In 1839, his family moved to Hancock County, where he worked on a farm and attended country schools.

At age seventeen, he was apprenticed to his brother-in-law in Findlay to learn the carpenter's trade.

[1] Burket was admitted to the bar July 1, 1861, and commenced practice at Ottawa, Ohio.

[2] Burket was nominated by the Republicans to the new seat, and defeated Democrat Thomas Beer by fewer than 2000 votes of 800,000 cast.

Burket was a Lutheran and member of the Odd Fellows, serving as Ohio Grand Master in 1883.