Iberia County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....Burke, William Richard - December 30, 1902 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Mary K. Creamer marykcreamer@yahoo.com January 25, 2019, 11:55 pm source: The Weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, January 03, 1903, Image 1 Hon. W. R.. Burke -- Died at his residence in New Iberia, on Tuesday, December 30th, 1902 at 10 o'clock p.m. William R. Burke. The funeral took place from the Catholic Church on Wednesday, December 31st, at 4 o'clock p.m., attended by a large concourse of friends and acquaintances. He has always been an active participant in the local affairs of the town and parish. From 1879 to 1887 he was treasurer and collector of New Iberia, and was President of the Police Jury from 1877 to 1879. In 1877 he was elected secretary and parish superintendent of the public schools. Mr. Burke's untiring efforts for the improvement of the public school of Iberia parish will long be remembered. When he took possession of the office the schools were in a most deplorable condition, and under his supervision they attained a very creditable standard. source: New Iberia Enterprise and Independent Observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, January 03, 1903, Image 3 IN MEMORIAM. On the 30th day of December, as the year 1902, was nearing its end, Wm. R. Burke, one of New Iberia's most esteemed citizen, after a long and painful sickness, was breathing his last. He died at 10 o'clock P. M. aged 63 years and 11 months. Whilst sadness and a vacancy was thereby created in this community, should there not be joy and consolation also left to those from whom he parted, through the recollection of a name and the deeds which he left and which should be cheerfully remembered by everyone. Surely when one has served his God and his country, as a faithful servant, and is prepared to die as a good Christian, what more can be expected. Such was his memorial. For his Creator he knew no bounds. Imbued from his boyhood, and no doubt, through the kind advice of a Christian mother, with the love and sincerity, which he cherished the balance of his days, towards his heavenly father he was known and could be found often kneeling in the sanctuary and serving at the sacrifice of mass until a more advanced age, when filled with the effervescent grace which the Almighty, no doubt, chose to bestow upon, in the middle stage, and until the end of his life, he remained ever faithful in the practice of the faith in the Roman Catholic Church, and of which he was not ashamed and was ever ready as a faithful servant, in the service of the said church. On his death bed he was administered by the Rev. Father Frohn, and received the blessed sacraments. In the year 1862, or thereabout, and during the war of the States, inflamed with the love and cause of the South, he joined the 18th Louisiana Regiment as lieutenant under the command at the time of Colonel Mouton who afterwards became General in the confederate service. He was at the battle of Shiloh and at Corinth and remained in the Confederate service during the entire war. After the war, endowed only with such limited schooling in those days as could be afforded in proportion to one's means, he applied himself to studying and became familiar with public life and affairs, to the extent that he was found a fit representative of the people and was chosen Mayor of this town, in which capacity he served and was ever devoted toward the interest and welfare of the town and people, He also served as councilman for several years. He was at another period, chosen and acted for several years as superintendent of the Public Schools in the town and parish of Iberia. In the said service he was also noted for his constant energy and devotion towards the welfare and success of said schools, being the chief promoter of the High School and erection of the main building now used for said purpose and which serve as a relic to his name and a pride to New Iberia. He was among the foremost in furthering improvements in this town, principally the market house which is one of its main sources in the shape of revenues. He was kind and extended charities to many. All this certainly stand to his glory and should be cheerfully remembered by all in this community. May his voice, that in this choir on earth, With so much ardor, used to sing, The glories of his Heavenly Father, Now be mingled with the Seraphims, In the celestial choir. A Friend. source: New Iberia Enterprise and Independent Observer (New Iberia, LA), January 10, 1903: Hon. William R. Burke, a notice of whose death was given in our last issue, was born of Irish parents, William Burke and Ellen Lee, both natives of the city of Waterford, of the Emerald Isle, where they were reared and married, coming to this country in 1833, and after a short sojourn in Canada, New Jersey, and Texas, they settled in New Iberia in 1836, where the subject of our sketch was born. ... He was for twenty years intimately connected with our school affairs and his untiring zeal and unflagging devotion that our present splendid school system is indebted. Perhaps the most satisfactory and pleasurable moment of his life was at the completion of our High School building, which was a special favorite or hobby of his. His work to erect this beautiful building was often handicapped by unjust criticism, prejudice and ingratitude, and numerous obstacles which would have discouraged any one of less determination than he. Mr. Burke's daily life and influence was that of the typical American citizen. Large hearted, generous, brave, a devoted Christian, the believer in a creed that embraced all humanity, a benevolence that was Christ-like -- his was a character worthy of emulation. This entire community mourns a good man and will long revere his memory. --------------------- BURKE, William R., businessman, politician. Born, New Iberia, La., 1839; son of Irish immigrants William Burke and Ellen Lee. Educated in local schools. Began career as a carpenter; later entered into family's livery stable business. During Civil War served in Company D, Eighteenth Louisiana Regiment under Gen. Alfred Mouton (q.v.), rising to rank of first lieutenant. After war, reentered livery stable business until 1886. Married Elise Bonin, October 28, 1867. No children. President, Iberia Parish Police Jury, 1877-1879. Served as treasurer and collector of New Iberia, 1879-1887. In 1877 elected secretary of parish school board. Served twenty years as parish superintendent of education. Together with Joseph A. Breaux (q.v.) created a modern educational system for Iberia Parish. Was the moving spirit behind the construction of Central High School (1896), said to have been the only brick school outside of New Orleans at the time. Died, New Iberia, December 30, 1902; interred St. Peter's Cemetery. G.R.C. Sources: Glenn R. Conrad, comp., New Iberia: Essays on the Town and Its People (1979); New Iberia Enterprise, January 3, 10, 1903. [Louisiana Historical Society - Dictionary of Louisiana Biography] Additional Comments: NOTE: www.findagrave.com memorial # 125973600 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/iberia/obits/b/burke7670gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/lafiles/ File size: 7.6 Kb