Burke Family Line - Ryan Family Genealogy
Allamakee Experience
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Daniel Burke's Family
John Burke, born 1820, father; Ellen Burke, born 1831, mother; Daniel born 1851 in Ireland, Catherine born in 1852 in Ireland; John Burke born in 1858 in Iowa; Hugh Burke born in 1859 in Iowa; Margaret Burke born in 1862 in Iowa; Edwin Burke born in Iowa 1863; Michael Burke born in 1865 in Iowa; Bridget Burke born in 1866 in Waukon.
The Ryan Connection
One of the mysteries that needed to be resolved was “where did this family go”? We saw the John Burke family living “next door” to James and Annie Ryan in 1870, but by 1880 they longer appear in the Allamakee census. We knew that Daniel and Nancy Burke had left for Marshalltown, Iowa and later to Marshall, Kansas, and later to Cushing, Oklahoma. Our theory was that the family moved together, but later split up and moved onto separate locations throughout the Midwest. We now have a better understanding of this family’s movement after 1870.
The Burkes came to America in 1854, which would have been at the height of the great famine in Ireland. Unlike many early immigrants that relocated near relatives already living in New York City or Boston, they immediately came to Iowa . John and Ellen came to America with their two children, Daniel and Catherine; and after settling in Iowa, they had four more children starting with John in 1854.
We don’t know what stimulated the Burkes to move westward, but by the time we see this family again it was in 1880. Ellen has become a widow. Living with her was four of her younger children ranging in ages from 12-18; (continued below)
Margaret and Bridget Burke
Back row: Hank Lockman, Margaret Burke, Front Row: Clemence Lockman, Bridget Burke. These are two sisters of Daniel Burke.
and as for the boys, we see them listed as “farm laborers” working for Ellen who was listed as “farmer”. They are living in Marshall, Kansas; and next door is her oldest daughter and son-in-law, Catherine and Peter Madden. Just down the road we see another daughter and son-in-law, Nancy Ryan Burke and Daniel Burke.
Between 1880 and 1900, the family began another migration. Some of the family moved to Nebraska, including Daniel and John Burke, and at least one sibling had moved to North Dakota, specifically Bridget who married Clemence Lockman. Daniel Burke didn’t remain long in Nebraska, and eventually made his way to Cushing, Oklahoma, accompanied by the Flemings and Nihills.
Eventually Daniel Burke moved to Leavenworth, but at least one son remained in Cushing, Oklahoma. Other cousins also lived in Cushing, including one of Dennis Ryan’s children that married a Billingsley. John Burke remained on a farm west of Platte, Nebraska, and was later joined by his brother Hugh who lived with him for the remainder of his life. John (Jr.) initially homesteaded in Nebraska, but later established a farm near Waubay, South Dakota. Catherine stayed in Marshall, Kansas, and Bridget lived in Minot, North Dakota until her death in 1912.
The Great Migration
1. Bridget Burke married Clemence Lockman. She died in Minot, North Dakota at the age of 46 in 1912. It appears that she had 5 children, one of them born in the same year that she died.
2. Michael Burke married and had six children over a 15 year period. All of his children were born in Nebraska, and the first time we see this family reflected in census records was 1910 and we see them still living on the same farm in the 1930 census. There was no spouse listed throughout this period, so we know he remained a widower after his wife's death. His farm was located in Lost Creek, Gardner county, Nebraska. Gardner doesn't exist anymore, and Lost Creek still can be seen as a township west of Platte, Nebraska.
3. Hugh Burke remained a bachelor throughout his life. In the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census records, we see him living with his brother Michael in Lost Creek, Nebraska.
4. John Burke married Delia Duffin and had ten children. After the birth of their son, William in 1884, we see this family living in Nebraska through most of the 1880s and 1890s. At some point they moved to Waubay, South Dakota. Delia eventually died in 1943 in Waubay; and John died in 1953 in O'Neill, Nebraska.
5. Daniel Burke married Nancy Ryan of Allamakee County. There is a section on the home page (left hand side) that consists of the Burke family history. If you would like a quick overview of this family see Burkes in Kansas and Newspaper clips.
6. Catherine Burke married Peter Madden around 1875. We see this family living in two areas between 1880 and 1900, but all within the same county in Kansas - Murray in 1880 and St. Bridget in 1900. St. Bridget was also described as Summerfield City. It is from the 1900 census that we learned the John Burke family immigrated to America in 1854. Katie had at least 7 children within a seven year period.
7. Edwin or Edward came to Marshall with the rest of the family. There are too many Edward Burkes, so it will be difficult to connect..
So that leaves Margaret ...and as she is pictured above with a brother to her sister's husband...it is possible that they married one another. Being that Minot is near the Canadian border, perhaps she moved north into Canada.
