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Below is a family biography included in The History of Barton County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James K. Belk, a retired farmer residing at Liberal, Mo., was born in Russell County, Ky., in 1837, and is a son of John and Nancy (Stanton) Belk, who were born in Virginia and Kentucky in 1811 and 1815, respectively, and were married in the latter State. In 1839 they removed to Buchanan County, Mo., where Mrs. Belk died in the spring of 1856, and the family moved to Brown County, Kan., where the father is still living, having been a farmer throughout life, and a prominent man wherever he has resided. He is a German by descent, and is a member of the Methodist Church. James K. Belk is the fourth of eight children, and was reared to a farm life and received a fair education in the common branches. During the war he served in Northwestern Missouri with a battery of Missouri troops, under Maj. Joseplis, and soon after the cessation of hostilities, he took the overland route to California and was engaged in teaming in that State for eight years. He then returned to Brown County, Kan., and a short time after to Smith County, Kan., in which county he built the first house. He was married there in 1874 to Miss Charity, a daughter of Aaron and Catherine Palmer, who were born in Ohio in 1815, and Kentucky in 1817, respectively, and removed to Indiana, thence to Iowa, and afterward to Smith County, Kan., where they have lived since 1873. Mrs. Belk was born in Indiana, in 1849, and she and Mr. Belk are the parents of one daughter, Lillian Myrtle, born in 1875. Since 1881 Mr. Belk has resided in Liberal, owning a fine farm of 120 acres adjoining the town, and four houses and about thirty acres in town. Besides this he owns 160 acres in Kansas. He is a Republican in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln, in 1860. From July, 1883, to January, 1886, he was postmaster of Liberal, and while in Kansas was assessor and trustee for some years. He has been a successful financier, and is now looking after his real estate.

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This family biography is one of 166 biographies included in The History of Barton County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Barton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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