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James Edmund Burke

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James Edmund Burke
18th, 20th, 22nd, and 27th Mayor of Burlington, Vermont
In office
April 3, 1933 – March 31, 1935
Preceded byJohn Holmes Jackson
Succeeded byLouis F. Dow
In office
April 7, 1913 – April 4, 1915
Preceded byRobert Roberts
Succeeded byAlbert S. Drew
In office
April 5, 1909 – April 2, 1911
Preceded byWalter J. Bigelow
Succeeded byRobert Roberts
In office
June 1, 1903[1] – March 31, 1907
Preceded byDonly C. Hawley
Succeeded byWalter J. Bigelow
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Burlington
In office
1937–1939
Preceded byJustin Kelly
Succeeded byJohn J. Burns
In office
1931–1935
Preceded byHamilton S. Peck
Succeeded byJustin Kelly
In office
1925–1927
Preceded byLevi P. Smith
Succeeded byHamilton S. Peck
Personal details
Born(1849-04-23)April 23, 1849
Williston, Vermont, U.S.
DiedMay 4, 1943(1943-05-04) (aged 94)
Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Resting placeSaint Joseph Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSarah Roakes (m. 1870)
Children10
OccupationBlacksmith

James Edmund Burke (April 23, 1849 – May 4, 1943) was an American politician who served as the 18th, 20th, 22nd, and 27th mayor of Burlington, Vermont. A Democrat, he also served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1925 to 1927, 1931 to 1935, and 1937 to 1939.

Early life

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James Edmund Burke was born in Williston, Vermont on April 23, 1849, a son of Irish immigrants James and Ann Burke; his parents named him for Irish statesman Edmund Burke.[2][3] He was educated in the public schools of Williston and at Williston Academy.[4] In 1870 Burke married Sarah Roakes and in May 1873, they moved to Burlington, where he worked as a blacksmith.[5][6]

Burlington politics and government

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Burke became involved in politics as a Democrat in the 1890s and was a founder of Burlington's Young Men's Democratic Club.[7][8][9] He became involved in Burlington's city affairs when he was appointed to local positions including election day ballot clerk, and he was elected an alderman from the 4th Ward in 1893.[10][11] In the mid to late 1890s, Burke also served on the school board and as a member of the board of police commissioners.[12][13][14]

In 1900 he made his first attempt for Burlington's mayoralty, but was defeated by incumbent Robert Roberts.[15] In 1902 he ran for mayor against incumbent Mayor Donly C. Hawley and was defeated in a landslide along with the rest of the city Democrats.[16]

In 1903 he ran against Hawley again and was initially defeated by three votes, but after a recount and a ruling by the state supreme court Burke was declared as the winner in May.[17][18] During his first term as mayor, Burke suspended the chief of police and launched an investigation into the police department, oversaw the establishment of the city's electric department and completion of the electrical infrastructure construction.[19][20] He was easily reelected in 1904 against R. E. Brown with 1,965 votes to 1,495 votes.[21] Burke served as Burlington's postmaster 1915 to 1923.[22]

In 1929 he ran for mayor of Burlington and was defeated in a landslide by former mayor John Holmes Jackson with 3,425 votes to 2,354 votes.[23] During the 1933 Burlington mayoral election incumbent Mayor Jackson chose not to run for reelection and endorsed Burke.[24] In his fourth term he oversaw the creation of what would become the Burlington International Airport; in 1934, during his 5th term, he presented to Amelia Earhart the keys to the city at the airport.[3][25]

State politics and government

[edit]

In 1900 and 1902 he was selected as one of Burlington's delegates to the Vermont Democratic state convention. In 1902, Burke ran for Vermont Secretary of State. In 1904 he served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.[26][27][28] He was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Governor of Vermont in 1908.[14]

In 1912, Burke engaged in an extended feud with Thomas H. Browne, Vermont's member of the Democratic National Committee and unsuccessfully attempted to have him replaced by James E. Burke of West Rutland.[29] Later that year, Burke campaigned for Woodrow Wilson for president.[29] During World War I, Burke joined a statewide speaker's bureau that made speeches in support of fundraising for the American Red Cross and other wartime causes.[30][31]

Burke represented Burlington in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1925 to 1927, 1931 to 1935, and 1937 to 1939.[14] In his final term, Burke was the oldest member of the legislature, and was recognized as the dean of the House.[32]

Death and burial

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On May 4, 1943, Burke died in Burlington after a short illness. He was buried at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Burlington.[33]

Electoral history

[edit]
James Edmund Burke electoral history
1900 Burlington mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Roberts 1,613 55.13%
Democratic James Edmund Burke 1,313 44.87%
Total votes 2,926 100%
1902 Burlington mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Donly C. Hawley 1,645 59.41%
Democratic James Edmund Burke 1,123 40.56%
Independent write-in 1 0.04%
Total votes 2,769 100%
1904 Burlington mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James Edmund Burke 1,965 56.22%
Republican R. E. Brown 1,495 42.78%
Independent H. P. Monahan 35 1.00%
Total votes 3,495 100%
1908 Vermont gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George H. Prouty 45,598 70.83%
Democratic James Edmund Burke 15,953 24.78%
Independent Quimby S. Backus 1,351 2.10%
Prohibition Eugene M. Campbell 918 1.43%
Socialist J. H. Dunbar 547 0.85%
Independent Other 12 0.02%
Total votes 64,379 100%
1929 Burlington mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Holmes Jackson 3,425 59.27%
Progressive James Edmund Burke 2,354 40.73%
Total votes 5,779 100%

References

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  1. ^ "Mayor Burke Now". The Burlington Free Press. 1 June 1903. p. 5. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Feeney, Vincent; Keleher, Brendan. "Burlington's Ethnic Communities,1860-1900" (PDF). Vermont History. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  3. ^ a b Gardner, Jan. "Vermont's Irish". Boston.com. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  4. ^ Vermont Legislative Directory. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. 1931. p. 450 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "James Burke". The Burlington Free Press. 24 April 1943. p. 10. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Kenehan, Roady, ed. (March 1909). "Blacksmith Again In Field". International Horseshoers' Monthly Magazine. Denver, CO: International Union of Journeymen Horseshoers of the United States and Canada. p. 8 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Young Men's Democratic Club". The Burlington Independent. Burlington, VT. February 13, 1891. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Democratic Caucus". The Earth. Burlington, VT. April 6, 1892. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Democratic Caucuses". Burlington Clipper. Burlington, VT. May 21, 1896. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Ballot Clerks Appointed". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. September 2, 1892. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Democratic Aldermen Elect". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. March 11, 1893. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Our City Officers". The Burlington Independent. Burlington, VT. April 6, 1895. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "To Remove Chief Smith". Burlington Clipper. Burlington, VT. October 21, 1899. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b c "James E. Burke, Former Burlington Mayor, Dead". Herald and News. Randolph, VT. April 29, 1943. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Election Notice". The Burlington Free Press. 7 March 1900. p. 8. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Mayor Hawley Again". The Burlington Free Press. 5 March 1902. p. 5. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "The Result In Burlington". Burlington Clipper. 7 March 1903. p. 1. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Burke Is Declared Mayor". Montpelier Evening Argus. 28 May 1903. p. 1. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Our History | Burlington Electric Department". www.burlingtonelectric.com. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  20. ^ "Police Chief Is Removed". The Barre Daily Times. 8 June 1903. p. 1. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "James E. Burke Re-Elected Mayor of Burlington by a Plurality of 505". The Burlington Free Press. 2 March 1904. p. 1. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Jas. E. Burke Is Appointed Postmaster". Burlington Daily News. Burlington, VT. January 25, 1915. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Jackson Overwhlems Burke In Mayoralty Contest". The Burlington Free Press. 6 March 1929. p. 10. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Jackson Says He Will Support Burke for Mayor". The Burlington Free Press. 18 February 1933. p. 9. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Tabor, James M., Burlington International Airport: A History 1920–2010, Transcontinental Metrolitho, Inc., 2010
  26. ^ "Burke Is Declared Mayor". St. Albans Daily Messenger. 22 June 1904. p. 1. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Burlington Democrats". Burlington Clipper. 9 June 1900. p. 1. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Democrats Fused". Burlington Clipper. 19 July 1902. p. 1. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ a b "Democratic Doings In State". St. Albans Messenger. St. Albans, VT. June 1, 1912. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Great Patriotic Demonstration at the Strong: James E. Burke". Burlington Daily News. Burlington, VT. April 7, 1917. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "City News: Postmaster James E. Burke Will Speak To-Night In Wallingford". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. June 19, 1917. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Aiken Presides Over reunion of '33 Legislature". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. March 2, 1939. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "James Burke, 94, Burlington, Dies". The Brattleboro Reformer. 24 April 1943. p. 8. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Vermont
1908 		Succeeded by
Charles D. Watson
Political offices
Preceded by
Donly C. Hawley
 Mayor of Burlington, Vermont
1903–1907 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Walter J. Bigelow
 Mayor of Burlington, Vermont
1909–1911 		Succeeded by
Robert Roberts
Preceded by
Robert Roberts
 Mayor of Burlington, Vermont
1913–1915 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Mayor of Burlington, Vermont
1933–1935 		Succeeded by
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