In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1866
From The biographical record of Jasper County, Missouri (1901)
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 biographical record of Jasper County, Missouri (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1901. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.