Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-04-07
ROBERT. W. BURKE.

hobIhi. W. BUkkk.
The death of Robert w. Burke. ESQ
which occurred In the early morning
OF Thursday of last week, removed
from Staunton and Augusta one O
the most successful business men O
this day and generation. Those who
knew him we'll and were accus TONED
to see him and observe his methods
saw in him, the clearest insight into
business propositions, the keenesI
perception of the strength or frailty o.
human nature. and were struck with
the wisdom of his methods, and the
sagac!ty with which he handled the
many and weighty problems Entrusted
to his care. For many years the sun
had scarcely crept above the eastern
mountains when he would be found
vending his way to his place of bust
ness, and those who worked under
him knew that at the appointed hour for
the days labor to begin they would finG
him on hand. For this reason, if no
other, it seldom happened any were
late, and thus were his business meth.
DDS instilled into those immediately
about him.
Mr.. Burke had long been president
of the National Valley Bank, one of
the largest, if not the very largest and
strongest institutions of the kind in
the Valley of Virginia. In it's conduct
be took a peculiar and intense inter-
est. He watched every detail. be knew
personally the accounts of every depos-
itor, he studied the standing financl.
ally of every borrower. he uoted the
effort of every man to whom the bank
had extended credit, to meet his obli-
cations, and those who failed to obtain
further credit after previous extern
sions might frest assured, that their
cutting off was due to NO capt;Ous
desire to em barrass them, but because
of some failure to fulfill previous
promise, or some improper conduct in
a business way From a small and
comparatively insignificant institution
he reared a great financial structure,
and recently crowned his efforts by
erecting upon the site of the old bank
one of the most modern and elegant
banking houses in Virginia. 1t is no
disparagement to his business assocl-
ates to say that be was the HEAD of
the institution, because it is known of
all that whilst matters proposed bv
others failed at times, none failed which
he advocated. and none succeeded
which he opposed.
1t was pleasure for real business
men to approach him on real business
matters. In discussing their own
affairs, he frequently injected into
them ideas not before occurring and
presented advantageous suggestions,
often profitably accepted 1t is the
opinion of most men who knew Mr.. |
Burke that whilst his field in StauntoD
was limited, he would have risen to the
full statue of any business into which
be entered. He WAS never a laggard, |
be was never slothful, he never stop |
ped half way in any undertaking, aud |
whilst some soar to eminence and |
others reach it by more difficult ap.
proaches. it is certain that he would |
have become eminent in any field for
he did not stop short in any Of his
Had his lines been laid |
in Wall Street as they were in Staun-
ton he would have been found among
those who controlled the great finan-
cial interests of today, for he knew no
such word as fail.
1t is only of his business life of which
we will speak, because there are
others who knew him in his religious,
10 bis social and home life, as we did
not know him, who are more able
md better fitted to speak of these, but
Is a man of affairs and his relations to
The public we did watch his course and
ningle with him sufficiently to gather
ome idea of the strength and power
If his personality, and we cheerfully
estify that in his chosen sphere he
vas one of the most astute, careful,
capable and honorable
uslness men with whom it has been
ur pleasure to associate, and that be ]
las left an impress upon the business /
interests and methods in this commu-
ity which should be lasting, because i
I their high order. @