John L. Burke Biography


	This biography appears on pages 266-267 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JOHN L. BURKE.  

	John L. Burke, register of the United States land office at Rapid 
City, was born in Millville, Butler county, Ohio, December 12, 1856. 
His father, Addison Milton Burke, followed the profession of teaching 
but died when his son John was but two years of age. The mother, who in 
her maidenhood was Dorcas Lewis, was born in Ohio and has also passed 
away.  

	John L. Burke is the elder of two children. He attended the 
public schools of Millville and the Dayton Business College at Dayton, 
Ohio. He entered upon his business career as a bookkeeper for the 
Variety Iron Works at Hamilton, Ohio, remaining in that connection for 
two years. He next entered the auditing department of the Clover Leaf 
Railway at Dayton, Ohio, and subsequently was with the same company at 
Toledo, that state, where he was promoted to the position of chief 
clerk and later to that of traveling auditor. In 1885 failing health 
made it necessary that he resign and, hoping to be benefited by a 
change of climate, he came west to the Black Hills, settling at Hot 
Springs, where he took up a homestead. Subsequently he became connected 
with the Dakota Hot Springs Company, serving as its secretary. In 1890 
he organized the Burke Stone Company, of which he was president and 
manager. It is his nature to concentrate his energies with effect upon 
anything that he undertakes and carry it forward to successful 
completion and in his business life his interests have ever been most 
carefully managed and directed.  

	In 1892 Mr. Burke was called to public office in his election to 
the state legislature and in 1894 he was chosen treasurer of Fall River 
county, to which office he was reelected with very little opposition in 
1896. In 1900 he was chosen to represent his district in the state 
senate, serving from 1901 until 1903, and on the 1st of April, of the 
latter year, he was appointed receiver of the United States land office 
at Rapid City, where he has since resided. In April, 1908, he received 
the appointment of register of United States lands and except for a 
brief period, when ill health compelled a years, absence, he has filled 
this important position continuously and with ability to the present 
time, covering six years. He also has other important interests, being 
president of the Western South Dakota Alfalfa Growers Association, one 
of the state's most useful organizations from a development standpoint, 
for it is largely through the efforts of its members that this part of 
the state has been brought to a position of leadership as an alfalfa 
growing district, placing the state first in seed production in 1914. 
Mr. Burke owns two valuable ranches devoted largely to the growing of 
alfalfa. In addition to his activities already mentioned Mr. Burke 
served in 1900 as supervisor of the United States census for the 
western district of South Dakota and during his residence in Hot 
Springs he was for years a member of the school board.  

	On the 21st of September, 1893, Mr. Burke was married to Miss 
Mattie Spangler, a daughter of Elijah and Ellen (Farr) Spangler. They 
have four children, A. Milton, J. Timon, Allan L., and Alice. Mrs. 
Burke is prominent in the social, charitable, church and club work of 
the city.   

	Mr. Burke holds membership in various fraternal organizations, 
the Masons, the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of 
America and he has always given his political allegiance to the 
republican party. His is a long and creditable record of public 
service, in which he has displayed a conscientious devotion to duty and 
a close application of his energies and business ability, with the 
result that his present office ranks among the highest in efficiency in 
the government service. He finds recreation in farming, which might be 
termed his hobby, and of it he has made a close study along modern 
scientific lines He is one of the city's deservingly prominent and 
successful citizens and public officials.