Mary Burke (1834-1931)
BURKE, WALTERS, WATERS, OAKLEY, HANSON, PALMER, WOOD, WOODS
Posted By: CJeanealogy (email)
Date: 4/14/2020 at 15:40:14
Thursday May 7, 1931 Marion Sentinel:
Marion's oldest woman, and one of the best known pioneer residents in this county, Mary Burke, age 96, died Friday afternoon at her home at 519 Ninth street, after an illness of several years which became critical the early part of February, when she suffered from excessive exposure while trying to help her daughter, Mollie Wood, who suffered a stroke, which later resulted in death Feb. 11.
Since August 5, 1929 Mrs Burke had been practically helpless because of a broken hip which she suffered at that time. Most of her latter years were spent in bed or in a wheel chair. She was cared for by her daughter, Mrs. Woods, until she died and since then her other daughters, Mrs. George Oakley, and Mr. Oakley of Chicago have been here to care for her.
The deceased pioneer was one of the earliest members of the Old Settlers' association and until she became too weak to take active part in the celebration, she used to figure largely in the organization. She was a talented musician and together with her daughter, Mrs. Woods, would sing at the picnic and at many public gatherings.
As Mary Waters, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. George Waters, she was born Sept. 11, 1834, in Trowbridge, Willshire, England. Together with her parents and two sisters, she came to the United States at the age of nine and settled at Dexter, Jefferson county, New York. The trip from England was made on a sailing vessel, which required better than eleven weeks to cross the ocean. The trip was intermingled with storms and hardships and on several occasions the passengers were almost washed from the deck by huge waves.
Eight years after settling in America Mary Waters was married to John Burke of Dexter, N.Y., and to this union were born two daughters, and a son, Augustus, who died in 1906.
The family came to Marion, August 5, 1865, immediately after the civil war in which Mr. Burke was enlisted with the Sixth Michigan regiment, serving as its band leader. He died here April 4, 1881.
Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Burke engaged in the work of sewing dresses for Marion folk and established a reputation for being one of the best seamstresses in this vicinity.
She suffered a broken hip in 1920 when struck by an automobile and for a long while was confined to her bed and wheel chair, but recovered sufficiently in later years to be around, but the second break which she suffered in 1929? occurred when she was too old to recover.
Mrs. Burke was always known as a woman of high intellect and had many friends who enjoyed visiting with her. She received great enjoyment out of reading and until her last illness always had a keen mind and could easily recall many of her past experiences.
She was a member of the Presbyterian church, the oldest member of Robert Mitchell Woman's Relief Corps No. 126, and the Old Settlers' association.
She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. George Oakley, two grandchildren, Mrs. H.G. Hanson of Chicago, Mrs. Fred Palmer of Los Angeles; two grandsons, Harry Burke of Seattle and Ralph Burke of San Francisco.
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Yocom chapel with the Rev. W.E. Fisher officiating. Interment was held at Oak Shade. Pallbearers were William P. Secrist, Sam Lawson, George Gray and John Wild.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11213683
Linn Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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