| 1820 |
Samuel Burris, progenitor of the Burke Burrouses, settled at Burris Prairie, northeast of Burke near Bald Hill. |
| 1835 |
Tom Bradley builds Indian trading post on what came to be called Bradley Prairie |
| Abt. 1847 |
James Ashworth arrives from South Louisiana and begins to raise cattle in Pine Valley |
| Bef. 1856 |
Jeptha Smith moves from Hancock Co., Mississippi to Pine Valley where he raises cattle. |
| Bef. 1856 |
John Jackson Fairchild arrives at Bradley Prairie from Sabine Parish, Louisiana |
| 1859 |
James Washington Guinn arrives from Alabama and settles at Homer, and his son Leonidas settles southwest of Bradley Prairie near what later became Ryan Chapel. Leonidas purchases a large tract of land that includes what later became the town of Burke. |
| Bef 1860 |
Wiley Weeks settles north of Pine Valley |
| 1866 |
Brothers Isaac and John Ryan arrive from Copiah County, Mississippi and found Ryan Chapel Methodist Church between Burke and Pine Valley |
| 1866 |
Orange McCarty arrives from Clarke Co., Mississippi and settles on Jack Creek northwest of Bradley Prairie. |
| 1866 |
Martin Vanburen Crager and son Francis arrive from Rapides Parish, Louisiana and settle in the Ryan Chapel area |
| Bef 1870 |
William James Arrington arrives from Clarke Co., Mississippi and settle on the western edge of Bradley Prairie. |
| 1881 |
Houston East & West Texas Railway arrives at Bradley Prairie and the town of Rhodes is born |
| 1882 |
The town of Lufkin is born when the Houston East & West Texas Railway reaches Denman Springs |
| 1883 |
Harris Rhodes appointed as postmater of the town of Rhodes |
| 1885 |
The name of the town of Rhodes is changed to Burke in honor of railroad survey chief Ed Burke |
| 1885 |
Bradley Prairie School founded at "Burke Station" by Arthur Arrington, Berry T. McCarty, and S. J. Havard |
| 1894 |
The town of Diboll is founded when T. L. L. Temple arrives from Texarkana and starts Southern Pine Lumber Company |
| 1899 |
Burke Methodist Church is organized |
| 1902 |
Angelina County votes "dry" in a liquor election, and Burke's two saloons are forced to close |
| 1905 |
Burke Baptist Church is organized |
| 1914 |
Miss Ina McCall succeeds her father Daniel B. McCall as Burke Postmaster |
| 1920-30 |
Robert Weisinger purchases Earl Kellow's garage |
| Abt 1925 |
Texas Highway 35 built through Burke |
| 1955 |
Burke post office downgraded to substation, and Postmaster Miss Ina McCall retires |
| 1964 |
The Burke Independent School District is consolidated with Diboll Independent School District |
| 1966 |
The City of Burke is incorporated |
| 1966 |
The Burke Water Supply Corporation is created |
Sources:
© 2006-7 Burke History Project
M. Lee Murrah, Editor
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