Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885
Chapman Bros.
Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Page 773

THOMAS BURKE

Thomas Burke, general farmer, section 25, Hume Township, was born in 1831, in County Tipperary, Ireland. About the year 1852, he emigrated to the United States. He first located in New Jersey, and later went to Northampton Co., Pa. He was married there in 1856, to Mary Fay, who was born in Ireland and came when she was eight years of age to America. The family first settled in Connecticut and went afterwards to Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Burke have been the parents of 13 children, of whom two are no longer living. Mary married John Taylor and lives near Platte Center, Neb. Thomas lives on the farm in Hume Township, as also do William, John, Patrick, Anne, Bridget, David, James, Ellen and Edward. Honora and Michael died in childhood.

Soon after marriage Mr. Burke went to New Jersey, where he lived two years, and in 1858 he removed his family to Sterling, Ill. During his residence there he purchased land in the township of Hahnaman, on which he moved after two years. He went thence to Montmorency Township, where he was the occupant and owner of 200 acres of land. He sold the place in 1881 and purchased 240 acres of land in Hume Township, where he has since been engaged in prosperous farming. Mr. Burke is a Democrat in political relations, and is at present a School Director.

The family are members of the Catholic Church.