BURKE:

Robert Peter Burke and his wife, who before marriage was Miss Amos, beth natives of Culpepper County, Virginia, arrived in the Town of Spencer about the year 1860, having with them one son, the son's name Lewis Hamilton, and two daughters, and soon, 1861, purchased a lot and erected on it their home on the northwest corner of Market and Beauty Streets.

He was a first-class carpenter and builder and a man needed; he was also a devout Baptist. They lived here many years ,during which time two sons and two daughters were born, their names James, Roberta, Elizabeth and William E.

The wife and mother died and sometime afterward R. Peter, returned to Virginia and united in marriage with Miss Elton Rebecca Amos, a sister of his first wife; she was at once a devoted mother to her sister's children.

Later Robert Peter purchased a farm far up on the Charles Fork of Spring Creek, mostly still in the virgin forest, and there with his family made his abode for the remainder of his lifetime. He went out from here on his missions of Sabbath school and church work to which he was so greatly devoted. When he died he bequeathed to the church five hundred dollars to be paid out of his savings or personal property, the real estate he left to his wife and children.

To R. P. and Elton Rebecca (Amos) Burke was born and reared only one child, a son named Lemuel Judson.

Lewis Hamilton, eldest son of this family, became a young school teacher-at a very youthful age. The blood of the cavalier surged swift and hotly through him; in February, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Julia A. Riddle; to them was born one son, Holly H. Burke. He married Miss Ida Ball, of Reedy, July 29, 1905.

All the other sons and daughters of Robert Peter Burke married and established homes and families in this county.


Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927 William H. Bishop, Esq. p 462
Submitter: Sandy Spradling, November 28, 1999