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Burke, Virginia is named after Silas Burke (1796–1854) who built a house on a hill overlooking the valley of Pohick Creek in approximately 1824. Burke was a farmer, merchant, well known attorney in Fairfax County, and local politician. He was a judge, sheriff, director of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company, president of the Fairfax Agricultural Society and the Fairfax Turnpike Company, among other leadership titles. The Silas Burke house still stands.
When the Orange and Alexandria Railroad was constructed in the late 1840s, the railroad station at the base of that hill was named "Burke's Station" after Burke, who owned the land in the area and donated a right-of-way to the railroad company. The community that grew up around the railroad station acquired a post office branch in 1852.
Facts About Silas Burke:
Silas Burke spearheaded numerous community enrichment projects such as negotiating a rail route to come through Burke and out to Manassas. This employed hundreds of people, bringing jobs in many industries. As a result such movement by rail of products to the Alexandria Port for shipment made Burke an important Regional Transit Center for goods and passengers at that time. Additionally this rail line allowed children to attend high school in Clifton, an option that wasn't previously available to the community.
Some of his accomplishment included:
- Director of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company
- President of the Fairfax County Agricultural Society
- President/Director of the Fairfax County Turnpike Company
- Highly successful Attorney working throughout Fairfax County
- Commissioner/Chief Judge for the Fairfax County Judicial system
- President/Commissioner of the Fairfax County Education Society
- Superintendent of the Primary School system for educating Indigent Children of Fairfax County
- Vice President of Fairfax County Chapter of The Temperance Society, which not only supported abstinence of alcohol but was forerunner to anti-slavery abolishment - click here to read more
- Held various County Offices, with distinction and honors, including County Sherriff, Road Surveyor and Commissioner of Public Buildings
- Colonel in an active 60th Regiment of the Virginia Militia which held regular musters in Fairfax and Alexandria as documented in the Alexandria Gazette
- Chair and Treasurer of the Fairfax County Chapter of ‘Relief to Ireland’ Campaign in 1847
- Owner of a local Grist Mill called, ‘Burke’s Mill’ which processed corn and wheat for meal and flour and ‘Burke’s Lumber Mill and Brickyard’ located in the village of Burke. Owner of the G.H. Burke General Merchandise Store, a blacksmith shop and ‘Burke’s Hotel’
In Silas’ law practice he handled:
- Contracts, Land buy/sell negotiations, Shipping contracts, Insurance, Stock purchases, Wills, including holding Executor/Trusteeship positions for clients – as documented through Articles in Alexandria Gazette Newspaper.
- Appointed by Clerk’s Office of Congress to represent Officers and Enlisted Soldiers of Fairfax County to process Pension and Land Bounty award claims under the Land Act of 1847 which granted land awards for Military Service in the American Revolutionary War, Florida War of 1835/36, all Indian Wars since 1790 and Officers of the America-Mexico War of 1846-48 – per numerous Notices in Alexander Gazette.
- Represented largest landowner in Fairfax County, William Henry Fitzhugh, who owned 22,000 acres known as ‘Ravensworth,’ as his Attorney, Business Manager and Overseer. In this role Silas Burke was responsible for maintaining records, account books and daily operations, which included setting up and administering a schedule of release of all Ravensworth slaves to be completed by 1850 (11 years before Civil War) in accordance with provisions drafted by Silas and William in William’s Will (copy of Will attached to website). When William died in 1830, Silas went on to administer that slave release and represent William’s widow and sister in administration of Ravensworth. Click here to read more.
- Silas also had landholdings of his own that required management. He employed John A. Marshall, 1821-1892, who lived in Burke, to oversee the daily operations of his personal farm while Silas practiced law, performed business management responsibilities to the Ravensworth property and participated in numerous Committees and Projects for betterment of public lives. There are numerous Stories about John A. Marshall’s kind demeanor which demonstrates Silas’ value of that attribute in oversight of his personal farm.
In addition, Silas represented his political party at numerous conferences and activities:
- Nominated candidate for Senate for State of Virginia in 1842
- Nominated candidate for Virginia House of Delegates for Fairfax County, 1847
- Elected Commissioner of local Fairfax County Elections
- Elected Commissioner of national Presidential Election activities for citizens of Fairfax County
