Walter A. Burleigh
Encyclopedia
Walter Atwood Burleigh was an American
physician, lawyer, and pioneer. He represented the Dakota Territory
as a non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives
.
Walter was born in Waterville, Maine
, served in the Aroostook War
in 1839, studied medicine in Burlington, Vermont
and New York City
, and began his practice in Richmond, Maine
. In 1852 he moved to Kittanning, Pennsylvania
. Then, around 1861, he became an Indian agent
at Greenwood, Dakota Territory (in what is now Tripp County, South Dakota
).
Some Yankton Sioux Indians complained bitterly of mistreatment by Burleigh. The testimony of Strike the Ree and Medicine Cow to a Special Joint Committee on the Condition of the Indian Tribes in 1865 suggests that Burleigh was self-serving and corrupt in his dealings with the Indians.
Burleigh was elected as a Republican to the House of Representatives, serving from March 4, 1865-March 3, 1869. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1868. He was a member of the Dakota Territorial council in 1877, then worked as a contractor and in farming, and moved to Miles City, Montana
1879, where he practiced law.
He served as a member of the special session of the Montana
Territorial council in 1887 and as a delegate to the convention that framed the constitution of Montana
in 1889. He was a member of the first State House of Representatives, and served as prosecuting attorney of Custer County
.
Burleigh returned to South Dakota
in 1893, resumed the practice of law, and served in the State Senate. He died in Yankton
, Yankton County, South Dakota
, and is buried in the Yankton Cemetery. Burleigh County, North Dakota
is named for him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician, lawyer, and pioneer. He represented the Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
as a non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Walter was born in Waterville, Maine
Waterville, Maine
Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The population was 15,722 at the 2010 census. Home to Colby College and Thomas College, Waterville is the regional commercial, medical and cultural center....
, served in the Aroostook War
Aroostook War
The Aroostook War was an undeclared nonviolent confrontation in 1838/1839 between the United States and Great Britain over the international boundary between British North America and Maine. The compromise resolution win a mutually accepted border between the state of Maine and the provinces of...
in 1839, studied medicine in Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and began his practice in Richmond, Maine
Richmond, Maine
Richmond is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,298 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area....
. In 1852 he moved to Kittanning, Pennsylvania
Kittanning, Pennsylvania
Kittanning is a borough and the county seat of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is situated northeast of Pittsburgh, along the east bank of the Allegheny River. The name means "at the great stream" in the Delaware language...
. Then, around 1861, he became an Indian agent
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
at Greenwood, Dakota Territory (in what is now Tripp County, South Dakota
Tripp County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,430 people, 2,550 households, and 1,721 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 3,036 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
).
Some Yankton Sioux Indians complained bitterly of mistreatment by Burleigh. The testimony of Strike the Ree and Medicine Cow to a Special Joint Committee on the Condition of the Indian Tribes in 1865 suggests that Burleigh was self-serving and corrupt in his dealings with the Indians.
Burleigh was elected as a Republican to the House of Representatives, serving from March 4, 1865-March 3, 1869. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1868. He was a member of the Dakota Territorial council in 1877, then worked as a contractor and in farming, and moved to Miles City, Montana
Miles City, Montana
Miles City is a city in and the county seat of Custer County, Montana, United States. The population was 8,123 at the 2010 census.- History :...
1879, where he practiced law.
He served as a member of the special session of the Montana
Montana Territory
The Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 28, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Montana.-History:...
Territorial council in 1887 and as a delegate to the convention that framed the constitution of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
in 1889. He was a member of the first State House of Representatives, and served as prosecuting attorney of Custer County
Custer County, Montana
-Economy:The main source of income for Custer County has largely come from cattle ranching and dryland farming. Miles City serves as the center of commerce in an area extending for 100 miles in every direction...
.
Burleigh returned to South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
in 1893, resumed the practice of law, and served in the State Senate. He died in Yankton
Yankton, South Dakota
Yankton is a city in, and the county seat of, Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 14,454 at the 2010 census. Yankton was the original capital of Dakota Territory. It is named for the Yankton tribe of Nakota Native Americans...
, Yankton County, South Dakota
Yankton County, South Dakota
Yankton County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 22,438. It's county seat is Yankton.Yankton County is the only county in the Yankton Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, and is buried in the Yankton Cemetery. Burleigh County, North Dakota
Burleigh County, North Dakota
-National protected areas:*Canfield Lake National Wildlife Refuge*Florence Lake National Wildlife Refuge*Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:...
is named for him.