Joseph H. Burks, Sr.

Full Name: Joseph H. Burks, Sr.
Other surnames: Burkes
Date of birth: 1807
Date of death: February 14, 1859

Terms of Service
Biographical Notes
Committee Information

Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	City/County	Counties in District
H	2	Nov 7, 1857 - Feb 14, 1859	7th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾	Clarksville / Red River	Red River
S	1	Nov 7, 1853 - Nov 5, 1855	5th ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾ ⁽⁵⁾	DeKalb / Bowie	Bowie, Red River
S	1	Nov 3, 1851 - Nov 7, 1853	4th ⁽⁶⁾ ⁽⁷⁾ ⁽⁸⁾	DeKalb / Bowie	Bowie, Red River

(1) Burks of Red River, Baldwin of Harrison, and Ward of Cass and Titus took the oath of office on 11/7/1857, p. 57. House Journal.
(2) Democrat. Civilian and Gazette. Weekly. (Galveston, Texas), 9/8/1857, p. 2, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(3) Roster of members elect of the 5th Legislature, state elections, 1853. Texas State Gazette (Austin, Texas), 8/20/1853, p. 3, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(4) 5th Legislature - Roll of Senators elected since the last adjournment presented their credentials, and being qualified, took their seats, 11/7/1853, p. 2. Senate Journal.
(5) 5th Legislature - "In part due to the redistricting and the increase in the number of members, the returning senators found themselves a minority of six: James H. Armstrong, Joseph H. Burks, Rufus Doane, Hardin Hart, William T. Scott, and M.D.K. Taylor," pp. 241, 243. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.
(6) Entire Senate went up for reelection due to Senatorial redistricting. Act passed Feb. 2, 1853, 4th Legislature, 1st C.S., ch. 4, Apportionment Laws of Texas, 1836-1950, 1950.
(7) Col. Joseph H. Burks listed as candidate for Senator; Maj. James W. Sims and Andrew J. Titus for Legislature. The Northern Standard (Clarksville, Texas), 8/2/1851, p. 2, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(8) 4th Legislature, Regular Session - Roll of Senators elect presented their credentials, qualified, and took their seats, 11/3/1851, pp. 3-4. Senate Journal.

Terms of Service top

House District 2
Nov 7, 1857 - Feb 14, 1859
Legislatures: 7th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾
Home City/County: Clarksville / Red River
Counties in district: Red River

Senate District 1
Nov 7, 1853 - Nov 5, 1855
Legislatures: 5th ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾ ⁽⁵⁾
Home City/County: DeKalb / Bowie
Counties in district: Bowie, Red River

Senate District 1
Nov 3, 1851 - Nov 7, 1853
Legislatures: 4th ⁽⁶⁾ ⁽⁷⁾ ⁽⁸⁾
Home City/County: DeKalb / Bowie
Counties in district: Bowie, Red River

Biographical Information top

Resolutions and Journal entries

5th Legislature - Roll of Members, Joseph H. Burks, age 46 (born circa 1807), native state Georgia, emigrated from Mississippi in 1845, farmer, postoffice DeKalb, Bowie County. House Journal.

Biographical Sketches

BURKS, JOSEPH H., SR. (1807-1859). Born "around 1807," died 2/14/1859. Handbook of Texas Online.
Biographical sketch, Joseph H. Burkes, Jr., History of Clarksville and Old Red River County, pp. 211-212. Relatives: Joseph H. Burkes, Sr. - father; Joseph H. Burkes, Jr. - son. Joseph H. Burkes, Sr. "served three terms in the State Senate . . . and one term in the lower house of the Legislature in 1859. He died during this term of service." HeritageQuest Online.
Biographical sketch, Hon. Joseph H. Burks, Jr. Relatives: Joseph H. Burks, Sr. - father; Joseph H. Burks, Jr. - son. F.A. Battey and Company, Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas: Containing Biographical Sketches of the Representative Public, and Many Early Settled Families, 1889, p. 135, crediting Fannin County Historical Commission. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).

Military Service Notes

"He served in the Florida war in 1836, as colonel of a regiment, raised in southern Georgia . . . ," in biographical sketch of son Hon. Joseph H. Burks. F.A. Battey and Company, Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas: Containing Biographical Sketches of the Representative Public, and Many Early Settled Families, 1889, p. 135, crediting Fannin County Historical Commission. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).

Committee Information top

7th R.S. - 1857 Indian Affairs Military Affairs Penitentiary
5th R.S. - 1853 Engrossed Bills Militia (Chair) Penitentiary Privileges and Elections Roads, Bridges and Ferries
4th R.S. - 1851 Apportionment Penitentiary Private Land Claims Public Lands Roads, Bridges and Ferries

This website is a work in progress. Information on this website is provided as a public service by the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislative Reference Library makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy and makes no warranty in regard to its use. Users assume all risk of reliance on the information included on this site.

Party information is not available for the 1st-11th Legislatures.

Have a question, comment or contribution? Email the Library or call 512-463-1252.

Many photos in Texas Legislators: Past and Present are used with permission of the Texas State Preservation Board. For permission to reproduce these photos, please contact the Texas State Preservation Board graphics coordinator at 512-475-3060.