Amador
County
Biographies
LAWRENCE BURKE
For
the past forty-five years Lawrence Burke has been identified with the meat
business in Plymouth, Amador county, and has not only enjoyed a very
satisfactory patronage, but has also won that which is of far greater value,
the confidence and respect of his fellowmen.
He was born in Amador City, California, on the 6th of August,
1866, and is a son of Dominic and Bridget (Mahan) Burke, who were natives of
Ireland. On arriving in this country the
father located in Pennsylvania and the mother in Boston, Massachusetts. Both came to California by way of the isthmus of Panama and their marriage occurred in Amador
City. To them were born four sons and a
daughter, of whom two are now living. Dominic
Burke was engaged at mining at Amador City and helped open the famous Keystone
mine. Later they sold their interest in
that property and Mr. Burke became superintendent of the mine, serving for a
number of years. Subsequently the family
came to the Plymouth district and the father purchased the old Southern
ranch. He was also superintendent
of the Alpine mine and while so employed carried on the ranch with hired
help. He remained identified with both
ranching and mining interests until his death, which occurred in 1888. His widow survived him many years, passing
away in 1907. Lawrence Burke was educated
in the public schools of Plymouth and in Hopkins Academy at Oakland, his
admission to the latter institution having been made possible through the
kindness of his uncle, Mr. Poundstone.
On finishing his education he returned to Plymouth and took a position
as clerk the old Empire store. Later he
drove a delivery wagon for Mr. Silva, whose daughter he afterwards
married. Mr. Silva ran the meat market
and also had large cattle interests. Mr.
Burke joined him in the business and succeeded to it on the death of Mr.
Silva. He has carried it on continuously
to the present time and is numbered among Plymouth’s substantial merchants.
Mrs.
Burke before her marriage was Miss Mary Silva, a member of one of the old
pioneer families of this section of the state.
They are the parents of two children, Thomas William, who is a partner
with his father in the meat business, and Lawrence W., who died at the age of
eighteen years. There are also two granddaughters
and a grandson.
Mr.
Burke is a Democrat in his political views and has taken an active and
affective interest in public affairs. He
served as a county supervisor for twenty years, during eight years of which
period he was chairman of the board. He
also had the distinction of being the first supervisor to go to the court house
in an automobile. He has served as a
city trustee ever since the board of trustees was organized and has been its
president and mayor of the city for a number of years. He is a member of the Native Sons of the
Golden West, enjoys a wide acquaintance and is one of the popular residents of
Amador County. He is now practically
retired from business, his son looking after the details of the store
management while Mr. Burke is enjoying well earned leisure.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3, Pages 253-254. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Amador County Biographies