Burke, Joseph Francis, 1845-1927

Joseph Francis Burke, businessman and commander of the Gate City Guard, was born 2 November 1845, either in Dublin, Ireland or in Charleston, South Carolina, where he spent his youth. In 1870, he married Louise Cotting of Washington, Georgia. She was the daughter of David G. Cotting, Georgia Secretary of State (1868-1873) and the granddaughter of John Ruggles Cotting, State Geologist of Georgia (ca. 1840). Burke went to Atlanta, Georgia, ca. 1870, and worked as a bookkeeper, president of the Georgia Lighting and Heating Company, and as a spice broker. He was appointed to the staff of Governor Alexander Stephens (1882) and became the temporary state Adjutant General upon Stephens's death. He served as a captain (1878-1882; 1886-1887), president and battalion commander (1893-1914), and honorary colonel (1914-1927) of the Gate City Guard (state militia formed in Atlanta), and was active in several charitable and civic organizations in Atlanta. Burke died 24 April 1927, in Atlanta, Georgia.