Frances A. Burke

 

Frances A. Burke, a farmer of Sutter Township, was born in April, 1848, in Boston, Massachusetts, a son of John A. and Sarah (Chandler) Burke, the father a native of Ireland and mother of Massachusetts. His father came to America at the age of ten years, was a farmer by occupation, married in Boston and came to California in the fall of 1850, from Boston, by way of Cape Horn, the trip occupying about six months; mined at Mormon Island two years, with moderate success; and in 1852 his wife and one child (the subject of this sketch) came to California by way of the Isthmus. He then started a boarding-house and conducted it until 1854; then settled in the country on the Sutter grant, made several changes of residence, but finally located on the Freeport road three and a half miles from town, on a place now consisting of 260 acres. He died in Sacramento, in January, 1884, at the age of fifty-seven years, and his wife is still living in Sacramento. In their family there were only one son and one daughter. The daughter, Sarah, died at the age of twenty-two and a half years, in 1857. The son, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and still has the old home-place as above described. He has been a resident of Sacramento ever since he was four years old. The floods of 1861-‘62 almost covered his farm with water, and he lost most of the fencing and some of the farm animals. A great abundance of furniture lumber and other goods was lodged upon his farm by the flood and afterward identified by the owners. He remembers many amusing incidents connected with those times, one of which was this: A pair of pantaloons was recognized by one who said he thought he ought to know them, as he was married in them three times! The Fourth and Fifth Regiment were encamped at that time on what is now his ranch. Mr. Burke came to this place when it was utterly wild, but by getting a start in the world by the dairy business he has improved the ranch so that it is now one of the best in the country. At present he conducts a general farming business.  As to society relations, he is a member of the Y. M. I. of Sacramento.  He was married in 1871 to Miss Lottie, daughter of John G. and Margaret Hoffman, father a native of Pennsylvania, and mother of Ireland. They have three sons: George, born June 27, 1872; Howard B., December 17, 1874; and William A., July 9, 1882.