John Joseph Burke I (1868-1939)

John Joseph Burke I (1868-1939) Laborer (b. December 19, 1868, Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, 07307, USA - d. January 18, 1939, Jersey City Medical Center, Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, 07307, USA)

Birth:
John Joseph Burke was born in 1868 to William Burke (c1842-1919) and Margaret Kane (c1834-1912), both of Ireland.

Sibling:
John Burke had a sister: Mary Ellen Burke (1870-1957) who married Richard B. Patterson II (1869-1930).

Jersey City, New Jersey:
John's father, William Burke, operated a milk dealership from his home at 26 Atlantic Avenue, Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey.

First Marriage:
Around 1889 John married Nora M. Finn (1866-1898)

Child:
Tohgether they had a daughter: Mary Margaret Burke (1890-1949) aka May Burke, who married Thomas Patrick Norton I (1891-1968).

Death of Wife:
In 1898 John's wife, Nora died of pneumonia and their daughter, Mary, was then raised by Nora's sister, Catherine Finn. This was a normal occurrence at the turn of the century.

Second Marriage:
John then married Josephine Smith (1875-1962) aka Josephine Schmidt, in 1899.

Children:
Together they had the following children: Bertha Burke (1902-1971) who married Stephen H. Prasky (1897-1965); William Burke II (1905-1996) who married Eleanor Catherine Outwater (1912-1978); Josephine Veronica Burke (1907-1995) aka May Burke, who married Thomas Patrick Norton I (1891-1968) after her half-sister, Mary Burke, died; John Joseph Burke II (1909-1986) aka John Stephen Burke, who married Elizabeth Jones (1909-1958); Margaret Burke (1913-c1971) who married David Thomas Morgan (c1914-c1974) and worked for the IRS; and Owen Burke (1915-1984) who never married.

Children Raised by their Aunt:
The oral family story was that John's sister, Mary Ellen Burke, was given money in her father's will, to be used to educate John's children. The children eventually lived with her, when her father fell on hard times, but the boys never felt welcome in her home, and eventually left, and moved back with their dad. The girls stayed in Pennsylvania with their aunt, and were raised there.

Black Jack Burke:
John's daughter, Josephine Veronica Burke, called her father "Black Jack Burke" and said "the only things he could do well, were [to] drink and dance".

Later Years:
John held a series of odd jobs including being a salesman, florist and a chef. He suffered from gout and asthma. His ailments forced him to sleep sitting up in a chair.

Death:
He died of "arteriosclerosis and nephritis" on January 18, 1939.

Burial:
He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, New Jersey with his wife Josephine.

Relationship:
John Joseph Burke I (1868-1939) was the great-grandfather of Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ).