Butte County
Biographies
JOSEPH FRANCIS BURK
JOSEPH FRANCIS BURK.--A resident of Chico whose
modest but interesting personal record recalls a civic field--that of the local
fire department, so necessary for the preservation of life and property--in
which many good citizen have served the community and also recalls a great
epoch of stirring episodes--the Spanish-American War--in which so many brave
Americans have displayed not only their patriotism but their valor--such is
Joseph Francis Burk. Born a native son
at Chico, on January 2, 1877, Mr.
Burk’s father was Frank Burk who came as a sailor from New York on a ship bound for Honolulu, around the Horn. In Valparaiso he quit the ship in order
to reach San Francisco, and he landed in the latter place in the
early fifties. He was a blacksmith by
trade, and displayed his handiwork in the western metropolis. Then he moved on to Marysville, set up his
forge there, and later blew the bellows at Yreka. About 1870 or 1871 he came to Chico.
Soon after the father’s arrival here he
went to work as a blacksmith for Frost and Fargo, and later he started a
blacksmith shop for himself at Fifth and Wall streets. On May 19, 1872, he was married to Miss Mary
Fogarty, and this important domestic step contributed to his material
advancement. Then he went to West Branch
as a blacksmith for the Sierra Lumber Company, and there he remained until he
retired. On February 11, 1901, Mr. Burk
died here, at the age of fifty-nine, highly respected as a useful citizen and
an honest man. Mrs. Burk is still living
at the old home, 211 Fourth Street, where they moved early in
January, 1873.
One child, Joseph Francis Burk, grew to
maturity and is the special subject of our sketch. Having finished with the public schools, he
started to work for the Chico Transfer Company, but at the breaking out of the
Spanish-American War, he volunteered on June 17, 1989, in Company A of the
Eighth California United States Volunteers, and was mustered in to service at Camp Barrett, Oakland, with the grade of
sergeant. Previous to this, on January 4,
1897, he had enlisted in the National Guard, and belonged to company A. of the
Second California Division.
Following his reenlistment, Mr. Burk was
stationed at Camp Barrett until September 19, 1989
when he was removed to Benicia Barracks, where he remained until February 6,
1899, on which date he was mustered out of service because of the conclusion of
the war. On his return here, the
military company was reorganized with Lon Bond as captain and Mr. Burk as
sergeant of Company A, of the Second California National Guard, and it was
largely a question of time before he was promoted to be first sergeant and then
at the end of two years he was reelected second lieutenant, and in that office
he served until he resigned. During this
period of his military service in California, Mr. Burk was called out as
a second lieutenant to do duty at the great San Francisco fire. His resignation took effect in 1907.
After the war Mr. Burk was at West Branch
with the Sierra Lumber Company, and then with A. G. Eames, entering his service
on July 18, 1902; and with Mr. Eames he has remained ever since. He belongs to the Spanish War Veterans, Camp Cahill, No.58, at Chico, and is known as an active
and consistent Democrat. He joined the
fire department of Chico on January 3, 1895, by
becoming a member of the Deluge Hose Company, was foreman, and then was elected
second assistant chief engineer in May, 1906, serving two years. In 1908, he was elected first assistant chief
and in 1910 he was elected chief of the fire department. To this high office he was reelected, at the
same time that he has retained his membership in, and worked as secretary for,
the Deluge Hose Company. He is a member
of Chico Parlor, No. 21, N. S. G. W., and is the Junior Past President. He also belongs to the Foresters of America,
with which he has been affiliated since 1900, and is a past officer therein,
having been secretary and recording secretary for the last ten years. He belongs to the Chico Aerie, No. 218, F. O.
E., and has been their secretary for the past nine years, and he also belongs
to the Red Men.
Transcribed by Louise E
Shoemaker, March 20th, 2008.
Source:
"History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 822-825,
Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Louise E. Shoemaker.
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