William, Thomas, and Andrew L. [Burk] were born in Giles County, Virginia, in the years 1788, 1796, and 1810, respectively. In 1824 they, in company with their father's family, moved to Preble County, Ohio, where they remained four years, or until 1828, when the three brothers came to Michigan and settled in Pokagon Township.

William, better known as judge Burk, who acted as Associate judge for a number of years, remained a bachelor and a resident of the Township until the time of his death, in 1868.

Andrew lived in the Township but a few years, or until he was married, when he removed into what is known as the bend of the river, in Berrien County, where he still remains.

Thomas is still living; in the vicinity of where he first settled. He was married in 1829 to Catherine Lybrook, who was also from Virginia, and by whom he had quite a large family. She died in May, 1863.

The Burk family are of Irish descent. The grandfather on one side and the great grandfather on the other came from Ireland. They have always been known as honest, upright men, and good types of Virginia gentlemen.

The family removed from Virginia to Ohio and then from Ohio to Michigan, with wagons. While on the way from Ohio, Thomas met with a misfortune, by cutting his ankle while falling a small sapling a few miles out of Fort Wayne, where he was carried to have his wound dressed, and was then put on board of one of the wagons and hauled the remainder of the way. He was not able to place his weight on the crippled foot for eight weeks.

Howard S. Rogers, History of Cass County: from 1825 to 1875 (Cassopolis, MI: W.H. Mansfield, Vigilant Book and Job Print., 1875), pp.391-392