William Zebulon Burke

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 a son of Jesse and Sarah (Harlan) Burke, natives of South Carolina who moved in 1838 to Tallapoosa County, Alabama, then into Talladega County and later to Calhoun County, Alabama, before immigrating to Arkansas, and finally, before 1875, they moved to Falls County, Texas where his parents had settled in 1868 - settling in the Blue Ridge Community.

William Zebulon Burke 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 in Falls County, Texas.

They were the parents of five children, but one died as an infant:
William Jesse Burke, b 1869 in Arkansas, d 1941 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin, Texas- married December 3, 1891 to Emma E. Martin, b 1874, d 1958 and buried by her husband. He was with the Railroad for a time in Marlin and Riesel, Texas; and then was transferred to Houston, Texas. After his death, Emma returned to live in Marlin, where she died. A daughter, Bessie Ellen Burke, b 1895, d 1917, was buried in Calvary Cemetery.

Ettie E. Burke - married October 9, 1906 in Falls County, Texas to Allen C. Wiggins, and moved to San Antonio, Texas, where they died and were buried. They had Mildred Wiggins, Olive Wiggins, and Allan C. Wiggins, Jr.

Olive Burke - married October 15, 1890 to John Larkin Crouch - a son of William Wilford and Mary Jane (Covington) Crouch, and moved to Port Arthur, Texas, where they died and are buried. Their children were: Jesse Crouch, William Crouch, Freeman Burke Crouch (called "Jack"), Edith Crouch, Ettie Crouch, Wesley Crouch, twins - Allan Wiggin Crouch (called "Wig"), and Zeb Crouch; Sallie Crouch, and Johnnie Crouch.

Zebulon A. Burke, b May 22, 1881, d April 6, 1963 and buried in Waite Cemetery at Reagan, Falls County, Texas - married December 11, 1901 in Falls County, Texas to Leona P. Johnson, b November 30, 1882, d July 3, 1974 and buried in Waite Cemetery by her husband. After their marriage, Zeb and Leona lived for a short time in Reagan, and then moved to Port Arthur, where they lived for many years. Their two children were: Betty Burke, who married C. B. Elwood; and William Zebulon Burke.

After the death of Elizabeth E. (Freeman) Burke, William Zebulon Burke was married second in Alabama to Isabella C. Carter, b September 29, 1856, d September 30, 1925 and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery in Falls County, Texas.

They were the parents of seven children, including a pair of twins.
Elizabeth Burke (called "Bettie"), b September 23, 1886, d October 18, 1886 and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery in Falls County, Texas.

Minnie Burke - date of birth unknown. No further information.

Afton Burke - date of birth unknown. No further information.

Andrew Peyton Burke - a twin, b August 10, 1891, d November 8, 1931 and buried in Waite Cemetery at Reagan, Falls County, Texas - married Ruth F. (maiden name unknown), b June 27, 1894, d November 9, 1977 and buried by her husband in Waite Cemetery. No further information.

Walter Kirk Burke - a twin, b August 10, 1891. No further information.

India Burke, b October 31, 1894 - died in Marlin, Falls County, Texas in 1986 - married Horne Kirkpatrick, b August 23, 1890, d March 28, 1965 and buried in Waite Cemetery in Reagan, Falls County, Texas - a son of Julius Adolphus and Lula (Herlong) Kirkpatrick of Alabama, who settled in Falls County, Texas about 1879. They had three children.

Harrison D. Burke, b October 31, 1897, d April 10, 1963 and buried in Waite Cemetery in Reagan, Falls County, Texas.

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.