Lee Burke was a native of Missouri and the son of a Methodist minister who rode a circuit in the area. His father was probably James Dowen Burke, who was born 1/1/1847 in St. Clair Co., Missouri. A brother, Dowen Sidney Burke, born possbily in Cass Co., Missouri, was also a Methodist minister who at one time lived in Panola County.
Lee Burke married Eva McCall, and he was a partner for many years with
Eva's father, Daniel B. McCall, in the Burke and McCall store located
in the old brick post offiice building at Burke. His sister-in-law, Miss
Ina McCall, was postmistress from at least 1920 until the mid-1950s. He
was the father of Ward R. Burke, who had a distinguished career as an
attorney and public-minded citizen in Diboll and Lufkin.
Mr. Burke has no family connection to the town's namesake Ed Burke.
Sources:
© 2006-7 Burke History Project
M. Lee Murrah, Editor
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