The Nebraskana Society

tish Rite and Shrine Bodies. For about thirty years he has been a member of the Omaha Club. During the past few years he has travelled extensively, and has visited all the provinces of Canada, and every state in the Union except four. His hobby is the study of German language. Residence: Omaha.

Harry H. Burden, elevator manager, was born at. Campbell, Nebraska, December 22, 1883, son of William Arthur and Nettie L. (Crosby) Burden.

The father was born at Peoria, Illinois, September 26, 1856, and came to Nebraska in 1871 located in Webster County and resided there until his death at Campbell, March 13, 1931. His wife, Nettie, was born at Janesvilie, Wisconsin, July 31, 1861, her ancestry is Scotch-Irish. She is residing with her daughter, Mrs. Lee Walker, at Red Cloud at the present time.

Mr. Burden was graduated from Campbell High School and attended the Hastings Business College one term. He was owner of the Mirage moving picture theatre from 1912 until March 23, 1929, and at the present time he is the owner of Burden's Confectionery, and is manager of the local elevator. A Democrat, he has been a member of the city council for more than 15 years, and for more than eight years, has served on the board of education. He served one four year term as a member of the county board of supervisors of Kearney County, and was chairman of the board one year.

On November 15, 1911, he was married to Hazel Millieent Leafgren at Axtell. She was born at Axtell, November 5, 1893, and is manager of Burden's Confectionery. Her father was Swedish, and her mother Irish. They have four children, Norma Irene, born September 13, 1912; Vera Mae, born August 17, 1918; Dorothy Marie, born November 6, 1919; and Doris Mildred, her twin, born November 6, 1919. Norma was graduated from Axtell High School, and is now attending Kearney State Teachers College.

Mr. Burden is a member of the Masons, and the Nebraskana Society. He enjoys a game of golf at the Axtell Golf Club, of which he is a member. Residence: Axtell.

George H. Burdette was born at Palestine, West Virginia, January 15, 1877, son of John and Caroline (Moses) Burdette. His father and mother were born in Roanoke County, West Virginia, and died at Frankton, Madison County, Indiana.

Mr. Burdette, who is a farmer, and hog and cattle breeder; was left an orphan at the age of twelve. For twenty-nine years he has lived in Nebraska where he has specialized in the breeding and sale of Duroc Jersey hogs. He was at one time chairman of the board of trustees in the county fair, and superintendent of the live stock department of that organization. For the past ten years he has held Duroc Jersey sales.

On June 14, 1905, at Auburn, Nebraska, he was married to Gertrude Conner, who was born in Auburn, August 29, 1880. They have one daughter, Nina, who is a schoolteacher, and a son, John, who is attending high school

During the World War Mr. Burdette was a member the home guards, and took an active part in liberty loan and Red Cross drives. He is a director of the school board of district number six, having held this position since 1904. He is president of the board of deacons in the Church of Christ, and treasurer of the Living Link Committee. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Residence: Auburn.

One of the leading business executives of Grand Island, Nebraska, is Clarence William Burdick who has been a resident of this state all his life. He was born at Westerville, Nebraska, January 26, 1891, the son of George Joel and Nellie Mae (Grierson) Burdick. His father, who was a real estate dealer, was born of Scotch-Irish and French parents at DeRytter, New York, November 15, 1865, and died at Los Angeles, California, December 28, 1927. His mother, who is a member of the Women's Relief Corps and the Order of Eastern Star, was born at Morrison, Illinois, June 26, 1868, and resides in Los Angeles. Her parents, who were natives of Scotland, established the first grist mill in Custer County, Nebraska.

Mr. Burdick was graduated from the Hastings High School in 1910, was a student at Grand Island Baptist College, and studied at the Armour Institute. He was employed by the Hastings Machine Works during 1908 and 1909, was electrician for the Grand Island Electric Company, 1912-13, and since 1913 has served as city electrician and electrical engineer of the city of Grand Island where he is water, light, and ice commissioner.

His marriage to Genevieve Susan Druliner was solemnized at Grand Island, October 22, 1913. Mrs. Burdick was born at Giltner, Nebraska, June 24, 1894. Their son, Roger Nevin, was born September 24, 1919.

Mr. Burdick is a member of the Parent-Teachers Association, the Woodland Country Club, and the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church of Grand Island. His civic and professional organizations include: Chamber of Commerce; Nebraska League of Municipalities; the Engineers Club of Grand Island; the Red Cross; and The Nebraskana Society; Mr. Burdick is a member of the Order of Eastern Star and holds membership in these bodies of the Masons; Shrine; Knights Templar; and Commandery. He is interested in mechanics and reading, and likes to golf. Residence: Grand Island.

George W. Burgess was born in Green County, New York, December 14, 1852, the son of Harvey Smith Burgess and Caroline (Brewer) Burgess. His father, who is a farmer, was born in Green County, New York, of English parentage. His mother was also born in Green County, of German ancestry.

George Burgess attended public school. He united in marriage with Maria A. Boane, at Ulysses, Nebraska, in 1875. She was born at Geneseo, Illinois, July 10, 1856, of English parentage. To this union four children were born: Georgie, who died at the age of four years; Amy, who married Dr. W. D. Jones, who is now deceased; Howard, who died at the age of seven months; and Neal, who died when he was seven years of age.

Harvey Smith Burgess homesteaded two miles from Rising City in 1871. George W. Burgess took up a homestead in Antelope County, in 1882. He lived there three years, traveled for a time, and returned to Rising City, in 1894, where he has since resided.

During his 60 years residence in Nebraska, Mr. Burgess has engaged in various lines of endeavor, but for some time has been in the insurance business. He is affiliated with the Republican party, and is a member of the Nebraskana Society. Residence: Rising City.

Allen Gilmore Burke, son of David William and Isabella (Gilmore) Burke, was born on a farm in Cuming County, Nebraska, on September 8, 1877. His father was born in Perth, Ontario, September 15, 1838, and died at the age of seventy-three. His mother was born in Scotland, in 1840, and died in 1882. David William Burke took a homestead eight miles west of Bancroft, in 1868.

Nebraska, High School from March, 1894, until 1896. He then attended the University of Nebraska, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1902, and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1903.

On May 8, 1906, at Omaha, Nebraska, he married Emily Margaret McManus, who was born in Galena, Illinois, on June 7, 1880. To this union three children were born; Hyle Gilmore, August 29, 1907; Margaret, Isabella, October 14, 1916, and Dorothy Elaine, July 27, 1921. Hyle received a Bachelor of Arts degree at the State University in 1929, is a student in law college, and has assisted in editing the law bulletin.

Mr. Burke served as a member of the house of representatives from 1923-31, on the Republican ticket. He was speaker of the house in 1925, and Republican floor leader 1929, 30, 31, and chairman of the finance committee in 1931. During the administration of Governor Weaver, Mr. Burke gave much attention to the five million dollar deficit that had been incurred. He aided in devising the plan that resulted in wiping out the deficit and leaving a balance in the state treasury.

He has been a member of the board of directors of the Citizens Bank in Bancroft, for the last seventeen years, was secretary-treasurer of the Bancroft Telephone Company for a number of years, and was a member of the village board for ten years.

He has resided in Nebraska for fifty-three years and is a member of the Nebraskana Society. He is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in Bancroft. Mr. Burke holds membership in Bancroft Lodge No. 145 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is a member of Jordan Commandery No. 15, Knights Templar in Blair, and is a member of Tangier Temple of Shrine.

Mr. Burke has always been interested in agriculture, and is an extensive land owner. Residence: Bancroft.

Charles Ernest Burke, leading professional man at Bassett, Nebraska, has been engaged in the practice of dentistry at Bassett since 1924. He was born at Bodarc, Nebraska, November 14, 1896, the son of Julius Brace and Chloe Catherine (Pfost) Burke. His father, a clergyman, was born at Charleston, West Virginia, April 13, 1860, and died at Albion, Nebraska, May 21, 1929. His mother was born at Charleston, February 22, 1864, and died at Adams, Nebraska, February 16, 1928.

Dr. Burke was graduated from the high school at Stuart, Nebraska, in 1914, and in 1924, received the degree Doctor of Dental, Surgery at the University of Nebraska where he was president of the Dental Students Association. He served as vice president of his fraternity, Xi Psi Phi.

He is a member of the Lions International, the Red Cross, and the Masons, and for a number of years has served as a member of the School Board and the Bassett Town Board. He served as sergeant in the Medical Corps of the United States Army during the World War, and at this time is a member of the American Legion. His favorite sport is football.

His marriage to Alice Wilhelmina Wefso occurred at St. Edward, Nebraska, May 25, 1920. Mrs. Burke, who was a teacher in the Stuart Public Schools for four years prior to her marriage, was born at Dustin, Nebraska, November 5, 1900. They have two children: Mary Jeanette, born February 19, 1925; and Charles James, born March 7, 1929. Dr. Burke is a Republican and holds membership in The Nebraskana Society. Residence: Bassett.

Donald J. Burke, lawyer, educator, and business executive, has lived in Nebraska for the past 26 years. He was born at Council Bluffs, Iowa, February 25, 1891, the son of Finley and Parthenia (Jefferis) Burke. His father, who was born in West Virginia, and died at Council Bluffs in 1903, practiced law at Council Bluffs for many years and was probably Iowa's most distinguished lawyer; his Irish and Scotch ancestors settled in America in the early history of the country.

His mother was born at Council Bluffs, and died there in 1928. Her paternal ancestors were early Americans. Her mother was born in Ireland.

Mr. Burke attended the public schools of Council Bluffs, and received his LL. B. at Creighton University School of Law where he was graduated with cum laude honors. He was elected to the law fraternity; Delta Theta Phi. He practiced law from 1912-17, and for the next two and a half years was First Lieutenant of Infantry in the United States Army; be served one year in France and Germany with the 88th and 2nd divisions, 1917-19. After the war he was professor of law at Creighton University for 9 years, 1919-1928. Since then he has been vice president of the George H. Lee Company at Omaha.

He is a member of the American Legion. He holds. membership in: Omaha Chamber of Commerce; the Rotary Club; Douglas County Bar Association; and the Interprofessional Men's Club. He is a member of St. Cecilia's Cathedral at Omaha, and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus. He was formerly a member of the American Bar Association. He is a Democrat.

His marriage to Ivy Lee was solemnized at Omaha, August 18, 1917. Mrs. Burke was born at Exeter, Nebraska; her maternal and paternal grandparents were born in England. They have three children: Joseph, born August 2, 1918; Mary Catherine, born June 30, 1920; and Margaret, born December 16, 1921. Residence: Omaha.

One of Nebraska's leading business women Mahelle Baker Burke was born at Damariscotta, Maine, the daughter of Nathaniel Palmer Baker and Annie Mary (Benner) Baker. Her father, who was a merchant, was born at Bristol, Maine and died at Damariscotta, December 31, 1900, having served in Company I, 21st Regiment of the Maine Infantry during the Civil War. Her mother, a descendant of Seward Poland who served in the Revolution, was born at Bristol of English descent; she is a member of the Kearney P. E. O. and Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mrs. Burke was graduated from Lincoln Academy at New Castle, Maine, and was a student at Kearncy State Teachers College, Kearney, Nebraska. For a number of years she was associated with the Forgan-Haskell Investment Company of Omaha, assisted in the offices of the county clerk and register of deeds, and for over 12 years published a daily report of instruments filed in Buffalo County. She is now serving her fifth consecutive term as city clerk of Kearney and is active in various civic organizations there.

She holds membership in the Business and Professional Women's Club, the Red Cross, P. E. O., The Nebraskana Society, and the First Methodist Church of Kearney. Mrs. Burke is a Republican and is a member of the Fort Kearney Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Her marriage to Milton Edward Burke was solemnized at Omaha, Nebraska, September 25, 1907. Mr. Burke, who was a banker and business executive, was born at Kearney and died there June 23, 1911; his paternal grandfather, Gustave Fredrick Burke, served in the Civil War. They have one son, Nathaniel Baker Burke, who married Mabel Matzke. He is district agent for the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company at Grand Island, Nebraska. They have one daughter, Louisa Ann. Residence: Kearney.

Thomas Nicholas Burke, a physician and surgeon in Nebraska since 1904, was born at Calhoun, Iowa, August 31, 1875. His father, Peter Burke, was born in Kil-

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cullen, County Kildare, Ireland, February 14, 1828. After serving with the United States Marine Corps in the Civil War, he became a pioneer farmer in Iowa. His death occurred at Elkhorn, on October 9, 1912. His parents were Irish immigrants to America in 1854. Mary Kennedy, wife of Peter Burke, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, February 14, 1828, and died at Elkhorn, February 15, 1923. Of Norman-Irish stock, her parents came to America in 1862.

Dr. Burke attended public and parochial schools and was graduated from academy in 1894. He was a student at Creighton University 1894-97, and Creighton Medical College 1900-04, receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine from the last mentioned institution. Since 1904 he has been in active practice at Elkhorn.

On July 26, 1905, Dr. Burke was united in marriage to Catherine Cecelia Beirne at Omaha. Mrs. Burke, who was born at Atlantic, in May, 1884, died at Norfolk, February 25, 1918, leaving three children: Peter F., born January 3, 1907; William M., born April 5, 1908; and John J., born March 6, 1911. All of them are in school. Residence: Elkhorn.

Earl Haskell Burket was born at Omaha, Nebraska, October 14, 1888, son of Henry Kennedy and Ella M. (Haskell) Burket. His father, who was a funeral director, was born at Grand Detour, Illinois, October 24, 1850, and died at Omaha, December 27, 1922. His mother was born at Tiskilwa, Illinois, February 26, 1854, and died at Omaha, July 22, 1929.

Mr. Burket was graduated from the Omaha High School and later attended Colgate University, where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. He has lived in Nebraska 42 years. The H. K. Burket Funeral Chapel was established in 1876 at Creston, Iowa. In 1883 the family came to Omaha, where Henry K. Burket entered the undertaking business. The business is the oldest established firm in Omaha. Mr. Burket has been connected with the business since June 1914, and is owner of the H. K. Burket and Son Funeral Chapel.

He was married to Harriet Copley at Omaha, March 21, 1917. Mrs. Burket was born in Omaha. They have one son, Copley, born September 30, 1923.

Mr. Burket is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, and the Pro Tem Club. He is a Scottish Rite Mason, Knight Templar and member of the Shrine. His clubs are the Omaha Club, the University Club and the Happy Hollow Country Club. He is a member of the First Baptist Church. His hobby is trees. Residence: Omaha. (Photograph on Page 187).

One of Lincoln's foremost business men, and a leader in civic and fraternal circles, Homer Burket was born on a farm in Lee County, Illinois, May 19, 1858. His father, Peter Burket, was born in Blair County, Pennsylvania, December 5, 1820, and died in Cedar County, Iowa, on September 14, 1874. He was a farmer, whose family came to America from Germany about 1750.

Peter Burket married Elizabeth Eberle, who was born at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1823. She was of German and Swiss ancestry, and died in Cedar County, Iowa, June 9, 1881.

Homer K. Burket received his elementary education in the schools of Lee County, Illinois, and Tipton, Iowa. He was graduated from the Tipton High School in 1877. On May 19, 1885, he was united in marriage to Ella Gibson at Creston, Iowa. Mrs. Burket is a native of Dixon, Iowa, and of Scotch and German descent. There are two children of this marriage, John G., born February 16, 1886, who is married to Margaret Sargent and residing in Lincoln; and Ethel, born March 4, 1888. She was graduated from the University of Nebraska, and attended school in Washington, D. C., and in Vienna, where she studied music. She is married to Dr. M. F. Russell of Great Bend, Kansas.

Since 1893, Mr. Burket has been a resident of Nebraska, and for many years has been engaged in the building and loan business. He is a former president of the Nebraska State Bank, and at the present time is president of the Nebraska State Building Company, the Nebraska Central Building and Loan Association, and formerly of the First National Bank of Bridgeport. A Republican in politics he has filled various public offices, both in Illinois and Nebraska. Among them he was city treasurer of Creston, Iowa, coroner of Union County, Iowa; city alderman in Lincoln, 1912-13, and member of the house of representatives in 1913 of Nebraska.

During 1914 and '15, he served as president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, and in 1927 was president of the Rotary Club. His clubs include the Candle Light Club and the Lincoln Country Club. For six years he was a member of the board of education. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, and a member of the Young Men's Christian Association. At present he is a member of Advisory Water Board of Lincoln. Residence: Lincoln.

Elmer J. Burkett was born on a farm in Mills County, Iowa, December 1, 1867, the son of Henry W. and Catherine (Kearney) Burkett. His father, whose ancestry was Pennsylvania Dutch, was born in Blair County, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1842, and died at Glenwood, Mills County, Iowa, September 11, 1923.

His mother was born in Holt County, Missouri, March 7, 1848, and died at Glenwood, July 28, 1908.

Mr. Burkett attended the public schools at Silver City, Iowa, and in 1890, was graduated from Tabor College with the degrees B. A. and B. L. He was awarded his LL. B. and LL. M. degrees at the University of Nebraska, in 1893 and 1895, respectively. He was president of the senior class at Tabor College, 1890; was president of the law class at the University of Nebraska, 1893; and was elected to membership in the Innocents and Phi Delta Phi.

He has been engaged in the practice of law since 1893, at Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. For the past 20 years he has been director of the First National Bank and the First Trust Company of Lincoln. A Republican, he served as a member of the Nebraska legislature in 1897; was member of United States congress, 1899-1905; and was United States Senator from 1905 to 1911. He has always taken an active part in state and national political affairs. He is the author of Outline of history, a textbook for use in the public school (1890). He was editor of Phideltian at Tabor College.

On September 1, 1891, he was united in marriage with Fannie Fern Wright at Glenwood. Mrs. Burkett, who was born in Mills County, September 16, 1869, is descended on the maternal side from Governor John Webster of Massachusetts. They have three children: Lenore C., born July 22, 1893, who married Rolla C. Van Kirk; Josephine S., born June 22, 1895, who married Raymond R. Farquhar; and Helen F., born May 6, 1901, who married Marvin M. Meyers. Lenore is a professional musician, and is at the head of the Fine Arts department of Cotner University.

During the World War Mr. Burkett was active in loan drives and was a member of the home guard. He has been president of the board of trustees of Nebraska Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the last 15 years. He is a member of the county, state, and national bar associations, and holds membership in the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.

He is affiliated with the Nebraskana Society and the Nebraska State Historical Society. He is a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masonry, Sesostris Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the following frater-


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