John Henry Burke's cremated remains were not initially taken after death and were available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In 2021 a relative received the ashes.
He was born in New Jersey on 9/10/1868 and named for his paternal grandfather. John's parents were also born in New Jersey. His mother, Rachael, was born in 1835 and his father, Andrew Jackson Burke, was born in 1834. Neither parent could write and his father could not read, but all of John's siblings attended school and became literate.
His mother had 12 children with 8 being alive in 1900 and 7 were alive in 1910. John's siblings (all born in New Jersey) included: Josephine (born about 1856), Althea (in 1857), Holmes Conover (in 1859), Abraham (about 1861), Sarah J. (about 1862), Mary (about 1866), Edward (about 1872), Charles (about 1875), and Alexander (in 1876).
In the 1860 census (before John was born), his parents were farming in Monmouth County, New Jersey. During the 1870 census, John was a year old living with his parents & siblings in Ocean County, New Jersey. In the 1880 census, he was 10, listed with his parents in Scranton, Osage County, Kansas. His father was a coal miner like most of the men in that area. In the 1885 Kansas census, John was 15, listed with his parents and younger siblings in Fairfax in Osage County where his father was farming.
By 1890 the Burke family were living in Redwood County, California. In 1892 John and the men in his family were registered to vote in neighboring Sonoma County (near San Francisco). John was described as dark complected with hazel eyes and black hair. He was 5 foot 5 1/2 inches tall as an adult.
He married Mrs. Jennie M Johnston on 3/26/1902 in Sonoma County. They had no children. She filed for divorce on 9/12/1904 alleging "intemperance" (drinking too much). The divorce was granted. It is not known what became of her. John has not been found in the censuses of 1900 through 1930. In 1900 & 1910 his parents were living together in Sonoma County. John's brother Holmes was living with them. His father died on 5/19/1911 in Sonoma County. John's mother died in California on 1/18/1920.
In 1930 and during the census of 1940, John was living in Myrtle Point, Coos County in southwestern Oregon. In 1940 he was 71 and not working. He was reportedly widowed, but "widowed" was often used as a euphemism for "divorced."
About June of 1943 he had a heart attack. On 8/18/1943 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. It's questionable whether he was really mentally ill. On 12/28/1943 four months after entering the institution he died there of heart failure. He had no surviving siblings. His brother Holmes, the last of his siblings, died in California in 1940. His sister Althea Anderson had died in 1930. Sister Mary Cordray died in 1935. Brother Charles died in 1937. Sister Jennie Pickrell died in 1938. Brother Alexander died in 1939.
Most of John's siblings had no children, but some did. John's sister Josephine married Jacob Preston. They had a daughter Mary. Josephine died in 1881 at the age of 25. When she was 16, Mary Preston married Oscar Walton. They had at least one child, Bertha Walton. Mary died at the age of 20. Mary's daughter Berta married Howard Patterson. They had many children and grandchildren.
John's sister Sarah Jane "Jennie" Burke married Charles Pickrell in 1893. They had three children: Cleveland, Armour and Essie. Jennie's son Cleveland had a daughter, Muriel (Pickrell) Webster Peters, who had at least two children and four grandchildren.
John's parents, sisters Jennie & Althea, and brothers Alex and Holmes were all buried at the Redwood Memorial Gardens in Guerneville, Sonoma County, California.
Information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide information.
He was born in New Jersey on 9/10/1868 and named for his paternal grandfather. John's parents were also born in New Jersey. His mother, Rachael, was born in 1835 and his father, Andrew Jackson Burke, was born in 1834. Neither parent could write and his father could not read, but all of John's siblings attended school and became literate.
His mother had 12 children with 8 being alive in 1900 and 7 were alive in 1910. John's siblings (all born in New Jersey) included: Josephine (born about 1856), Althea (in 1857), Holmes Conover (in 1859), Abraham (about 1861), Sarah J. (about 1862), Mary (about 1866), Edward (about 1872), Charles (about 1875), and Alexander (in 1876).
In the 1860 census (before John was born), his parents were farming in Monmouth County, New Jersey. During the 1870 census, John was a year old living with his parents & siblings in Ocean County, New Jersey. In the 1880 census, he was 10, listed with his parents in Scranton, Osage County, Kansas. His father was a coal miner like most of the men in that area. In the 1885 Kansas census, John was 15, listed with his parents and younger siblings in Fairfax in Osage County where his father was farming.
By 1890 the Burke family were living in Redwood County, California. In 1892 John and the men in his family were registered to vote in neighboring Sonoma County (near San Francisco). John was described as dark complected with hazel eyes and black hair. He was 5 foot 5 1/2 inches tall as an adult.
He married Mrs. Jennie M Johnston on 3/26/1902 in Sonoma County. They had no children. She filed for divorce on 9/12/1904 alleging "intemperance" (drinking too much). The divorce was granted. It is not known what became of her. John has not been found in the censuses of 1900 through 1930. In 1900 & 1910 his parents were living together in Sonoma County. John's brother Holmes was living with them. His father died on 5/19/1911 in Sonoma County. John's mother died in California on 1/18/1920.
In 1930 and during the census of 1940, John was living in Myrtle Point, Coos County in southwestern Oregon. In 1940 he was 71 and not working. He was reportedly widowed, but "widowed" was often used as a euphemism for "divorced."
About June of 1943 he had a heart attack. On 8/18/1943 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. It's questionable whether he was really mentally ill. On 12/28/1943 four months after entering the institution he died there of heart failure. He had no surviving siblings. His brother Holmes, the last of his siblings, died in California in 1940. His sister Althea Anderson had died in 1930. Sister Mary Cordray died in 1935. Brother Charles died in 1937. Sister Jennie Pickrell died in 1938. Brother Alexander died in 1939.
Most of John's siblings had no children, but some did. John's sister Josephine married Jacob Preston. They had a daughter Mary. Josephine died in 1881 at the age of 25. When she was 16, Mary Preston married Oscar Walton. They had at least one child, Bertha Walton. Mary died at the age of 20. Mary's daughter Berta married Howard Patterson. They had many children and grandchildren.
John's sister Sarah Jane "Jennie" Burke married Charles Pickrell in 1893. They had three children: Cleveland, Armour and Essie. Jennie's son Cleveland had a daughter, Muriel (Pickrell) Webster Peters, who had at least two children and four grandchildren.
John's parents, sisters Jennie & Althea, and brothers Alex and Holmes were all buried at the Redwood Memorial Gardens in Guerneville, Sonoma County, California.
Information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide information.
John Henry Burke's cremated remains were not initially taken after death and were available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In 2021 a relative received the ashes.
He was born in New Jersey on 9/10/1868 and named for his paternal grandfather. John's parents were also born in New Jersey. His mother, Rachael, was born in 1835 and his father, Andrew Jackson Burke, was born in 1834. Neither parent could write and his father could not read, but all of John's siblings attended school and became literate.
His mother had 12 children with 8 being alive in 1900 and 7 were alive in 1910. John's siblings (all born in New Jersey) included: Josephine (born about 1856), Althea (in 1857), Holmes Conover (in 1859), Abraham (about 1861), Sarah J. (about 1862), Mary (about 1866), Edward (about 1872), Charles (about 1875), and Alexander (in 1876).
In the 1860 census (before John was born), his parents were farming in Monmouth County, New Jersey. During the 1870 census, John was a year old living with his parents & siblings in Ocean County, New Jersey. In the 1880 census, he was 10, listed with his parents in Scranton, Osage County, Kansas. His father was a coal miner like most of the men in that area. In the 1885 Kansas census, John was 15, listed with his parents and younger siblings in Fairfax in Osage County where his father was farming.
By 1890 the Burke family were living in Redwood County, California. In 1892 John and the men in his family were registered to vote in neighboring Sonoma County (near San Francisco). John was described as dark complected with hazel eyes and black hair. He was 5 foot 5 1/2 inches tall as an adult.
He married Mrs. Jennie M Johnston on 3/26/1902 in Sonoma County. They had no children. She filed for divorce on 9/12/1904 alleging "intemperance" (drinking too much). The divorce was granted. It is not known what became of her. John has not been found in the censuses of 1900 through 1930. In 1900 & 1910 his parents were living together in Sonoma County. John's brother Holmes was living with them. His father died on 5/19/1911 in Sonoma County. John's mother died in California on 1/18/1920.
In 1930 and during the census of 1940, John was living in Myrtle Point, Coos County in southwestern Oregon. In 1940 he was 71 and not working. He was reportedly widowed, but "widowed" was often used as a euphemism for "divorced."
About June of 1943 he had a heart attack. On 8/18/1943 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. It's questionable whether he was really mentally ill. On 12/28/1943 four months after entering the institution he died there of heart failure. He had no surviving siblings. His brother Holmes, the last of his siblings, died in California in 1940. His sister Althea Anderson had died in 1930. Sister Mary Cordray died in 1935. Brother Charles died in 1937. Sister Jennie Pickrell died in 1938. Brother Alexander died in 1939.
Most of John's siblings had no children, but some did. John's sister Josephine married Jacob Preston. They had a daughter Mary. Josephine died in 1881 at the age of 25. When she was 16, Mary Preston married Oscar Walton. They had at least one child, Bertha Walton. Mary died at the age of 20. Mary's daughter Berta married Howard Patterson. They had many children and grandchildren.
John's sister Sarah Jane "Jennie" Burke married Charles Pickrell in 1893. They had three children: Cleveland, Armour and Essie. Jennie's son Cleveland had a daughter, Muriel (Pickrell) Webster Peters, who had at least two children and four grandchildren.
John's parents, sisters Jennie & Althea, and brothers Alex and Holmes were all buried at the Redwood Memorial Gardens in Guerneville, Sonoma County, California.
Information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide information.
He was born in New Jersey on 9/10/1868 and named for his paternal grandfather. John's parents were also born in New Jersey. His mother, Rachael, was born in 1835 and his father, Andrew Jackson Burke, was born in 1834. Neither parent could write and his father could not read, but all of John's siblings attended school and became literate.
His mother had 12 children with 8 being alive in 1900 and 7 were alive in 1910. John's siblings (all born in New Jersey) included: Josephine (born about 1856), Althea (in 1857), Holmes Conover (in 1859), Abraham (about 1861), Sarah J. (about 1862), Mary (about 1866), Edward (about 1872), Charles (about 1875), and Alexander (in 1876).
In the 1860 census (before John was born), his parents were farming in Monmouth County, New Jersey. During the 1870 census, John was a year old living with his parents & siblings in Ocean County, New Jersey. In the 1880 census, he was 10, listed with his parents in Scranton, Osage County, Kansas. His father was a coal miner like most of the men in that area. In the 1885 Kansas census, John was 15, listed with his parents and younger siblings in Fairfax in Osage County where his father was farming.
By 1890 the Burke family were living in Redwood County, California. In 1892 John and the men in his family were registered to vote in neighboring Sonoma County (near San Francisco). John was described as dark complected with hazel eyes and black hair. He was 5 foot 5 1/2 inches tall as an adult.
He married Mrs. Jennie M Johnston on 3/26/1902 in Sonoma County. They had no children. She filed for divorce on 9/12/1904 alleging "intemperance" (drinking too much). The divorce was granted. It is not known what became of her. John has not been found in the censuses of 1900 through 1930. In 1900 & 1910 his parents were living together in Sonoma County. John's brother Holmes was living with them. His father died on 5/19/1911 in Sonoma County. John's mother died in California on 1/18/1920.
In 1930 and during the census of 1940, John was living in Myrtle Point, Coos County in southwestern Oregon. In 1940 he was 71 and not working. He was reportedly widowed, but "widowed" was often used as a euphemism for "divorced."
About June of 1943 he had a heart attack. On 8/18/1943 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. It's questionable whether he was really mentally ill. On 12/28/1943 four months after entering the institution he died there of heart failure. He had no surviving siblings. His brother Holmes, the last of his siblings, died in California in 1940. His sister Althea Anderson had died in 1930. Sister Mary Cordray died in 1935. Brother Charles died in 1937. Sister Jennie Pickrell died in 1938. Brother Alexander died in 1939.
Most of John's siblings had no children, but some did. John's sister Josephine married Jacob Preston. They had a daughter Mary. Josephine died in 1881 at the age of 25. When she was 16, Mary Preston married Oscar Walton. They had at least one child, Bertha Walton. Mary died at the age of 20. Mary's daughter Berta married Howard Patterson. They had many children and grandchildren.
John's sister Sarah Jane "Jennie" Burke married Charles Pickrell in 1893. They had three children: Cleveland, Armour and Essie. Jennie's son Cleveland had a daughter, Muriel (Pickrell) Webster Peters, who had at least two children and four grandchildren.
John's parents, sisters Jennie & Althea, and brothers Alex and Holmes were all buried at the Redwood Memorial Gardens in Guerneville, Sonoma County, California.
Information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide information.
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