Santa Clara County
Biographies
MRS. MARY A.
BURKE
Four miles north of San Jose, on the San Jose and Alviso road, lies (sic) a finely improved ranch of eighty-seven acres, which is owned and managed by Mrs. Burke. Of the tract fifteen acres are under fruit, while the balance is in alfalfa. One of the attractions of the farm is its herd of Holstein cattle, numbering little less than one hundred head, and comprising what is the largest selection of this breed in the entire state. Another specialty of the owner is the raising of race horses, of which there are several fine specimens to be seen on the place. Here was raised Roman, a noted trotter, with a record of 2:09 ¼ on the grand circuit; Wanda, whose race record is 2:17 ¾, and trial record 2:14 3/4, named by Mrs. Burke, and still owned by her; Soleti, with a record of 2:27; Search Me, by Searchlight, a fine four-year-old; and Wanda the Second.
Near Tipton, England, Mrs. Burke was born November 5, 1850, being a daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Woodard) Rickward, natives of the same country. During early life Mr. Rickward acted as boss in a coal mine. On coming to the United States in 1853, he secured employment in the mines of Pennsylvania. The year 1858 found him en route to California via the Isthmus of Panama and after his arrival he first worked in the gold mines in Amador county, but later went to Julian mines back of San Diego, this state, where he died in 1878. His widow is still living and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Burke. The latter had no opportunities whatever to secure an education. Living in the mountains, where there were no schools, her girlhood was lonely and totally lacking in opportunity for culture. At the age of sixteen she was married in Valley Springs, Calaveras county, to Miles Gifford, who remained there for a time but in 1873 removed to San Diego, following the blacksmith’s trade in both places.
The second marriage of Mrs. Burke occurred in 1880, at which time she was married in San Francisco to F. H. Burke, a native of Michigan, but from early boyhood a resident of California. His father, Martin J. Burke, was born in Ireland, and after coming to California served as a member of the noted vigilance committee of San Francisco and also as chief of police in that city. His home is yet in San Francisco, where he resides at the Pacific Union Club.
In early manhood F. H. Burke was employed as a street contractor, but for the past twenty years or more he has been engaged in the real estate business in San Francisco, having his office at No. 30 Montgomery street, but making his home at his country estate, which was purchased in 1897, and has since been the family home. In politics he votes with the Republican party. The State Agricultural Society has enrolled his name among its members, and he was appointed a director by Governor Pardee. While he gives his attention to business affairs in the city, Mrs. Burke superintends the ranch, looks after the cattle and horses, directs their farm hands in the work, and, in justice to her and as a proof of a woman’s ability in business affairs, it may be stated that the ranch is well managed, being, indeed, one of the best properties of its size in the Santa Clara valley. There were three children in the family; Effie Adelaide, who died at the age of thirteen, and Martin J., Jr., who died at the age of one year and four months. A third child died in infancy.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California &
Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A.
M., Pages 563-564. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Cecelia M. Setty.