John A. Burbank

John A. Burbank ( born July 23, 1827 in Centerville, Wayne County, Indiana, † December 19, 1905 in Richmond, Indiana ) was an American politician and from 1869 to 1873 the 4th Governor of the Dakota Territory.

Early years and political rise

John Burbank attended the local schools of his home in Indiana. After that, he operated a trading business with his father. In 1853 he became mayor and head of the post office in Falls City, Nebraska. In the 1860s, he served as Indian Commissioner of the Federal Government and employee of the state government of Indiana.

Territorial Governor

In 1869, Burbank was appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant as the new governor of the Dakota Territory. His term of office until 1873 going was rather unhappy. Through long absences Burbank was not particularly popular in his territory. During his tenure, there were still tensions with the Indians that an increasing number of white settlers were faced with. Also in Burbank's tenure, the railway reached the country. In 1873 the rail network that extended to the city of Bismarck. It is worth mentioning that his Secretary of State Edwin Stanton McCook, who led his official duties in Burbank's absence, was murdered in 1873. Burbank himself took care in his tenure more about his private interests and was faced with a growing opposition. This led to the January 1, 1874 to his resignation.

Further CV

About Burbank's subsequent career is not much known. He returned to Indiana, where he was hired in Richmond at the Post Office. He died in 1905.