William P. Burkhart

As printed in 1914

WILLIAM P. BURKHART.

The student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the records of this county without learning that the Burkhart family was early established in Peoples township and it was there that William I'. Burkhart was born on the [/th of April. 1863, on the section where he now lives. His father. Paul Burkhart, was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, and on removing to the west cast in his lot with the early settlers of Boone county, where he followed farming until the outbreak of the Civil war. He then enlisted for service in the Second Iowa Battery, went to the front and died at Memphis, Tennessee, in 1864, while doing active duty for the Union. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Amanda McDonald, was born in Michigan and, surviving her husband, now resides in Boone, Iowa. In their family were two children: Mrs. Maria Rebecca Cunningham, who was born in Polk county, Iowa, in 1860, and is now residing in Van Meter, this state; and William P., of this review. Both were reared in Peoples township, where the Burkhart family settled when the work of progress and de- Aelopment seemed scarcely begun in this part of the state.

William P. Burkhart was reared in Peoples township and like most lads of the period pursued his education in the district schools near his home, no event of special importance occurring to vary the routine of farm and school life for him in his youthful days. Since then with the exception of a period of three years he has engaged in farming and stock-raising on his own account.

Mr. Burkhart made arrangements for having a home of his own through his marriage in Roone county on the 29th of March. 1888. to Miss Nellie Miller, who was born in La Grange county, Indiana, May 24, 1868, and in 1885 came to Iowa with her parents, who settled in Peoples township. Her father, David Miller, was a native of Ohio, born January 4, 1831, and he is now residing in Woodward at the advanced age of eighty-three years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Asenath Day, was born in Ohio, December 31, 1843, but died in Woodward, January 31, 1 90 1, a little over fifty-eight years of age. There were seven children in the Miller family, all of whom are living, as follows: Frank, who was born in September, 1862, and resides in Indiana; Mrs. Rose Taylor, born July 13, 1864, a resident of Woodward; Charles, who was born January 3, 1866, and makes his home in Texas; Mrs. Burkhart of this review; Mrs. Ida Stiles, who was born December 26, 1871, and is now residing in Runnells, Iowa; Mrs. Flora Albaugh, whose birth occurred in December, 1874, and who makes her home in Cedar Rapids; and Clyde, who was born (Jctober 18, 1884, and is a resident of Alliance, Nebraska.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Burkhart has been blessed with three children. Gaylord Roy, born June 6, 1889, attended the common schools of the neighborhood and afterward entered Highland Park Business College of Des Moines. He is now residing on the old family homestead in Peoples township. Lola Fay, born December 1, 1894, attended the common schools, was for a year a pupil in the Woodward high school and is now engaged in teaching in Peoples township. William Ralph was born April 17, 1904, and is still in school. All of the children were born upon the home farm in Peoples township. This farm is a tract of one hundred and eighty acres of choice land on section 12, in addition to which Mr. Burkhart owns eight acres on section 11, of the same township, and upon this place are two sets of good buildings and other improvements, none of the accessories of the model farm of the twentieth century being lacking. Mr. Burkhart raises high grades of stock, and his farm presents a neat and thrifty appearance, indicating his careful supervision and his practical and progressive methods. He is determined and energetic, and his well formulated plans are promptly and successfully executed, so that as the years have gone by he has acquired a gratifying competence. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but he has never sought nor desired public office. He has served, however, as school director and is interested in various projects and measures which tend to promote the welfare of the county and advance its interests in many ways.

As printed in History of Boone County, Iowa (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.