Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

wards he began the practice of his profes-
sion in Hartford and here remained for
some eighteen months. At the end of
that time he removed to Springfield, Massachusetts,
where he has associated him-
self with Mr. Henry Lasker, and since
that time has carried on a most success-
ful parctice here. He is at present a
prominent member of the bar and much
important litigation is entrusted to him.
Mr. Burke has maintained his home in
Thompsonville, Connecticut, although his
office is situated at Springfield, Massa-
chusetts, and it is at the former place
that his legal residence is established. On
May I, 1917, he was appointed by the
State Legislature of Connecticut, deputy
judge of the Town Court of Enfield in
this State, a position which he is at the
present time holding, and in which he
has done valuable service to the commun-
ity. In politics Mr. Burke is a Republi-
can, and has done much to assist the local
organization of his party of recent years.
He is a prominent figure in the social
world of Thompsonville, and is active in
the Order of the Knights of Columbus,
having held the office of deputy grand
knight, and is at the present time grand
knight thereof and also lecturer. He is
also a member of Waite Chapter of the
Phi Delta Phi fraternity of Yale. He is
also a member of the Alumni Society of
Holy Cross College and of the Alumni
Society of Yale. In his religious belief
Mr. Burke is a Roman Catholic, as have
been all the members of his family from
time immemorial.
Patrick Francis Burke, Jr., was united
in marriage, April 3, 1912, with May
Celestia Fleming, of Suffield, Connecti-
cut, a daughter of Michael and Bridget
(Galvin) Fleming, her father being a
well-known and prosperous farmer of
that region in the State. To Mr. and
Mrs. Burke one child has been born, Edmund,
June 8, 1916.
EXCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
226
HANLEY, William Edward,
Postmaster, Merchant.
William Edward Hanley, who for
thirty-two years was a responsible mer-
chant of Stafford Springs, Connecticut,
and one of its most active residents, associated
with most of its public movements,
and prominent particularly in supporting
the Democratic party's policies, was born
in Monson, Massachusetts, July 12, 1855,
and died at The Johnson Hospital, Staf-
ford Springs, September 29, 1917, son of
John and Margaret Hanley.
John Hanley (father) was born in Tip-
perary, Ireland, in 181 5, attended the
common schools of his native place, and
in 1850 emigrated to the United States,
and during the thirty-eight years of his
residence here gained by honest work and
good citizenship the respect of those with
whom he became acquainted. He is well
remembered in the town of Stafford
Springs, where his death occurred in the
year 1888. His wife, Margaret Hanley,
was also a native of Tipperary, born in
1820, and her death also occurred there
in the same year as her husband, 1888.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hanley were earnest
members of the Catholic church. They
were the parents of at least four children
William Edward, of whom further ; Patrick,
a resident of Stafford Springs ; Daniel,
a resident of Woonsocket, Rhode
Island ; and Mary, wife of McCormack,
of Boston, Massachusetts.
William Edward Hanley received public
school education in Monson, Massachusetts,
but, like so many other Ameri-
can boys of character who later succeeded
so well in life despite early educational
handicaps, he was not altogether down-
cast that his years of schooling should be
few. At the age of thirteen, he was hard
and optimistically working, in the hum-
blest capacity, in a woolen mill in his
native place, and he evidently became
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