Jesse Burke

Jesse Burke, b January 8, 1806 in Laurens District, South Carolina, d January 23, 1874 in Falls County, Texas and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery there - was a son of James Burke, b December 12, 1787 in South Carolina, and his wife, Jane (Dillard) Burke, b September 17, 1786 in South Carolina.

On February 2, 1830 in Laurens District, South Carolina, Jesse Burke was married to Sarah Harlan, b April 14, 1813 on a farm in Laurens District, South Carolina, d January 7, 1877 in Falls County, Texas and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery - a daughter of James Harlan, b February 21, 1786 in Laurens District, South Carolina, d February 11, 1865 in Tallapoosa County, Alabama - a Baptist Minister and Planter, and his wife, Margaret (Langston) Harlan, b 1790 in Laurens District, South Carolina, d February 4, 1868 in Tallapoosa County, Alabama and both buried in Providence Church Burying Grounds there.

Jesse and Sarah moved to Tallapoosa County, Alabama in 1838, along with her parents; and subsequently moved into Arkansas with some of her siblings and their families, and settled in the Blue Ridge Community of Falls County, Texas in 1868, where they re- sided until their deaths. Jesse and Sarah were Baptists, and their membership was always in that denomination.

Jesse and Sarah (Harlan) Burke were the parents thirteen children:
Francis Marion Burke, b November 6, 1830 in Laurens District, South Carolina, d June 6, 1863 at Fort Hudson, Louisiana, while in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. He was not married.

Eliza Dillard Burke, b November 27, 1832 in Laurens District, South Carolina, d May 4, 1874 in Little River County, Arkansas - married Odell Duckett Dillard on February 25, 1864 - a son of Samuel and Lydia Duckett Dillard.

Thomas Jefferson Burke, b September 31, 1834 in Laurens District, South Carolina, d April 17, 1842 in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, and buried there.

George McDuffey Burke, b December 29, 1836 in Laurens District, South Carolina, d July 19, 1867 in Little River County, Arkansas. He was not married.

Lucretia Elizabeth Burke, b August 16, 1839 in Talladega, Alabama, was unmarried in 1908. No further information. James H. Harrison Burke, b February 2, 1841 in Talladega County, Alabama - married January 31, 1868 to Martha Wright. One daughter, Ettie E. Burke, b March 15, 1870, d May 27, 1871, was buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery in Falls County, Texas. No further information.

Samuel Dillard Burke, b May 15, 1843 in Talladega County, Alabama - married July 9, 1865 to Tementia Webb - a daughter of Meredith and Sarah (Johnson) Webb, natives of Tennessee who settled in Arkansas. Samuel brought his family to Falls County, Texas.

John Harlan Burke, b May 19, 1845 in Talladega County, Alabama, d June 20, 1890 and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery in Falls County, Texas - married first on October 24, 1871 to Leoria A. Elizabeth Ritter, b June 1, 1851, d February 27, 1885; and married second on May 6, 1888 to Ellen Newton. No further information.

William Zebulon Burke, b November 5, 1847 in Talladega County, Alabama, d May 13, 1925 in Falls County, Texas and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery - was married first in Arkansas on December 31, 1867 to Elizabeth E. Freeman, b February 24, 1851, d June 23, 1883 and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery. He married second in Alabama on January 1, 1884 to Isabella C. Carter, b September 29, 1856, d September 30, 1925 and also buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery.

Jasper Newton Burke, b November 12, 1849 in Talladega County, Alabama, d July 10, 1871 and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery in Falls County, Texas.

Elias Martin Burke, b February 16, 1852 in Calhoun County, Alabama, d June 26, 1860 in Little River County, Arkansas, and buried there.

Aaron Rufus Burke, b October 2, 1856 in Calhoun County, Alabama - married Mary Harkness on January 4, 1882. No further information.

Mary Lucinda Burke, b April 27, 1859 in Calhoun County, Alabama, d April 13, 1864 in Little River County, Arkansas, and buried there.

Some biographies from "Families of Falls County", compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical Commission.
Permission granted to Theresa Carhart by the Falls County Historical Commission, for use on this page.

Additional Info

Van Buren Ritter. He was the brother of my great grandfather, William Ritter.

In your bio of Jesse Burke, you show his son John Harlan Burke married to Leoria A Elizabeth Ritter. I believe that should be Lenora Ann Elizabeth Ritter, b 1 June 1854 (that is the b/d that I have for her) She was half sister to Van Buren and William. Her mother was Martha Carr, Lewis Ritter's 2nd wife.

You show another son, James H Harrison Burke married to Martha Wright. I believe that she was Martha Jane Wright, the daughter of James Walker Wright, and the sister to Lenore "Nora" Wright who was the wife of William Ritter. (I had her married to Harrison Burke; so I am certain she is the correct Martha Wright.) Martha and Harrison were probably married in Sevier County, Arkansas, as both families were living there at that time. I did have a later marriage, 1871, so it is possible she was a 2nd wife, or I had the marriage date wrong. I will need to double check on that.

Rosa Ritter who was married to Sam Hetherington was also a daughter of Lewis Ritter, but by his 3rd wife, Lucille "Lucy" Partridge.

From Charlene Haney