James Burke was born Febuary 1826, in
County Limerick, Ireland. He is the son of William Burke and Catharine
(Fitzgerald) Burke. His mother came to America. Mr Burke emigrated to
the United States in 1848, and came direct to Jeffersonville, to meet
his brother John and other relatives who had preceded him to this
country, and entered into partnership with John Burke, and continued
together for five years. He became a contrator for the grading and
paving the public streets of Jeffersonville. As a street contractor he
was a sucess, and made some money. In his dealings with the city and
the public, he established a character for honesty and integrity, so
that he people of his ward, in 1863, elected him councilman, and
continued him as one of its representives in the council until 1872. In
1875 he was elected city treasurere, and in 1877 and 1879 was
re-elected, and served until September 1881.
After he retired from the treasurer's office, he became one of the principal contractors on the Owensboro' & Russellville Railroad, and continued there until in 1884, and from that time until in 1886 was engaged in the coal business in Jeffersonville.
He was married in 1855 to Miss Cornelia Craugler, a native of New York. The result of the union is five living children.
HOn Frank B Burke, a son, is now joint senator from the counties of Clark, Scott and Jennings; James Burke, in the coal trade; William Burke, a clerk in the post office under his father; Miss Maggie, also a clerk under her father in postoffice.
Source: Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison. Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington Indiana John Gresham & Co. 1889
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After he retired from the treasurer's office, he became one of the principal contractors on the Owensboro' & Russellville Railroad, and continued there until in 1884, and from that time until in 1886 was engaged in the coal business in Jeffersonville.
He was married in 1855 to Miss Cornelia Craugler, a native of New York. The result of the union is five living children.
HOn Frank B Burke, a son, is now joint senator from the counties of Clark, Scott and Jennings; James Burke, in the coal trade; William Burke, a clerk in the post office under his father; Miss Maggie, also a clerk under her father in postoffice.
Source: Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison. Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington Indiana John Gresham & Co. 1889
BUTLER, JOHN H., of New Albany,
is a native of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he was born, October
17, 1812. His father, Jonathan Butler, removed with his family to
Indiana, and settled in Hanover, Jefferson County, in the year 1819.
His mother, Nancy (Hopkins) Butler, was a daughter of John Hopkins,
whose family were among the early settlers of the state of Maryland.
John H. Butler was educated in the schools of his native village, and
later at Hanover, Indiana, where he received a college training. He
commenced the study of law at Hanover, in the office of Judge
Eggleston, then the most prominent lawyer of that county, and Judge of
the Circuit Court. He was admitted to the bar in 1839, and removed to
Salem, the county seat of Washington County, where he opened an office
and commenced the practice of his profession. Here he met with success
from the beginning, and was soon known as a rising young lawyer. For
nearly thirty years he pursued his professional career in the same
place, achieving a brilliant reputation, and becoming known not only in
his county but throughout the state. In 1866 he removed to New Albany,
and formed a partnership with W. Gresham, now United States District
Judge. In 1868 he was appointed, by Governor Baker, Judge of the
Twenty-seventh Judicial District of Indiana. He was a delegate to
represent his district in the Republican convention at Chicago which
nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency, in 1860. He has always
been a Republican, but never a professional politician. On the 3rd of
January, 1843, he married Miss Mary Chase, daughter of Isaac and Ruth
Chase, of Salem. They have a family of two sons. The elder, Noble C.,
studied law with his father, was admitted to the bar in 1867, and the
following year was appointed register in bankruptcy, which position he
still holds. The other son, Charles H., is a bank teller. Mrs. Butler
is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which her husband is an
occasional attendant. Now, in his sixty-seventh year, the cares of life
have left their marks upon his brow. But his silvery hairs have never
been whitened by dishonor, and his life has been such as to commend him
to the esteem of his fellow-men.
Submitted by Friends for Free Genealogy
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