The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1878-09-28
Il. A. Burke's Record. I.

uiuci tiltS Cdpll0H, IDt record VI
our candidate for State Treasurer,
and from it we Gull the main por-
tlon to show our readers the status
of our standard bearer, and that
we have just cause to be proud OF
him:
E. A. Burke, was born Septem-
Der, 184l, III Louisville, KY, aud
comes of a fine Irish family, his
ancestors, for three OF four gener
ations back, having been officers
IN the British army. Hi. grand
father, however, was attainted IN
the Irish rebellion, and escaped to
this country. His father was born
in Bontelouart county, Virginia,
end bis mother in Culpepper. After
leaving school Burke became in
terested in the railroad business;
first around louisville, aud after
ward, by successive promotions,
down to Louisiana and finally, Just
before the breaking out OF the war,
to Texas. Though only nineteen
years of age, he at once abandoned
"A business in which his talents and
Industry were rapidly winning
power and fortune and cast his lot
with the Confederate army. For
his services in the neighborhood
OF Galveston he was complimented
and promoted by Magrnder. Sub.
sequently he laid before Gen.
Kirby Smith, commanding the
Trans-Mississippi Depal tment, the
scheme of that vast system of mil
itary workshops which won the
Generals admiration and which
Was jsst attaining complete devel-
opment when the war closed. The
time intervening between tina,
event and his advent 10 New Or.
leans, Was spent in business ven
lures which are not important in
this connection but which, as Mai
Burke bias already had occasion to
show, were thoroughly creditable
to his ability and good faith.
IN NEW ORLEANS.
Burke's beginning here has long
been familiar bit of history with
this community. Arriving without
money or friends and animated by
4 single minded desire to earn his
living at whatever offered first,
Burke found himself applying for
work at well-known marble yard. |
He obtained the employment he |
sought and set manfully TO work |
stone, along side of a col
,red brother. Doing that, as he
loes everything, with hearty good
will and with an honest desire to
'xcel, he soon attracted attention,
ecured an increase of pay and f
lally promotion. From that time
lis fortunes began to mend, and
he year 1872 found him in charge
IT the freight business of the Jack
on Railway where his administra-
i've ability had found a coDgeniaI
Ield and borne rich harvest of
uccess and popularity for the road.
-he merchants OF the city will bear
estimoDy to the correct and equit-
BILE system he introduced for the
qiustment OF claims and compen-
alton of damages, and to the ex-.
editious and satisfactory manner
, which all the business under his
ontrol was transacted. This Pc
iod found him taking an active
art 10 politics. 1t was in this
ear that he received the regular
omination for Administrators of
improvements, although owing to
le putting forward of an inde-
endent candidate in the person
Gen Besuregard, the republican
ominee was elected. Major Burke
oweyer, received within 1900 votes {
his distinguished competitor of {
Ie total Conservative vote of &c. i
No. After this. though still hold !
q his situation in the Jackson
abroad Company and discbarg-
z bis duties with undiminisbed !
'ergy and effect, Major Burke I
'adaally become prominent in /
olitics. In 1874, he undertook Y
I'd successfully conducted the 7
ost atduons work of the cam 8
lign, to-wit I: the revision OF the Y