Fresno County, California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



DR. WM. TILLMAN BURKS.� The notable career of Fresno's pioneer 
physician, Dr. Till Burks, as familiarly known, who for nearly forty years, 
had been identified with the life of Fresno City and County, came to a very 
sudden close October 21, 1918, after an illness of only one day from influenza. 
Dr. Burks was born at Shelbina, Mo., October 7, 1858, and after completing 
his education in his native town, he entered Boone College, from which he 
was graduated. He came to Fresno in 1880 and joined his brother, Charles 
F. Burks, who had established the first drug store in Fresno, at the corner of 
Mariposa and I Streets where for some years Dr. Burks acted as a drug clerk. 
He completed his medical education at the College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons of San Francisco from which he graduated in 1899 with the degree of 
M. D. and engaged in practice in Fresno. He married Miss Annie J. Wil- 
liams of Fresno, sister of E. A. Williams, the well-known attorney of Fresno, 
and W. R. Williams, bank commissioner for the state of California. She was 
born in Redruth, England. By her he had one son, Dr. Floyd L. R. Burks, who 
has established a practice in Fresno. There was an estrangement which led 
to Mrs. Burks securing a divorce and she now resides in Sacramento. For 
a short period in his early manhood Dr. Burks served as ship's surgeon on 
a Pacific liner, and in this capacity visited the South Sea Islands on a cruise 
which extended over a year. While returning from this cruise in 1890, the 
ship touched at a Mexican port, and President Diaz of Mexico enlisted him 
to stamp out a plague of yellow fever that was then raging in Mexico. Pres- 
ident Diaz gave Dr. Burks unlimited authority to overcome the scourge, and 
placed the army and navy at his disposal, to be utilized in making conditions 
more sanitary. It is stated that in three months he had the epidemic under 
control, and after a residence of ten months in Mexico he returned to Cal- 
ifornia. 

Dr. Burks resumed his practice in Fresno, and from that time on took 
an active interest in matters pertaining to public health, and was for some- 
time president of the board of health and county health officer. While con- 
nected with the board of health. Dr. Burks is reported, by his friends, to have 
insisted on the observance of the public health laws without fear or favor. 

In 1898, Dr. W. T. Burks' second marriage occurred, when he was united 
in marriage with Miss Bessie Croft, by whom he is survived. 

As an evidence of the high esteem in which Dr. Burks was held by his 
Alma Mater, special exercises were held in honor of his memory at the Col- 
lege of Physicians and Surgeons at San Francisco, Dr. Charles Boxton, dean 
of the college, delivering the eulogy, the unit of student-soldiers in the Stu- 
dent Army Training Corps at the college stood at attention during the cer- 
emonies. 

Dr. Burks was a prominent Mason, a Knight Templar and Shriner and 
was also a charter member of Fresno Lodge of Odd Fellows.