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1907 Past and Present Biographies
Banyer BurkHis father, Joshua Burk, was born in Oswego county, New York, March 31, 1833, a son of Amos S. Burk, also a native of the Empire state. In 1844 Amos S. Burk removed with his family to Carroll county, Missouri, and two years later established his home in McDonough county, Illinois, and in 1855 he came to Greene county, Iowa, where his remaining days were passed. His son Joshua was there reared and in 1852 he removed to Cass county, lllinois, where he was employed upon one farm for four years. He eagerly availed himself of every opportunity for advancement and throughout his business life made good use of his opportunities. In the spring of 1856 he married Amanda C. Hall, a native of Virginia, and the same year brought his bride to Iowa, making the journey with an ox team. They were three weeks upon the way and then settled upon what became the home farm in Washington township, casting in their lot with the early settlers of this locality. He contracted to purchase forty acres, for which he was to pay one hundred dollars in work at forty or fifty cents per day, also giving his note for fifty-four dollars. The pioneer home was a little cabin, fourteen by sixteen feet, built of rough oak boards. Mr. Burk hauled lumber to the mill for a party and for his services received one-fourth of the lumber, using this in building his pioneer home. There was every indication of frontier life here at that time. The prairie was largely unclaimed and uncultivated, Indians being as numerous as the white settlers, while wild animals were seen in abundance and it was not a difficult thing to secure wild game for the table. Pork at that day sold at twenty five cents per pound and the price of flour in 1857 was eight dollars and a quarter per hundred weight. All trading and milling was done at Des Moines and the family largely depended upon what they could raise for supplies. Although Mr. Burk’s capital was very limited at the time of his arrival in Iowa, his unremitting diligence and careful management, combined with the assistance of his estimable wife, made him one of the prosperous citizens of Greene county. The first money which he received for his farm products came to him in 1857 in compensation for one hundred and one bushels of buckwheat, which he sold at Des Moines. After having it ground at the Walnut Creek mills he disposed of it for three dollars and twenty-five cents per hundred weight. As the years passed, however, conditions changed and in his undertakings Mr. Burk prospered, becoming the owner of eight hundred and thirty-eight acres of valuable land, a portion of which, however, he afterward divided among his children. Throughout his entire business life he followed farming, his labors being interrupted only by his service in the Civil war, when he espoused the Union cause and for almost three years was at the front with Company H, Tenth Iowa Infantry. He participated in the battles of Iuka, Corinth, Missionary Ridge, the siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi, and others of minor importance, and was twice wounded - first in the engagement at Corinth and later at Missionary Ridge. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Burk were born eleven children: Viola E., now the wife of Barney Jordan, of Grand Junction, Iowa; Mary C., the wife of F. S. Taylor, of Rippey; Banyer, of this review; John, who resides in Washington township; A. S., likewise a farmer of the same township; N. P., who is conducting a lumber business at Rippey; Hannah P., the wife of Reuben Tassel, a liveryman of Stuart, Guthrie county, Iowa; Eliza C., the wife of W. B. Johns, of Rippey; Alice L., the wife of George Varner, of Rippey; A. J., of Jefferson; and I. J., who is living in Rippey. Banyer Burk is indebted to the district school system of Washington township for the educational privileges that qualified him for life’s practical and responsible duties. He spent his early life on the farm and when not busy with his text-books assisted in the labors of the fields. He has always been identified with agricultural interests in Greene county with the exception of a year and a half spent in Nebraska and Colorado. He is now the -owner of eighty-five acres of rich and productive land on section 32, which was pre-empted from the government by his grandfather, Amos S. Burk, and sold to his father, Joshua Burk, for a dollar and a quarter per acre. It has always been in possession of the Burk family and has never been encumbered by a mortgage of any kind. Banyer Burk now devotes his attention to the raising of graded stock and to general agricultural pursuits, his farm presenting an excellent appearance in its well tilled fields and modern improvements. In the year 1886 Banyer Burk was married to Miss Hannah E. John, a native of Greene county, and a daughter of David B. John, who follows farming on section 5, Washington township. He was born in Tyler county, West Virginia, May 23, 1842, a son of David John, of Davis county, Missouri. David B. John was reared on a farm and educated in the subscription schools of pioneer days. The little temples of learning were constructed of logs and seated with benches made of split logs, while a board fastened against the wall served as a writing desk. The roof was made of handmade shingles and the schools were thus in great contrast to those of the present day. In the fall of 1856 David B. John arrived in Greene county, settling on section 9, Washington township, on which not a furrow had been turned, while the only improvement was a small log cabin. Every evidence of pioneer life existed in the district and as there were no towns of any consequence in this locality the settlers had to go to Des Moines for their mail and also for milling. On the 15th of May, 1864, David B. John was married to Martha J . Smith, a daughter of Thomas J. Smith, a pioneer of Dallas and Greene counties, now deceased. To them were born ten children, nine of whom are living, namely: Hannah E., Daily E., Mary L., William L., Sarepta A., Clara A., Leonard W., Stella E., David S. and Nettie A. In the spring of 1878 the father settled upon his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres and has since carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Burk have never had any children of their own, but are rearing an adopted daughter, Erma L., born April 24, 1900. In politics Mr. Burk is an independent democrat. He belongs to the Odd Fellows society at Rippey, in which he is now serving as treasurer, and both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah degree. He also affiliates with the Modern Woodmen at Rippey and both he and his wife are consistent members of the United Brethren church, in which Mr. Burk has served as steward for twelve years. He has also been a delegate to the conference at various times and is deeply and actively interested in the church work, living a life in harmony therewith, his good qualities gaining for him the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact. |
Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead," by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver, Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.  Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer |