WILLIAM FRANCIS BURKE

 

William Francis BURKE.  When the late William Francis BURKE reached San Francisco, a lad of sixteen years, at the beginning of the ‘60’s, the city presented to his eyes a very different aspect from that which greets the eyes of the traveler today.  The day of his arrival he witnessed the hanging, on the public square, of a man by an infuriated mob.  In spite of this startling occurrence, and the lack of present-day improvements to him, as to the majority who came West in those days, it was a marvel, and certainly its scenic beauties were as wonderful.

William Francis BURKE was an Irish lad who had come to California by way of the long and arduous Panama route, which included the overland trip across the isthmus, for the canal had not only been built, but the French disastrous attempt had not been begun.  His boyhood had been  spent at Dublin so he was used to city life, but San Francisco was entirely different from anything he had ever experienced.  However, with the remarkable adaptability of his race, he soon became accustomed to his new environment, and secured work, and as soon as he had accumulated a little money went into business for himself as a shoe merchant.  Subsequently he was connected with the San Francisco Clearing House.  Earlier in life he became a charter member of the old City Guard, a famous organization of his time.

The death of this excellent man and good citizen occurred June 29, 1903, and he passed away, as he had lived, a devout member of the Roman Catholic faith.  He was an ardent republican in his political belief.  Mr.  BURKE also owned and operated a valuable farming property near St.  Helena, Napa County, and was a man of numerous interests, and was at all times deeply interested in the progress of his adopted city.  In 1866 he married Miss Lizzie KENNEDY.