He married Frances Striegel at Burlington, Iowa, on October 5, 1898.
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Port Builder Ends Career

Thomas C. Burke Taken by Death

Thomas Carrick Burke, former collector of customs in Portland, died Wednesday afternoon. He was 87.

During his tenure in the customs office in the first world war he was instrumental in developing Portland as a major port on the west coast. Prior to that time, customs fees were collected on both the Oregon and Washington sides of the Columbia river, thus discouraging shipping interests from bringing vessels up the river.

Mr. Burke led a successful fight to extend the customs boundary to cover both sides of the river. As a result, river traffic flourished and Portland grew in importance as a port.

Law Degree Obtained

Mr. Burke was born in Iowa, educated there in the public schools and at Iowa State college, after which he obtained a law degree at Drake university. He became a municipal judge at Des Moines, serving for two terms.

In 1909 he came to Oregon and initiated a movement which made Baker the first city in the state to adopt the commission form of government. He left law practice to engage in mining operations in the Baker area.

In 1912 he was chairman of the Oregon delegation at the democratic national convention in Baltimore. He was appointed to the customs post in Portland in 1913, and in more recent years was associate editor of the Oregon Democrat. His home was at 1030 S. W. Ardmore street.

Surviving are a son, Thomas C. Burke Jr., a daughter, Mrs. Jocelyn Burke Newman, and three grandchildren.

[The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, Thursday, September 21, 1944, page 8]
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Baker Man Suggested For Collector Of Customs

[Photo with caption: “Thomas Carrick Burke”]

BAKER, Or., April 6 — (Special) — Thomas Carrick Burke, who is suggested as the next Collector of Customs at the Port of Portland, and president Wilson were born in the same month, December, 1856.

Judge Burke was born in Iowa and grew up on an Iowa farm. In 1881 he was graduated with the degree of bachelor of science from the Iowa State College at Ames. He was twice elected Judge of the Municipal Court of Des Moines, against what seemed the overwhelming strength of the dominant party. He practiced law in Des Moines until 1900. Since then he has lived in Baker. He was admitted to the Oregon bar, but has devoted his time to lands, timber, and particularly mining. He was active in making Baker the first city in the West to adopt the “Des Moines plan” of city government. He was chairman of the Oregon delegation to the Baltimore convention and has been active in the Democratic party in this part of the country. He is president of the Oregon State Board of Immigration.

Judge Baker [sic] was married in 1893 to Frances Streigel [sic], and they have two children, Jocelyn, 3 years old, and Thomas Carrick Jr., 4 years old.

[The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, Monday, April 7, 1913, page 14]