James Burke was born Febuary 1826, in County Limerick, Ireland. He is the son of William Burke and Catharine (Fitzgerald) Burke. His mother came to America. Mr Burke emigrated to the United States in 1848, and came direct to Jeffersonville, to meet his brother John and other relatives who had preceded him to this country, and entered into partnership with John Burke, and continued together for five years. He became a contrator for the grading and paving the public streets of Jeffersonville. As a street contractor he was a sucess, and made some money. In his dealings with the city and the public, he established a character for honesty and integrity, so that he people of his ward, in 1863, elected him councilman, and continued him as one of its representives in the council until 1872. In 1875 he was elected city treasurere, and in 1877 and 1879 was re-elected, and served until September 1881.
After he retired from the treasurer's office, he became one of the principal contractors on the Owensboro' & Russellville Railroad, and continued there until in 1884, and from that time until in 1886 was engaged in the coal business in Jeffersonville.
He was married in 1855 to Miss Cornelia Craugler, a native of New York.  The result of the union is five living children.
HOn Frank B Burke, a son, is now joint senator from the counties of Clark, Scott and Jennings; James Burke, in the coal trade; William Burke, a clerk in the post office under his father; Miss Maggie, also a clerk under her father in postoffice.
Source: Biographical and historical souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison. Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington Indiana John Gresham & Co. 1889







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