BIO: Michael BURKE, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 218.
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  BURKE, MICHAEL, was born on the 29th day of September, 1797, in 
Templetrathen, county Tipperary, Ireland.  Having received a liberal 
education, he left his native land in his eighteenth year for 
Newfoundland, where an uncle was extensively engaged in the fisheries 
off that coast.  There he remained only a brief period, being eager to 
reach the United States.  His first destination was Lockport, N. Y., 
where he secured a position as bookkeeper for a prominent contractor.  
He here gained his first idea of a business which he subsequently 
successfully followed.  In 1824 he secured a contract on the Erie 
canal, and upon its completion went to Akron, O., to construct a 
section of that canal at that place.  From thence he came to 
Pennsylvania, that State being largely engaged in perfecting her system 
of internal improvements, and a wide field for Mr. Burke's business 
energies was open before him.  Securing the contract for that portion 
of the Juniata division of the Pennsylvania canal between Mexico and 
Lewistown in 1829, he fixed his permanent home at Harrisburg.  
Identifying himself with the business and welfare of the town of his 
adoption, he was chosen to the borough council, and in the 
establishment of the first system of water works took an active and 
warm interest.  During a portion of this period he was president of the 
legislative body of the town, and on several occasions became 
personally responsible for the payment of loans secured for the 
construction of the water works.  Upon the completion of the through 
transportation to Pittsburgh by the Pennsylvania canal, Mr. Burke, with 
several others, commenced a packet line from Philadelphia to the former 
place, he having his office at Harrisburg.  He also became interested 
in the Portable line, in which enterprise, however, he sustained a loss 
of thirty-five thousand dollars; but not discouraged, he continued in 
other business ventures.  The first or pioneer blast furnace erected at 
Harrisburg was by Mr. Burke and Governor Porter.  It was erected along 
the line of the Pennsylvania canal above State street.  While in 
successful operation several years, Mr. Burke withdrew from the firm, 
owing to his connection with some contracts on the various railroads 
then building in the State.  He constructed portions of the 
Pennsylvania road between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, and on the 
Northern Central, between Harrisburg and York.  He had heavy contracts 
in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and was also engaged in the 
construction of reservoirs, building one at Baltimore, Md., in 1860, 
and was engaged in the erection of one in the city of Washington at the 
time of his death.  He died at Harrisburg on the 15th of August, 1864, 
in his sixty-seventh year.  Few men have exhibited more public spirit 
than Mr. Burke, and during his entire residence at Harrisburg he was 
held in the highest esteem by his fellow citizens, who admired his 
energy and remarkable business capacity.  To those who knew him best he 
was kind, obliging, genial, and noble-hearted.  Mr. Burke married, on 
April 6, 1824, Mary A. Finley, of Lockport, N. Y.  Their children among 
others have been:  William (deceased), John Michael (deceased), George 
Washington, Josephine, married James Brady, and Martina, married Edward 
P. Kearns.