Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 764
AMBROSE BURKE

One of the leading members of the bar of Harrison county, Iowa, is Ambrose BURKE, who has been a resident of Missouri Valley since the spring of 1902. He had previously practiced for several years in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he was born and reared to manhood. Since coming to Missouri Valley he has been identified with many of the important cases coming before the local courts and has never failed to acquit himself in a credible manner. Not only as a lawyer but as a public-spirited citizen, he has been prominently identified with the history of the city, and his geniality and strength of character have made him universally admired and respected by all who know him.

Ambrose BURKE, the son of Finley A. and Margaret (MCMILLEN) BURKE, was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, December 25, 1866. His father was born in Virginia and his mother in Maryland, and they were married before coming west.

Finley A. BURKE was comptroller of Wheeling, West Virginia, before he moved west. He located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and was police judge of that city from 1866 until 1882, at which time the charter of the city was changed and he became city auditor, retaining this latter position until April, 1889, and his death occurred in the following July. Finley BURKE was very prominent in the life of Council Bluffs, a Republican in politics and a public-spirited citizen who was deeply interested in the welfare of the city. He was twice married, his first wife having been a Miss SMITH, to which union four children were born, one of whom is living, Hugh M. BURKE, now connected with the San Francisco Chronicle. The second wife of Finley BURKE was Margaret MCMILLEN, and to this latter union eight children were born, four of whom are living; Mrs. Doctor Mudge, of Council Bluffs; George A., who is in the county treasurer's office at Council Bluffs; John P., the manager of a smelter at East Chicago, Indiana, and Ambrose, who has been a resident of Missouri Valley for many years.

Ambrose BURKE received all of his education in the schools of Council Bluffs. His father being a lawyer, it was natural that he should enter the legal profession, and while still a youth he began to study under the direction of Walter I. Smith, who is now on the bench of the United States circuit court of appeals. He was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of Iowa in 1888 at the age of twenty-two, and has since been practicing his profession. He remained at Council bluffs until May, 1902, and then moved to Missouri Valley, where he has since made his home. In 1904 he formed a partnership with Frank Tamisiea, which still continues. This firm has a general law practice and has built up a reputation for excellent service which causes it to be ranked among the leading firms of the county seat.

Mr. BURKE was married July 18, 1894, to Maud CORNELL, of Goshen, Indiana, and to this union three children have been born; Richard A., who was graduated from the Missouri Valley high school in the spring of 1913, and is now an employee of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company; Cora, aged fifteen, and Mildred, aged thirteen.

Mr. BURKE has taken all the degrees in Odd Fellowship, and has always been interested in this fraternal organization. He has been especially active in the Modern Woodmen of America and has been delegate to two national councils of the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is also a member of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. In politics he has been identified with the Progressive party since its organization in 1912, and has been chairman of the Harrison county central committee since the organization of the party. Mr. BURKE is a man of kindly impulses, of domestic tastes and a fine example of the good American citizen.

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