Charles Henry Burke Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1810-1812 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	HON. CHARLES HENRY BURKE, of Pierre, is a New Yorker by birth, 
descended on the father's side from an old and noted Irish family, and 
through his mother his ancestry is traceable to an early period in the 
history of New England. His grandfather, Dr. Myles Burke, a physician of 
wide repute, was born and reared in Galway, Ireland, and after 
practicing his profession in that country for a number of years, came to 
America and took up his residence in New York city, where he spent the 
remainder of his days. Walter Burke, son of the Doctor and father of the 
subject, was also a native of County Galway, where his birth occurred on 
November 10, 1820. He accompanied the family to this country in 1830 and 
in 1856 married Miss Sarah T. Beckwith, who was born October 17, 1828, 
in the state of Connecticut, where, as above indicated, her ancestors 
settled in an early day. Walter Burke and wife spent the greater part of 
their married life on a~ farm near Batavia, Genesee county, New York, 
and it was there that their son, the subject of this review, first saw 
the light of day, on April 1, 1861.

	Charles Henry Burke was reared under the wholesome discipline and 
healthful influence of outdoor life on the farm, early became accustomed 
to the rugged labor of the same, and at the proper age entered the 
public schools of Batavia, where be pursued his studies until finishing 
the high-school course. The training thus received was supplemented by 
an academic course, which he completed in the spring of 1881, and after 
teaching the following winter in a country district in western New York, 
be started west, arriving in Dakota territory in the spring of 1882 and 
settling on a homestead near Broadland, in what is now Beadle county. 
After spending one year on his claim, Mr. Burke, in the spring of 1883, 
located at Blunt, Hughes county, where be opened a land and real-estate 
office, forming a partnership with Smith & Caldwell, of Huron, the firm 
thus constituted building up in due time an extensive and lucrative 
business. While thus engaged the subject took up the study of law and 
prosecuted the same as opportunities offered, until his admission to the 
bar in 1886, after which he practiced at Blunt in connection with real-
estate business until September of the followlng year when he came to 
Pierre and entered the employ of the Security Mortgage and Investment 
Company, of this city. Later Mr. Burke became manager of the company and 
continued as such until he closed up its affairs. Subsequently he became 
a member of the law firm of Burke & Goodner, of Pierre, but upon his 
election to congress this partnership was dissolved.

	Mr. Burke has been a forceful factor in political circles ever 
since becoming a citizen of South Dakota and in 1894 was elected on the 
Republican ticket to the legislature, in which body he served two terms, 
being been chosen his own successor in the year 1896. His record as a 
law-maker proved eminently satisfactory to his constituents, and in 
recognition of his ability as well as by reason of distinguished 
services rendered hid party, he was honored in 1898 by being elected to 
the national house of representatives. Mr. Burke's first term in 
congress fully met the high expectations of his friends and the public, 
and his zeal in looking after the interests of his district and state, 
and his ability in matters of national import were such as to lead to 
his renomination and triumphant re-election in 1900, there being no 
opposition to him in the convention. In 1902 be was again renominated by 
acclamation and, his election following as a matter of course, he is 
still ably representing his constituency and laboring for the welfare of 
the country, putting patriotism above party and proving by distinguished 
public service that the confidence reposed in his integrity and worth 
has not been misplaced.

	Previous to his legislative and congressional experience, Mr. 
Burke took an active part in local and state affairs and in 1890 was a 
member and secretary of the Pierre capital committee, in which capacity 
he devoted about eight months exclusively to the campaign work of that 
year. His labors were influential and highly appreciated and to his 
judicious counsels and efficient leadership is largely due the 
successful issue of the state capital questions.

	Fraternally Mr. Burke is a member of the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen, which organization he joined at Blunt in the year 1885. He was 
made a Mason in 1898 and at the present time belongs to the blue lodge 
and chapter at Pierre and he is also identified with Sioux Falls Lodge, 
No. 262, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Although a member of 
no church, he believes in religion and respects all organized efforts 
for its dissemination , his preference among creeds being the Episcopal. 
He is a loyal attendant of the church of this name and a liberal 
contributor to its various lines.

	In concluding this brief sketch, reference is made to the domestic 
life of Mr. Burke, the history of which dates from January 14, 1886, 
when he was married, at Blunt, South Dakota, to Miss Caroline Schlosser. 
Mr. and Mrs. Burke are the parents of five children, whose names and 
dates of birth are as follows: Grace F., July 2, 1887; Bessie, February 
18, 1889; Walter H., October 5, 1890; Charles Elmer, February 17, 1893, 
died May 3, 1898, and Josephine Louise, who was born in Washington City, 
D. C., on January 1, 1900.

	As stated in a preceding paragraph, Mr. Burke on the father's side 
comes from an old and highly esteemed Irish family, several 
representatives of which have achieved honorable distinction in various 
spheres of endeavor. Joseph Burke, an uncle of the subject, acquired 
renown, both in Europe and America, by . his wonderful versatility as an 
actor as well as a violinist. When a mere infant he displayed astounding 
musical and histrionic talents and long before he was out of dresses he 
was receiving instructions both in music and elocution from private 
tutors. He was but three years of age when he began appearing before the 
public as a violinist and his success was instantaneous. His career as 
an actor began when he was six years old and at the age of twelve he was 
acknowledged by the best critics of the day to be the most accomplished 
violinist in the united kingdom. When a mere child he toured England, 
Scotland and Ireland, playing in the larger cities before overflowing 
audiences and later he repeated his success in the United States, 
whither his fame had preceded him. He was without doubt the most 
astonishing instance of precocious talents the musical world has ever 
known, but, unlike so many youthful prodigies whose skill disappears 
with advancing age, he not only retained unimpaired his wonderful genius 
throughout a prolonged and remarkably distinguished career, but added to 
his skill and efficiency as long as lived as an artist. When Jenny Lind 
made her tour of the United States in 1850 young Burke accompanied her 
in the role of violinist and afterwards became her treasurer and private 
secretary as well as the leader of her orchestra. She visited him 
several times at his beautiful home near Batavia, New York, and between 
the two a lifelong friendship existed. The success which everywhere 
attended Mr. Burke was unprecedented and his fame was equally as great 
on the continent of Europe as it was in England and the United States. 
He was born in Galway, Ireland, in 1817, began his professional career 
in Dublin in 1824 and after playing the different roles in all the 
leading theaters, spent the remainder of his life, dying at his home in 
Genesee county, New York, in the year 1902.