Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 494
WILLIAM J. BURKE

The BURKE family have been residents of Harrison county, Iowa, since 1860 and consequently are one of the oldest families of the county. The parents of William J. BURKE, the present cashier of the Valley Savings Bank, were born, reared and married in Ireland and came to America in the early fifties and to Harrison county, Iowa, in 1860. The family were very much interested in the establishment of Catholic churches in the county, and the father of William J. BURKE took an active part in helping to establish Catholic missions throughout the county. Mr. BURKE has been connected with the banking business of Missouri Valley, Iowa, for more than thirty years and well merits the high esteem in which he is held throughout the county.

William J. BURKE, the son of Edmund and Catharine (BURKE) BURKE, was born on the old homestead in Taylor township, Harrison county, Iowa, September 23, 1865. As has been stated, his parents did not come to America until after their marriage, and upon locating in Harrison county in 1860 they settled on the Edmund homestead, purchasing the land from the government in 1861. In 1875 Edmund BURKE moved to Missouri Valley, where he lived until his death, January 2, 1892. His widow is still living at the age of eighty-six. Edmund BURKE was a strong and enthusiastic member of the Catholic church and while he gave his hearty support to all of the Catholic parishes of the county, yet he gave his most earnest support to the church at Magnolia. He was a member of the county board of supervisors for many years. Nine children were born to Edmund BURKE and wife, five of whom are living. Sister Mary Octavia, who joined the order in 1875; Sister Mary Edmunda, who joined in 1879; Edmund, who is connected with the Southern Pacific Railway Company at San Francisco, California; Ellen, who lives with her mother in Missouri Valley, and William J., the youngest of the family.

William J. BURKE received his education in the schools of Missouri Valley and then went to the business college of St. Mary's College at St. Mary's, Kansas. In July, 1884, when only nineteen years of age, he went into the bank of Marcellus Holbrook, of Missouri Valley, and has been connected with this bank continuously since that year. This bank is now known as the Valley Savings Bank. Mr. BURKE entered the bank as a bookkeeper and in 1889 he and Mr. Holbrook formed a partnership and established the Valley Bank. They took in M. W. Coolbach, the son-in-law of Mr. Holbrook.

In July, 1896, Mr. BURKE sold out his interest and organized the State Savings Bank, of Missouri Valley, and was its cashier until 1911. In the meantime he organized the Mondamin Bank, at Mondamin, in this county, and the Modale Bank, at Modale, this county. In 1911 Mr. BURKE sold his banking interests in the other towns in Harrison county and bought the Valley Savings Bank, taking full charge of the bank on January 1, 1912. He organized it as the Valley Savings Bank and has had the satisfaction of seeing it rapidly grow under his efficient management.

Mr. BURKE was married, September 1, 1903, to Mildred C. DONAHUE, of Chicago, Illinois, where she was born and reared. Mr. BURKE and his wife have no children.

Mr. BURKE has been an extensive land holder, but has now concentrated all his interests in the bank. He has been very successful as a business man, but has never let his success in the material affairs of the world spoil his appreciation of the finer things in life. He and his wife are active members of the Catholic church and deeply interested in its welfare.

Mr. BURKE was a charter member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Council Bluffs and a charter member of the local council, Knights of Columbus. He has long been identified with the Democratic party and has been active in local and state political circles. He has been a frequent delegate to local and state conventions and was a delegate to the last national convention at Baltimore from the ninth Iowa district. He has been prominently identified with state and national leaders in his party and is frequently consulted by the leaders in his own state as to the plans which his party should follow out. In the June primaries of 1914 Mr. BURKE was a candidate from the ninth Congressional district for a seat in Congress.

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