: Burke, Richards, Ferris, King, Ewing, Durfrees, Millikan, Forkner, Greenstreet Compendium of Biography Of Henry County, Indiana B. F. Bowen 1920 GEORGE W BURKE, M. D The readers of this volume will peruse with pleasure the following brief sketch of the life career of one who for many years was held high in the esteem of the entire community in which he resided. A physician of marked ability, a surgeon of rare skill, a citizen who always had the best interests of the public at heart and a man whose personal life was commendable, his removal by death was the occasion of general regret and his memory is cherished by many who had become deeply attached to him. George W. Burke was born February 22. 1841, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and was educated at the Chambersburg Academy in his native county. He commenced the study of medicine under Dr. J. C. Richards, of Chambersburg, and later took a course of lectures at the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. Soon afterward he entered the army as assistant surgeon of the Forty-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, his command being assigned to the Army of the Potomac. In the fall of 1863 he was transferred to the Twentieth Army Corps under the command of General Hooker. He served his country in its military services three and a half years and was a gallant soldier as well as an expert surgeon. He received an honorable discharge at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in July 1865, and immediately returned to the medical college for the purpose of completing his medical education, and was graduated from that institution in 1866. The following year he came to Indiana, locating in New Castle, this county, but shortly afterward located in Sulphur Springs. He was actively engaged there in the practice of his profession until 1870 and then returned to New Castle. He soon demonstrated the fact that he was a thorough master of his profession and having readily won the public confidence, soon built up an extensive practice. While he gave his attention to the general practice, he paid especial attention to surgery, in which he was probably the peer of any physician in this county. Aside from his professional duties Dr. Burke also took a keen interest in the public welfare and was induced to accept the offices of town trustee and school director, serving in the former office two terms and one term in the latter. On the 1st of March 1898, Dr. Burke was nominated for the office of clerk of the Henry circuit court, was elected, and assumed the duties of that office October 29, I900. He entered upon the duties of the office with a light heart and buoyant spirits, although to many of his close friends it was known that he had misgivings about being spared to serve his term of office. It came sooner than anyone expected, as only a few weeks elapsed until he was stricken and left the clerk’s office, never more to return. His death occurred October 17, 1901, at the home of Dr. S. Ferris, where he had engaged rooms a short time before his sickness. The funeral occurred the following Sunday at the Christian church and was attended by a large number of people. The Grand Army of the Republic and Independent Order of Red Men had charge of the services and at the cemetery both orders observed their burial ceremonies. The services at the church were conducted by the pastor, Rev. Ewing, assisted by Revs. King and Dungan. Dr. Burke was an active member of the Henry County Medical Society, the Grand Army of the Republic, the Historical Society and the American Medical Society. He was also physician for the Panhandle and Lake Erie & Western railroads. Following is a complete copy of the will of Dr. Burke: November 22, 1899. This is my last will, and I, being of sound mind, do bequeath as follows: First—That all my just debts be paid. Second—That all notes, accounts, judgments, etc., be collected. Third—That the proceeds of my estate, real and personal, be equally divided between Jerome B. Burke, Mary E. Burke, Ellen J. Durfrees, all of Washington, D. C., and J. W. Burke, of Austin, Texas, being my brothers and sisters. Fourth—I desire that my library, books, instruments and whatever may be in my office or in my room or stairway of said room, together with harness and buggy with Ed. Peed, be sold at public auction or any part at private sale satisfactory to the best interest of my estate. Fifth—I appoint my good friends, Thos. B. Millikan and Mark E. Forkner, my executors with right and power to dispose of keepsakes of any kind which they may find in my possession, to my known friends, and to execute my will in their good judgments, they to destroy all, accounts, books and papers of no value after settlement is complete, and I bequeath to my good aunt and noble woman, Elizabeth Alsbaugh, my iron bed stead. GEORGE W. BURKE. M. 0. Waters and J. A. Greenstreet, witnesses.