Charles H. Burke Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 1079-1080

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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HON. CHARLES H. BURKE, M. C. Among South Dakota's prominent public men, 
Hon. Charles H. Burke, of Pierre, deservedly ranks with the foremost in 
popularity, influence and sound statesmanship. 

Mr. Burke is a native of Genesee county, New York, having been born 
near Batavia, April 1, 1861. The parents of our subject, Walter and 
Sarah (Beckwith) Burke, were natives of Ireland and Connecticut, 
respectively. The grandfather, Miles Burke, was a physician and 
surgeon, and came to the United States with his family about 1830. He 
first located in New York city, afterward going to Troy, New York, and 
then to Chippewa Falls, Canada, where he died in 1845. He had three 
sons and one daughter, all of whom are living except the daughter. In 
1846 Walter Burke returned to Genesee county, New York, where he still 
resides on the old farm where our subject was born. He was married to 
Sarah Beckwith in 1856. and to them were born two sons and three 
daughters, all of whom are now residents of New York except our 
subject. 

Charles H. Burke received his education in the public schools of 
Genesee county and at Batavia. He engaged in teaching for one year, and 
in the spring of 1882 he removed to Moorhead, Minnesota, but in the 
same year went to Dakota territory and located on a claim near Huron. 
He read law in the office of Caldwell & Smith, of Huron, and when, in 
1883, they opened a branch office at Blunt, he was made a partner and 
given charge of the new office. He continued there until 1887, during 
which time he made a specialty of land cases. In the latter year he 
located in Pierre and took charge of the land business of the Security 
Mortgage and Investment Company and of the Western Loan and Trust 
Company, of Pierre. In 1890 he was made treasurer of the Security 
Mortgage and Trust Company, and to his charge is given the closing of 
all deals negotiated by that great concern. He was also engaged in the 
real-estate business for some years, and still has interests in that 
line to some extent, more especially in North Dakota. His admission to 
the bar dates hack to 1886. His practice was largely in the line of 
real estate, and for some time he has devoted his attention more 
particularly to the real-estate and mortgage business, and has not been 
engaged actively in the practice of his profession. 

Mr. Burke has always taken an active interest in political matters, but 
has been in no sense a seeker after political preferment. He was a 
delegate to the first Republican convention of Beadle county, and in 
1894 was elected to the legislature, and was a prominent candidate for 
speaker. At the expiration of his term he was re-elected in 1896. He 
was secretary of the capitol committee and was influential in securing 
the location of the capitol at Pierre. In 1898 he was nominated on 
first ballot as candidate for congress, and was elected by a majority 
of four thousand votes. 

The marriage of our subject to Caroline Schlosser occurred January 14, 
1886. Mrs. Burke is a native of Wisconsin, and a daughter of Henry 
Schlosser. To Mr. and Mrs. Burke four children have been born: Grace 
F., Bessie, Walter H. and Charles E. The latter died at the age of five 
years. Mr. Burke is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, 
holding membership in the Blue Lodge and Chapter, and is also a member 
of the Ancient Order of United Workmen