burkharta
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
ANDREW J. BURKHART resides about
ten miles northwest from Washtucna and devotes his attention to farming
and stock raising. He was born in Newton county, Missouri, on July
31, 1854, the son of J. D. and Louisa (Parsons) Burkhart, natives of Indiana.
The father settled in Missouri in 1838 and was there married. That
state was his home until 1874, then he moved to Kansas, where he remained
until 1885. At that time, he journeyed to Dayton, Washington where
his death occurred. The mother still lives in Adams county, where
she owns a homestead. They were the parents of the following named
children: Eliza, deceased; Madison L.; our subject; John W.; Anna M., married
to O. Nichols; Grant; Lulu M., married to L. Lake in Dayton; Charley; Lydia,
married to C. Slocum; Campbell, deceased; Sigle. The parents were
descended from German ancestors who settled in America among the very first
emigrants in colonial days. Our subject's education was received in Newton
county, Missouri, and was very limited, owing to the fact that the war
broke out about the time that he was ready for school. His father
was a member of the state militia and he well remembers the dangers and
trying times of those days of internecine conflict. He remained with
his parents until twenty-four years of age and then began farming for himself.
In 1883, he came to Dayton but not liking the country so well there, he
journeyed on to Adams county where he secured a homestead, the place where
he now lives. During the hard times of the early nineties, he continued
steadily at farming but like many others, was unable to make any money.
Later, he began to prosper and has secured other land besides his home
place, having two well improved farms of about one section each.
Nearly a thousand acres of this land are under cultivation and produce
abundant returns of wheat. He is known as one of the prosperous and
thrifty men of Adams county and has shown himself thoroughly competent
to conduct the large business he is now controlling. In addition
to grain raising, he handles from fifty to one hundred head of stock each
year and has some nice graded animals.
In 1878, Mr. Burkhart married Miss Sarah Rinker,
the daughter of Levi and Jemimah (Merriman) Rinker, natives of Kentucky
and Indiana, respectively. They settled in Grundy county, Missouri,
in early days and there lived until 1886, when they transferred their residence
to Kansas, where the father died in 1902 and the mother still lives, being
in Cherokee county. They were the parents of four children, Mrs.
Burkhart, Dorothy, Permilia and Henry. To Mr. and Mrs. Burkhart thirteen
children have been born: Bennie; Alexia, the wife of Philip Watkins, of
Adams county; Henry K.; John N.; Myrtle D.; Robert H.; Ralph; Arthur; James
K.; Eddie and Freddie, twins; Andrew J. and Sybil.
Politically, Mr. Burkhart is an adherent of
the Republican party and takes a deep interest in local affairs and in
general politics. He is well informed on the questions of the day
and a progressive man.
Fraternally, he is affiliated with the A.
F. and A. M.
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