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CHAPTER XXIX.

SOME FORMER RESIDENTS OF SHELBY COUNTY AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS. (CONT'D)

HON. H. P. BURKE.


Hon. H. P. Burke, son of John T. and Clara J. Burke, was born in Monona county, Iowa. April 28, 1874. When six years old Judge Burke's parents came to Shelby county, where he grew to manhood. He attended the country schools of Douglas township until fifteen years of age, then entered the Harlan high school and graduated in the class of 1893. He. thereupon taught country schools in Shelby county in 1894-95 and at the same time read law in the office of Byers & Lockwood, of Harlan. In January, 1896, he was admitted to the bar of Iowa and in July, 1896, to the bar of Colorado. He again taught school in Shelby county in 1896-97. He was employed in the law offices of Byers & Lockwood and G. W Cullison until June 1, 1898, when he enlisted in Company Twelve, United States Volunteer Signal Corps, where he served as corporal, until mustered out October 17, 1898, at Lexington, Kentucky. He then came back to Mr. Cullison's office where he remained until July, when he was called to Rocky Ford, Colorado, by the death of his father. After arriving there, he began the practice of law in December of that year. He was appointed clerk of the district court of Logan county, Colorado, in January, 1901, and served until January, 1903, when he returned to the practice of law. He was married on March 6, 1904, to Miss Rose Sanner at Wyoming, Illinois. They have no children.

Mr. Burke soon attracted attention as an attorney and quickly made friends. In November, 1906, he was elected judge of the thirteenth district of Colorado, including the counties of Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma, for a term of six years. He was elected by one thousand three hundred majority on the Republican ticket, running far ahead of the other candidates and when he took his seat he had the honor of being the youngest judge in the state. He was re-elected in November, 1912, running three thousand votes ahead of his ticket. He ran on the Republican ticket, which was the minority ticket of the district, his opponent running on the Democratic and Progressive tickets. The three parties polled a total of 12,502 votes in these counties, and only 3,669 of these were Republican, hence approximately 3,000 votes or one out of every three who voted either the Progressive or Democratic tickets, must have scratched for Judge Burke. In two counties his vote exceeded the combined strength of the Democrats and Progressives. He was elected by a majority of two hundred and forty-six. In 1910 and 1912, and in 1914, he was urged by many influential leaders of the Republican party to become a candidate of the party for governor of Colorado, and could undoubtedly have had the nomination. He absolutely refused, however, much preferring the work of a trial judge. It is also interesting to know that in a primary of its own held by the State Bar Association of Colorado to select a candidate for judge of the supreme court, out of eighty-four candidates voted for, Judge Burke, on the first ballot, stood seventh. As a judicial official he is noted for the great speed with which business is cared for consistent with justice and he is always "boss of the court."


Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, October, 2023 from the Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, by Edward S. White, P.A., LL. B.,Volume 1, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Co., 1915, pg. 559-560.


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