According to the 1880 US Federal Census for Edinburg, Leake County, Mississippi, R. William Burks was 11 years old and born in Mississippi about 1869. He was living in the home with his father, William Burks, age 63 and his mother, Marissa age 48. Siblings in the home included: J. Thomas Burks age 23, F. Richard Burks age 18, E. Sarah Burks age 15, and W. Joseph Burks. His father was born in Alabama and his mother was born in Georgia. He was attending school.
In 1900, William Riley Burkes, a 31-year-old farmer, was living on his own farm in Edinburg, Leake County, MS with his wife, Sallie, and their two children, Icie and Everett. Sallie, 26 years old, had been married to William Riley for three years according to the census records. William Riley's older brother, Thomas Burkes, also lived with them and helped work on the farm.[1]
William Riley Burkes and his wife Sallie still lived on their farm in Leake County, MS in 1910. By this time, they had three children - two daughters, Icie Fletter, who was 14 years old, and Clara Gertrude, who was 8 years old, and their son Riley Everette, who was 11 years old. William Riley and Sallie were both able to read and write, a rare accomplishment in those days. Despite facing hardships and the loss of two of their babies, William Riley and Sallie remained strong and resilient. They had been married for 18 years and their love for each other only grew stronger with each passing day. Their farm flourished, and their children grew up healthy and happy.[2]
William Riley Burkes is buried at Bethel Cemetery in Marydell, Leake County, Mississippi, USA.[3]
Original data: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
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