Tank rectangular in shape and mounted in front end of hose body in special sheet steel tank compartment. One large filling opening into tank, equipped with quick filler. One strainer mounted in filler opening. 150 ft. standard ,black covered 4 ply water hose. One chemical hose reel. One heavy brass shut-off chemical nozzle and tip. There are to be a few changes in the equipment now on the truck as some of it does not correspond with the agreement between the company and city officials.
