Richard H. Burke, a prominent farmer and stockman of Danville, Kans., is a native of Michigan, born on a farm in Marion county, March 17, 1877. He is a son of John A. and Matilda (Mcintosh) Burke. The father is a native of Pennsylvania, born January 7, 1845. His parents were natives of New York State. John A. Burke has been a carpenter and farmer all his life. He was married in Michigan, in 1870. His wife was a native of that State, born September 10, 1849. They are the parents of seven children: Blanche, born in January, 1872, married L. R. Smithler, a farmer of Harper county, and to this union were born three children, Helen, Joseph and John; Lyda, born in 1874, married Alvin Tompkins, farmer, Benton Harbor, Mich., and they have one child, Virgil; Richard H., the subject of this sketch; James E., born May 18, 1879, graduated from the Harper High School, with the class of 1899, served three years in the U. A. army, and is now farming in Harper county; Theodore H., born August 19, 1885, resides on the old homestead in Harper county; Charles A., born January 5, 1887, married Miss T. Woolford, in 1907, and they have four children, Leo, Ellen, Lorene and John, and John H., born August 12, 1889, graduated from the Harper County High School in 1907, married Miss Maggie Oliver, in 1913, is now engaged in the mercantile business at Brownsville, Tex. John A. Burke came to Harper county, Kansas, with his family in 1877, and located on government land in Pilot Knob township, one and one-half miles west of the present town of Danville. He remained on this farm, and followed farming successfully until 1904, when he retired and now resides in Harper. He has been a life long Republican and always takes an active part in local politics. He represented Harper county in the State legislature for two terms, and has been chairman of the Republican County Central Committee several terms. During his term of service as a legislator, he served on various legislative committees, and is the author of several important laws. Richard H. Burke, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Harper county, educated in the public schools, and graduated from the Harper High School in the class of 1896. He has followed farming all his life, and has met with success, equalled by few men of his age, and now owns a well improved farm of over eight hundred acres, located one mile from Danville. In 1912, he raised 11,000 bushels of wheat. These figures will serve to give the reader an idea of the magnitude of his farming operations. He is progressive in his methods and represents the advanced type of farmer, who sets the pace for the agricultural world. In addition to his farming, he buys and feeds cattle and hogs on a large scale, and this line of endeavor has proven very profitable to him. Mr. Burke was married June 8, 1895, to Miss Gertrude, daughter of Rufus and Amanda Coleman, of Harper county. Mrs. Burke was born on a farm in Harvey county, Kansas, September 26, 1879. To Mr. and Mrs. Burke have been born two children, Arnold, born December 21, 1901, and Erna, born February 7, 1905. Mr. Burke's fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic lodge.