The 1880 United States census showed Joseph Burkhart (age 27, born in Ohio, cabinet maker) living with Frances (age 57, born in France) in Chaska, Minnesota. His other siblings were Frederick (age 25, born in Ohio, cabinet maker) and Mary (age 22, born in Minnesota).
Joseph Burkhart married Louisa Iten on November 17, 1884, in Carver, Minnesota.
The 1885 Minnesota census showed Joseph Burkhart (age 32, born in Ohio) living with Frances (age 64, born in Elsace) in Chaska, Minnesota. His other siblings were Frederick (age 30, born in Ohio) and Maria (age 25, born in Minnesota).
The 1895 Minnesota census showed Jos. Burkhart (age 38, born in Ohio, furniture) married to Louisa (age 38, born in Switzerland) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children John (age 9, born in Minnesota), Joe (age 7, born in Minnesota), William (age 5, born in Minnesota), and Francis (age 3, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple. Joseph’s brother Fred (age 39, born in Ohio, brick maker) and Fred’s wife Mary (age 34, born in Ohio) also lived with the family.
The 1900 United States census showed Joseph Burkhart (age 47, born in April 1853 in Ohio, furniture dealer) married to Louisa Eaton (age 46, born in May 1854 in France) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children John I. (age 15, born in September 1884 in Minnesota), Joseph F. (age 13, born in December 1886 in Minnesota), Wm. H. (age 11, born in October 1888 in Minnesota), and Francis M. (age 8, born in September 1891 in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1905 Minnesota census showed Joe Burkhart (age 52, born in Ohio) married to Louise (age 51, born in Canada) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children John (age 19, born in Minnesota), Joe (age 18, born in Minnesota), William (age 16, born in Minnesota), and Francis (age 13, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple. Joe’s brother Fred (age 48, born in Minnesota) and Fred’s wife Mary (age 44, born in Minnesota) also lived with the family.
The 1910 United States census showed Jos. Burkhart (age 57, born in Ohio, furniture store) married to Louisa (age 56, born in Switzerland) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children William (age 21, born in Minnesota), and Francis (age 18, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1920 United States census showed Joseph Burkhart (age 67, born in Ohio, retail furniture) married to Louise (age 66, born in Switzerland) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children Joseph F. (age 32, born in Minnesota), William H. (age 31, born in Minnesota), and Frances (age 28, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
Entire City if in Mourning. Community Stunned Monday Morning to Learn of Deaths During Night of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Burkhart. Shock Too Much for Mr. Burkhart Who Follows Beloved Wife in Death an Hour After Her Passing. The entire community is in mourning and well it may for we have lost two of our most honored and loved residents - Joseph Burkhart and his wife, Louise Iten Burkhart. Seldom is a community thus visited by death. Seldom is a community thus stricken. This Thursday morning at ten o'clock the entire community and the people for miles about us, as well as many from distant points are here to pay their last sad respects to the beloved dead. The funeral takes place at ten o'clock from the Guardian Angel's Catholic church, services being conducted by the Rev. Father Bernard. Interment will be in the Catholic cemetery following solemn requiem high mass. We can hardly realize that Mr. and Mrs. Burkhart are gone. Only Sunday morning we met him as he came from mass. A few days previous we had conversed with him and he seemed in fine spirits and better health than for some time. Thus the Master decrees and the Master's will be done.
Mrs. Louise Iten Burkhart, beloved wife of Joseph Burkhart, passed into the eternal hereafter shortly after mid-night of Sunday. Her death occurred at 12:45, Monday morning, Mar. 7, 1921. For some time her health had been poorly. Last December she suffered a severe attack and was ordered to bed for several weeks. At the end of three weeks her condition was improved and since then she had been improving and during the past week had remarked that she felt better than in months. About midnight Sunday her husband heard deep and labored breathing and awoke their son William, as he was unable to awaken her. Their son John was summoned but she had expired before he arrived. Heart trouble, which had been ailment for some time, caused her demise. A few minutes after the death of his beloved consort, Mr. Burkhart complained of feeling dizzy. The shock seemed to literally carry him off. He gave directions regarding the funeral and remarked to his sons that now he had nothing to live for. They noticed the sudden change and his seeming decline and telephoned for a physician, but he was beyond human effort when the physician arrived. Heart failure, induced by the shock, was the cause of death. It was morning before the community learned of the awful loss it had sustained and many the tear and many the heartache. No finer or better or more lovable people ever lived among us; none ever earned the higher place in the affections of us all.
Louise Iten Burkhart, the first to pass beyond, was born in Unteraeger, Canton Zug, Switzerland, May 1, 1853. She came to America a year later, the family first settling in Canada. They remained there until September, 1856, when they moved to Minnesota, settling in Le Sueur county. The mother died in 1864 and the father in 1868, and the family then moved to St. Paul. Here she was married to Joseph Burkhart in November 1885 and since then Chaska has been her home. The union was happy and ideal and was blessed with four children, three sons and one daughter, all living, namely: John of this city, Joseph of Jamestown, N. D., and William H., and Miss Frances, at home. Her husband was born in Monroe county, Ohio, April 16, 1852 and came to Chaska first with his parents in 1855, the family being among our early day pioneers settlers. The younger members of the Burkhart family made several trips to Ohio in the early days before finally joining their parents in making Chaska their permanent home. Forty-two years ago Joseph Burkhart and his brother Fred engaged in the furniture and undertaking business and this association continued until a few years ago when Fred retired and the firm name changed to Jos. Burkhart & Son, Wm. H. Burkhart entering the firm. In the early days the Burkharts also operated one of our brick yards and when the local canning factory was started a number of years ago Joe was its first manager.
He was active in other lines and in the early days was a member of our band and the fire department, and took a deep interest in city affairs. He served on the City Council at various times and was its President several terms. For six years he officiated as our City Treasurer and at the time of his death was Vice President of the Carver County State Bank of this city. Joseph Burkhart was regarded as a very successful business man - a fair, square man and citizen. He was the soul of honor and those who happened to differ with him always respected him most highly for his opinions were sound and his judgment feasible. He took a prominent part in the life of our community for more than fifty years. The community will remember him and honor his memory, as well as that of his worthy helpmeet for years to come. They have been an honor to the community, they have reared a family who have been an honor to the community and a credit to the name. They have shown an interest and love in their community that will serve as a heritage to those who are to follow in their foot-steps. Besides their children, Mrs. Burkhart is survived by two brothers and two sisters, namely: Joseph Iten and Gust Iten of Le Sueur, Minn., Mrs. Frank Winninghoff of Phillipsburg, Montana, and Mrs. Mary Tuft of St. Paul. Mr. Burkhart leaves his brother Fred and sister, Mrs. Delsing, both of Browerville, Minn. The children, as well as the brothers and sisters, have the deepest sympathy of the entire community in their truly great bereavement - the loss of their beloved father and mother, sister and brother.
As a fellow business man, a fellow townsman, a fellow early day resident of Chaska, and as a public official who served with him in city affairs, we feel a deep loss in the passing of Joseph Burkhart. It was our good fortune and pleasure to have served with him and labor with him and we never knew a finer spirited man, a cleaner or more upright man, a more sterling and public spirited official and citizen. Those who knew him best honored him most. He labored for the good of the entire city - he gave his honest effort for the welfare of her people. We have suffered a great loss in the passing of Mr. and Mrs. Burkhart and we drop a tear to their memory. Peace to their ashes. (Weekly Valley Herald, Thursday, March 10, 1921, Volume LVIV, Number 22, Page 1)