Burdick was born Zebulon Palmer Burdick on June 10, 1806 in Grafton, New York, the fourth of twelve children born to Joseph and Betsey Burdick.[1] In 1828, he married Amanda M. Demoray. They had two children. In 1838, he married Philena Brock. They had three children. Burdick and his family moved to Wisconsin in 1849, settling in Rock County, Wisconsin. In 1852, they moved to Janesville, Wisconsin. Burdick died on April 3, 1892. He and his family were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Burdick was elected to the Assembly in 1858. He was then a member of the Senate from 1859 to 1860. Later, he was again a member of the Assembly, serving until 1875. Previously, he had been Chairman of the Rock County Board of Supervisors. He was a Republican.[2]
