The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1903-01-03
IN MEMORIAM.

On the 3Oth day Of December,
as the year 1902, was slowly and
silently nearing its end, VIM r.
Burke, one of New Iberia's most
esteemed citizen, after long and
painful spell of sickness breathed
his last. He died at 10 o'clock p.
nj. aged, 63 years and II months.
Whilst sadness and a vacancy
was thereby created in this com
munity, should there not be joy
aud consolation also left, to those
from whom he parted, thronght
the recollection of a name, and the
deeds which he left, and which
should be, cheerfully, remembered
by every one7
Surely, when one has served his
God and his country as a faithful
servant, and is prepared to die as
a good christian, what more can
be expected. Such was his mem
Orial.
For his creator, he knew no
bound, inbred from his boyhOod.
no doubt through the kind advice
of christian mother with the
love and sincerity which he cher
ished the balance Of his days to-,
wards his heavenly father, he was
known and could be found often
kneeling in the Sanctuary, and
serving at the Sacrifice of Mass
until a more advanced age. when
filled with the efferyescent grace
which the Almighty, no doubt
chose to bestow upon him, in the
middle stage and until the end of
his life he remained ever faithful
in the practice Of the faith, in the
Roman Catholic Church and Of
which he was not ashamed and
was ever ready as a faithful ser.
want, in the service of the said
church. On his deathbed he was
admins tered to by the Rev
Father FROM and received the
blessed sacrements.
In the year 1862, or thereabout
and during the war Of states in
famed with the love and cause of
the South, he joined the 18th La
Regiment, as Lieutenant, under
the command, at the time, of Col
Mouton who afterward became
general in the confederate service
He was at the battle Of Shiloh and
at Corinth and remained in the-|
confederate service during the
entire war. After the war, beingI
endowed only with such limited
schooling in those days as could
be afforded, in proportion to ones
means he applied himself to study
and became familiar with public
life and affairs, to the extent, that
he was found later on fit repre-
sentative of the people and was
chosen as mayor of the town, III
which capacity he served and was
ever devoted towards the interest
and welfare of the town and |
people. He also served as coun
Gilman, in the said town, for sew.
eral years.
He was at another period chosen
and acted for several years as Su-
perientendent of the Public |
schools, in the town and parish Of
Iberia In this service he was, |
also. noted for his constant en-
ergy and devotion towards the
welfare and success of the
schools; being the chief promoter
of the High School, an erection
of the ain'building now used for
said purpose and which serves as
relic to his name and pride to
New Iberia.
He was among the foremost IN
furthering other improvements
this town, principally the Mar
House, which is one Of its massive
sources, u the shape of revenues
He was kind and extended many
All this certainly
stands to his glory and should be
cheerfully remembered by all, in
this community.
May his voice that In the choir on
earth.
With so much ardor used to sing
The glories Of his Heavenly Father
Now be mixed, with the Serapilims,
~ M