My Genealogy Hound

E. W. BURKS, a prominent citizen of Buffalo county, was born in Hendricks county, Ind., August 14, 1841. His father, John D. Burks, was a Kentuckian by birth, but emigrated to Indiana, where he resided for several years; In 1856 he removed to Davis county, Iowa, where, for a time he became interested in agricultural pursuits. In 1865 he engaged in the mercantile business at Drakesville, which he continued for twenty years, eighteen of which he was postmaster of that town. When he finally resigned he was requested to name his successor, and did so. He served as commissioner of Hendricks county, Ind., for two terms, and held various other local offices during his life-time. He was a prominent and influential man and enjoyed the entire confidence of all his fellow-citizens.

E. W. Burks, the subject of this sketch, was reared on his father’s farm and enjoyed no special educational advantages other than those afforded by the common schools of the day. In September, 1861, while yet a boy, he enlisted in the Third Iowa regiment of cavalry and rendered nearly four years of honorable service to his country. His first experience in battle was at Pea Ridge, Ark. He also participated in the terrible siege of Vicksburg, and marched under Generals Steele and Banks in the Red river expedition. He was a prisoner for eighteen months, during which time he was taken from place to place, and even taken down to Homestead, Tex., where the yellow fever was raging at the time. He had no clothing to speak of, no medicine, no shelter. His food for a while consisted solely of corn, ground, cob and all, and three-quarters of a pound of Texas beef. He was always promptly on hand, ready to perform any duty, no matter how arduous. During his service for two years and a half he never missed a single day from active duty. During the third year an order was made to record the daily deportment of each soldier. When the first report of his company was made he was one of the two that received a furlough for meritorious conduct. He did not accept it, however, but gave it to a comrade who had a sick wife at home. He went through the conflict without a scratch, but had thirteen bullet holes in his clothes. His discharge dates from February 1, 1865.

During his long term of imprisonment his eye-sight became seriously affected, and, acting upon the advice of physicians, after he returned home, he engaged in farming. He came to Buffalo county, Nebr., in April, 1884, and immediately occupied a quarter section of land he had previously purchased, in what has since been called Harrison township. Mr. Burks petitioned the board of supervisors in June, 1888, for the separate organization of the township of Harrison. The petition was passed upon favorably and Mr. Burks was appointed supervisor. He has also served two terms as justice of the peace for Armada township.

He was married, December 27, 1866, to Miss Mary N. Quigley, daughter of George and Sarah (Pifer) Quigley. She was born in Ohio, August 8, 1845. They have ten children, named — Fannie E., Sarah A., Ella, Melvin, Walter, Frank, Agnes, Clyde (deceased), Thomas (deceased) and Ralph. Mr. Burks is granting his children all the educational advantages within his power and some of his daughters are now successful teachers. He is a reading and thinking man; he thinks and acts for himself, leaving others to do the same. He is a stanch republican and is recognized as one of the leaders of his party in the couuty.