James Monroe Burkhart was a native of Knox County, Tennessee, growing up near Knoxville, where he was born June 8, 1841. His father was Peter Burkhart, who was born in Hagerstown, Md., November 1, 1785. His mother was Anna Gilliam, Peter’s second wife, also a native of Knox County, Tenn., where she was born in 1801. The father died in 1869 and the mother in 1889, both in Knox County.

Mr. Burkhart’s early life, until the autumn of 1862, was spent in Tennessee. His early schooling consisted of about a six week term every two years, plus some short terms in the winter. He taught two terms of school during his teenage years.

He grew up on his dad’s farm and was a mill boy as soon as he was able to ride a horse and keep a sack of grain from falling off. When he was about 15, his father put him to work at the carpenter’s trade until the civil war shut off such work.  

His Union sentiments caused him to come to Marion, Illinois in 1862.  Also influencing his choice of location was the fact that his half-sister, Harriet Evaline, who married Thomas Swan, had moved to Williamson County in the early 1850’s. He walked the distance to Illinois with the exception of a short boat ride down the Ohio River.

He began, like Lincoln, as a rail-splitter, working on the farm of O.G. Campbell located about three miles northeast of Marion, Illinois remaining there for five years where he also served as a superintendent in a tobacco warehouse. In 1868, he moved to Marion and became a clerk for Goodall & Campbell, tobacco merchants, located on the corner of W. Main Street and the Public Square.

In March 1873, he entered into partnership with Hardin Goodall (County Sheriff in 1868 and 1870) and opened a general store on the very spot that would later be occupied by him and his sons in the dry goods business at 600 Public Square. The firm was known as Goodall and Burkhart, and continued under that arrangement until 1882, when he bought out Mr. Goodall, who had become an invalid.

For five or six years he ran his business alone, but in 1890 sold a half interest to A. J. Binkley, which lasted for thirteen years or until July 21, 1903,  when he bought out Mr. Binkley, whose failing health prevented him from longer confinement to business. The firm of J. M. Burkhart and Sons was then formed with his son Jean Burkhart. After several years, Jean took over his father’s interest and eventually turned the business into an exclusive shoe store.

When the First National Bank was organized in 1891, he helped organize it and was elected its cashier. He could not, however, fulfill its duties and run his store, so he resigned, and two years later sold all his bank stock and retired from the company.

James served as Clerk of the Board of Education in 1878 and was on the Board of Education in 1904 with Ed Spiller, E.E. Denison, W.G. Cochran, Dr. A.M Edwards, George H. Goodall and W.J. Aikman.  

In July of 1903, when the present Marion State and Savings Bank was incorporated, he was one of the original stockholders and its Vice President. He remained a stockholder, but not an officer, preferring to take the position of Vice President of the Williamson County Savings Bank, of which his son was William S. Burkhart was made cashier.

He was also one of the organizers of the Marion Electric Light & Power Company in the 1890’s, of which his son William S. Burkhart would learn to manage while still in high school at the age of 17.

Mr. Burkhart married Mary Ellen Spiller May 2, 1872, daughter of Elijah N. Spiller, one of the largest land holders in the county and founder of Spillertown.  She was born in Spillertown November 10, 1850, and has given birth to nine children, whose names in the order of their birth are as follows: Annie and Lena, who died in childhood: Carl, William, Jean, Kate, Ethel, Ralph and Ruby.

In 1894, when Joab Goodall platted his first addition to Marion, J.M. Burkhart bought an entire block from W. Boulevard to W. Stockton Street with N. Market being its eastern edge. Most of his children built their homes on this block and his grandchildren grew up there. This property had previously been occupied by the Stockton family who made cow bells.

His fine residence at 906 N. Market St. was built using his own plans around 1900, and his large brick store room was a model of convenience. He also had a sewing machine department, to which he had given considerable attention. His son William S. Burkhart owned and lived at 910 N. Market St.

He was a Republican in politics, but never aspired to office. He cast his vote in 1864 for Lincoln and for every Republican nominee for president after that.  For a number of years he served on the Marion board of education and was also one of the trustees of the Southern Illinois Normal University, holding that position for a period of five years.  

He was an active Knight Templar and became a member of the Marion Masonic Lodge #89 in 1865 at the age of 24 in Marion and served as Worshipful Master several times, seven years served as District Deputy Grand Master, and High Priest of the Chapter.

He was very philanthropically minded and did a great deal to advance the welfare of Marion and of the state at large. He was honored everywhere and esteemed for his fine moral worth and sterling integrity of character and he is deeply beloved by all with whom he has had dealings. He affiliated with the Christian church, of which his wife was a member.

James M. Burkhart died at his home on March 19, 1918. After his death, his wife continued living in the home till her death. Mary Ellen (Spiller) Burkhart passed away on May 21, 1930. Both are interred at Rose Hill Cemetery.

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Sam’s Notes on Descendants:

1. Annie Elizabeth Burkhart, born March 4, 1873, died November 1, 1874, burial in Rose Hill.
2. Lena Burkhart, born October 30, 1874, died March 12, 1892, burial at Rose Hill
3. Carl Burkhart, born August 11, 1876, married Kate Elliot “Pet” Hickman on April 25, 1901, died on Dec. 23, 1967, burial at Masonic/Odd Fellow Cemetery, Benton, Illinois. Carl was cashier of the old Benton State Bank and a 20 year employee of the Old Ben Coal Co. Children were Marjorie Clarissa Burkhart, Ellen Burkhart, George Hickman Burkhart (George’s son Ralph Michael Burkhart was an anthropologist, was hired by Louis Leaky and worked with Diane Fossey in Africa), Jean Monroe Burkhart (Jean’s daughter, Christine L. Burkhart was the 1995 LPGA professional golfer of the year) and Kate Burkhart (After Kate’s mother, Jean, died in 1920, she went to live with her grandmother at 906 S. Market St. She graduated SIU and was a teacher and church organist.
4. William Spiller Burkhart, born August 28, 1878, married Jessie May Brainerd on Aug. 6, 1908, died Feb. 13, 1965, burial at Rose Hill. Wife Jessie died July 27, 1957, burial at Rose Hill. William was cashier with First National Bank of Marion and then City Clerk of Marion for 16 years, resigning in 1955. Children were James William Burkhart and Winifred Burkhart. Winifred married Henry S. Burress in 1938, who served as Marion City Commissioner.
5. Jean Burkhart, born Nov. 7, 1880, married Eva Dimmick in 1911 who died in 1912, married Ethel Brown Feb. 1, 1930 who died 1972, Jean died Aug. 19, 1968. No Children. Jean partnered early on with father in business then had his own shoe store on the Marion square.
6. Kate Burkhart, born Feb. 23, 1883, married Dr. Barney Ferrell on Jan. 2, 1913. She died in Bend, Oregon, Sept. 20, 1913, just eight months after her marriage. Kate was a school teacher. Burial in Rose Hill.
7. Ethel Burkhart, born July 5, 1885, married Leon Colp on Nov. 2, 1909. Ethel died April 5, 1972, Leon died on Feb. 20, 1968. Both are buried in Rose Hill Cemetery. She was a church organist for the First Christian Church. One Child; Katherine Colp (b. July 30, 1910- d. Nov. 15, 1967)married Francis Holbrook on Jun. 24, 1939
8. Ralph Burkhart, born June 27, 1889, married Fannie Hartwell, daughter of L.D. Hartwell, in 1913, who preceded him in death in Sept. 1962. Ralph died Feb. 17, 1966 and both are at Rose Hill. Ralph graduated from Northwestern Univ. in Chicago in 1912. Served as captain in the dental corps during WWI. Ralph had a dentist’s office in the Marion State and Savings Bank building. He was a lover of animals and maintained a zoo at his home on S. Market in Marion. No children.
9. Ruby Burkhart, born Dec. 8, 1892, married Paul B. Johnson in Paducah, Ky. on Jun. 12, 1924. He preceded her in death in 1939. She died June 8, 1973 and was preceded by all eight brothers and sisters. Ruby was a school teacher before she married. After his death she worked 26 years in the Department of Registration and Education in Springfield, Ill. before retiring in 1966.

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(Data from 1905 Souvenir History, WCHS; History of Williamson, Franklin and Gallatin Counties, Burkhart Family Genealogy Records (Special thanks to Phoebe (Burress) Bursua); compiled by Sam Lattuca on 03/27/2013)