Wife: Sarah (Weathers) Burks

Parents: James Lyon Burks & Martha "Patsy" Robinson

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BURKS, Rev. WILLIAM CARROLL
Rev. William Carroll Burks, who for many years was actively engaged in the work of the ministry of the Primitive Baptist Church, is now living retired at Pottsville, Texas, enjoying a well-earned rest. He was born on the 7th of March, 1818, and is the son of James Lyon and Lydia (Robinson) Burks. The father was a native of Lincoln County, Georgia, served as orderly sergeant under General Jackson in the war of 1812, was for a number of years a member of the state legislature, and was a colonel on the staff of Governor Sleigh. In 1845 he became a resident of Scott County, Mississippi, where his death occurred in 1866, at the age of seventy-six years. He was also a faithful member of the Baptist church.

At the age of twenty-two years, our subject started out in life for himself, operating his father's farm until 1843, when he moved to Russell County, Alabama. At the end of a year, however, he went to Chambers county, that state, where the following three years were passed. The next four years he spent in Tallapoosa Cunty, whence he removed to Leake County, Mississippi, but in November 1872, he became a resident of Comanche County, Texas, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land on Holmes creek, all wild. He at once began its improvement, erecting a house, and made his home there for three years, when he sold out and bought two hundred acres nearer the town of Comanche. After living there for four years, he exchanged that place for one east of the town, but three years later he moved to his present home in Pottsville.

On the 22 of December 1840, Mr. Burks was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Weathers, who was born in Georgia, October 11, 1819, and is the daughter of Daniel and Sarah ( Malney) Weathers. Her father served as a member of the state senate from Talbot County, Georgia, and died there in 1882, at the advanced age of ninety-three years, being at that time the oldest man in the county. Our subject and his estimable wife became the parents of the following children: Daniel, born November 19, 1842, died in August 1862, from effects of Confederate service in the late war; James, born July 20, 1845, also died in the same month in 1862; William Milton, born June 27, 1847, died while a member of the Confederate army in the Fall of 1865; Jesse, born March 12, 1850, is living in Comanche County, Texas; John Franklin, born August 31, 1852, makes his home in the same county; Thomas Jefferson, born November 22, 1854, owns and runs a cotton gin at Pottsville (see sketch elsewhere in this work); Sarah Frances,
born July 22, 1855, is the wife of Benjamin Lassette, of Taylor County, Texas; Lainey was born December 13, 1857, and died between seventeen and eighteen years of age; Andrew Jackson, born December 3, i860, is living in Callahan County, Texas.

In early life, Mr. Burks became a member of the Primitive Baptist church, of which he was ordained deacon in 1845, and on the 27th of November, 1858, was ordained a minister and has engaged in preaching ever since. He has been a faithful and conscientious worker in the Master's vineyard, doing all in his power for the uplifting of humanity, and the world is better for his having lived. His political support is given to the Democratic party.
( History of Texas, Central Texas, Vol I, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896 Transcribed by Gene P)

Contributor: Sherry (47010546)

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Elder William C. Burks was about seven years old his father, James L. Burks moved to Talbot County, Ga., where Elder Burks grew to manhood and was married to Miss Sarah Weathers, daughter of Daniel Weathers. He united with the Primitive Baptist Church (Shiloh) in Tallapoosa County, Ala., and was baptized by Elder James Carter, and was soon chosen by the church and set apart by ordination as a deacon, Elder Carter, J. J. Dickson, J. M. Pearson, and W. H. Mitchell officiating as a presbytery. From there he moved to Leak County, Miss., and united by letter with the church at "Pilgrims Rest," and the 27th of November was ordained to exercise in all the functions of the gospel ministry, Elders J. G. Crecelius and W. Crawford acting as a presbytery. In November 1872, he settled in Comanche County. Texas, and by the aid of W. M. Donald constituted a church and called it Shiloh, and for some time after was the only Primitive Baptist preacher in the county. He said he always found it good to trust in the Lord and do that which the Saviour commanded as his duty; said it gave peace of mind the world could neither give nor take away. For more than ten years of his life, he was not able to walk without the aid of crutches but would go to church and preach to his people up within one year of his death. He loved the cause for which he was fighting and was ever a humble minister.

Biographical History of Primitive or Old School Baptist Ministers of the United States
edited by R.H. Pittman
Herald Publishing Company
Anderson, Indiana
Published in 1909
page 54

Contributor: Searchers of our Past (47220553)