BURKE, CORRIGAN, PHILIPS, SHELBY, SMITH "The Kansas City Star" (Missouri) Saturday, October 16, 1897 DEATH OF A PIONEER. Thomas BURKE, for more than forty years a resident of Jackson county, died yesterday at his home, 2541 Michigan avenue. He lived here when Kansas City was only Westport landing and he saw the growth of the city from the beginning. Before the war, he was employed by Thomas and John CORRIGAN on the construction of the Missouri Pacific road, the first railroad built into Kansas City. When the war broke out, BURKE enlisted in the Fifth Missouri cavalry and served as a private for four years. Captain Henry SMITH was his commander and John F. PHILIPS, now Judge PHILIPS of the federal court, was in his regiment. BURKE took part in the battle of Westport, and helped drive back General Jo SHELBY when he attempted to raid and burn Kansas City. After the war he took up his trade of stone mason and followed it until seven years ago, when he was forced to stop work on account of a cancer which finally killed him. He was about 75 years old and was an Irishman by birth. ====================================================== (I have no connection with this family but I'd appreciate knowing if you found this posting helpful.) johnobrien@kc.rr.com ======================================================