The Burch Family of Jasper County, Missouri

JOHN W. BURCH was born January 30, 1841, in Hardy county, Yirginia. His father, Covington, and his mother, Elizabeth A., nee Tharp, were natives of Virginia. John W. was was born on a farm. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Regiment Volunteers, and served with distinction for three years, being most of the time on detached duty. In the fall of 1865 he came to Benton county, Missouri, and in 1867 to Jasper county, locating at what is now known as the Burch Mines, which were named after his father. He was engaged in mining and teaching school until 1874 when he was appointed deputy treasurer and collector of Jasper county. In 1877 he was appointed deputy county clerk, and served until 1878, when he was elected recorder of deeds for Jasper county, which position he held until January 1, 1883. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He was married in 1867 to Nancy E. Barnett, a native of Benton county, Missouri. They have three children living and one deceased.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

F. LUTHER BURCH.

One of the well-known residents of Burch City, Jackson township, Jasper county, is F. Luther Burch, who was born in Hardy county, Virginia, January 13, 1858, and is a brother of John W. Burch, a prominent resident of Carthage, Missouri. He was the youngest member of a family of five children, and was about one and one-half years old when his parents removed to Piatt county, Illinois. Until 1869 that was his home, but in that year his parents came to- Jasper county. Here he was given better educational opportunities, and he finished an academic course in Morrisville, Polk county, Missouri. Then he was engaged as deputy recorder, remaining in that office for about five years under his brother, John \Y. Burch and Mr. Newal. Then Mr. Burch came to his present residence and has engaged in mining and farming, owning a property consisting of forty acres. He has an interest in four good mines in this locality.

In 1881 Mr. Burch was married to Miss Ella Burkholder, who was a native of Carthage, and to them have been born four children, namely: Blanch, Guy, Ernest and Ethel. In politics Mr. Burch has always been a Democrat, and has filled many of the local offices, including those of justice of the peace and constable. Socially he is connected with the Select Knights, of Carthage. For many- years he has been a leading member of the Methodist church. South, and is one of its most valued attendants. Mr. Burch has witnessed many changes in Jasper county during the years he has resided here, and has done his part in the growth and development to be seen on every hand.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EDWARD J. BURCH, M. D.

Among the members of a profession where advancement can not arise from influence but where success must come through individual merit Dr. Burch ranks high, not only among the medical fraternity of Carthage but throughout the state. Probably no young surgeon in Missouri has a wider or more remunerative practice than he. The Doctor was born near Cannier, Kentucky, March 21, 1866, a son of Judson C. and Cathrin (Wilcoxen) Burch. In 1877, with his parents, he moved from his native state to Fredonia, Kansas, where he grew to manhood. After graduating from the Fredonia high school he completed his literary education under the supervision of a private tutor, M. O. Kellar, A. M. Thereafter he began preparation for his medical career by reading medicine for two years in the office of Dr. A. N. Perkins, of Fredonia. Later he matriculated in the Missouri Medical College, St. Louis, and was graduated from that institution with the class of 1887.

Locating at once in Fredonia, he was appointed county physician for Wilson county, which position he relinquished upon moving to Carthage in 1 89 1. Since then the Doctor has resided in Carthage, with the exception of two years, during which he was connected with Hahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, one of the oldest and best known institutions of its kind in America, as lecturer on materia medical. He was also surgeon to St. Mary's Home for Children, in Chicago, during that period. Desirous of fitting himself for special operative surgical work, the Doctor has given three years of his time to post-graduate study along that line in the best equipped hospitals in this country. A year's surgical study in Europe is anticipated and being arranged for.

In 1889 Dr. Burch was joined in wedlock to Miss Louise W. Howe, daughter of Dr. A. W. and Ella (Leonard) Howe, formerly of New York, a young lady of exceptional culture and rare attainments, with more than a local reputation as a vocalist. The Doctor and his wife now have two children, Allen Banks and Edna Louise. The family occupies an enviable position in social circles and is held in high esteem by many friends.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.