Legislative Reference Library

Texas Legislators: Past & Present

Joseph H. Burks, Sr.

Full Name: Joseph H. Burks, Sr.
Other surnames: Burkes
Birth date: 1807
Death date: February 14, 1859

Terms of Service

  • House, 7th (2) (5) Legislature
    11/7/1857 - 2/14/1859
     
  • Senate, 5th (3) (6) (8) Legislature
    11/7/1853 - 11/5/1855
     
  • Senate, 4th (1) (4) (7) Legislature
    11/3/1851 - 11/7/1853
     
(1) 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.
(2) 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 .
(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) 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) .
(5) 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) .
(6) 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 .
(7) 4th Legislature, Regular Session - Roll of Senators elect presented their credentials, qualified, and took their seats, 11/3/1851, pp. 3-4. Senate Journal .
(8) 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.

Biographical Notes and Resources

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 .

Other Resources

  • 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 .
  • "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) .
  • 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) .
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