A float put together by Hayward Miles of Burden carried nine descendants of Robert F. and Marth Bacon Burden in Saturday's centennial parade there.

    The group of descendants included a granddaughter Florence Smith Grant of Winfield, and five great grandchildren, Robert R. Burden of Pueblo, Colo., J. Esli Burden of Pittsburg, Kan., Nita Burden Hearne of Latham, Ladybelle Savage Dobbs of Winfield and Mary Smith Bridges of Wichita.

    There were also three great-great grandchildren on the float, including Peggy Hearne of Latham, and Martha and Janet Burden of Pittsburg.

     Other descendants were unable to attend the celebration because of travel distance, according to Mrs. Grant.

     A centennial booklet published in connection with Burden's 100th birthday celebration under the leadership of Herbert and Margaret Pickens, with art work by Richard Van Sickle, was on sale Saturday for $1.00.

     The booklet contained an early history of Burden that relates how the building of the Kansas City, Lawrence and Southern Kansas railroad through southern Kansas in 1879-80 gave settlers hope of economic progress and an assured market for their livestock and crops.

     According to Burden residents, the settlements of Lazette, Torrance and Burdenville were all established in eastern Cowley County with idea the railroad would be built through their sites.

     Burdenville was actually founded in the fall of 1879, just before the railroad came through, on the site of an earlier 1871 settlement.

    That settlement was "surrounded by broad and fertile fields, green pastures flowing springs and running brooks," according to the booklet's historian.

     With the decision by the railroad to come through Burdenville, Lazette and Torrance suffered their death blows as communities.

     The Burden town company was organized Sept. 24, 1879, with the following directors elected to serve five years: 0. B. Gunn, J. Wade McDonald of Lawrence, Ran., J. M. Alexander, R. F. Burden, T. R. Johnson and W. P. Hackney of Winfield.

     Burden was elected president of the company and the town was named in his honor.

     The capital stock of the company was $4,000. It was divided into 200 shares.

     There were no buildings on the townsite with the exception of a deserted claim shanty which stood on what was later to become the main street.

     Once begun the town grew rapidly and the population was "more than 400" when on Feb, 6, 1883, Judge E, S. Torrance issued an order for its incorporation.

     On Feb. 27, 1883, the first election was held and R. R. Phillips was chosen mayor. Councilmen were H. P. Snow, H. W. Young, E. A. Henthorn, J. L. West and Thomas Dyer.

     Harvey Smith was police judge and H. N. Hulse city clerk and marshal.

     Population continued to increase and was listed soon as "one thousand and upward" as commercial buildings went up and churches, schools and lodges were organized.

     In just a few years there were drug stores, two or three hotels, blacksmith shops, lumber yards, livery stable and a variety of other businesses, according to the history.

     The first merchants of the town were Ford and Leonard who built the first store building of stone that stood on the southwest corner of the main square of the business district.

     William Leflingwell was one of the town's first grocers, but like Ford and Leonard has a migratory spirit and did not remain long in Burden.

     C. W. Jones moved his stock of general merchandise to Burden soon after the town was founded and in 1882 he formed a partnership with H. P. Snow from Kentucky. Together they erected a substantial stone building on the southeast corner of the main square.

     The upper floor was used for a public hall and later became the property of Clinton Lodge N. 233 A. F. & A. M.

     Dr. J. A. Chapman came to Burden from Lazette where he had opened his practice and purchased the building built by Ford and Leonard.

     Other early merchants included James H. Wood, Jesse L. West. Thomas Dyer, Joseph 0. Reed and his son, Ed, and Matt Cunningham and J. B. Williams. Most carried what was described as "a general line of merchandise."

     D. B. Cunningham was one of the early dealers in hardware and implements, and John M. Clover, who had homesteaded in Silver Creek Township in 1871, established an implement store in Burden soon after the townwas founded.

     J. M. Hooker and R. R. Phelps owned the first drug store in Burden and their establishment was the second store to be built in the town. J. M. Frazier became associated with them, eventually succeeding them with his brother-in-law and partner, J. M. Henderson, father of Ralph Henderson who today operates a drug store in the community.

     Thomas Walch, born in England was the first coffin maker, coming from Lazette where he located in 1872. James Cunningham became the first dealer in furniture and funeral supplies, followed by Hooker for a number of years.

     Hooker sold his business to Ray Denbo, the first licensed embalmer in Burden and owner of the first motor hearse. Denbo sold to E. L. Gann who served the community for years and then in 1948 sold his business to its present owner, Hayward M. Miles.

 Winfield Courier Oct. 10 1979

     Mr. Burden was born in 1832 in North Lewisburg, Champaign County, Ohio.  He was married October 18 1853 and then moved to Iowa.  He enlisted in the Civil War in 1862 as a volunteer and became a First Lieutenant in Company C, 33rd Infantry of Iowa.

     On September 21, 1871,  Robert F. and Martha Burden and their six children moved to Cowley Cowley and settled on the land which has since been known as the Burden Ranch.

     Mr. Burden was active in civic affairs, always taking a lead in things that helped to build up his community.  He served in several public offices,  among them being Cowley Commissioner, Mayor of the City of Burden, President of the Fair Association.  He helped to foster the Fair in its infancy. He also was active in establishing the library and lyceum course and all civic enterprizes.