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Title: Ben Belk
Dates: 1872-1939
Collection Number: 00124
Quantity: 163 items
Abstract: Images of Bismarck, Washburn, Devils Lake, Wilton, Fort Totten, Garrison, and Jamestown, and the Bismarck baseball team, steamboats, and train bridges.
Provenance: The photographs may have been donated to the State Historical Society of North Dakota by J. Ben Belk in January 1944 when he donated the papers of the Burleigh County Pioneers Association Records.
Property rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to the collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights to materials in this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code and an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Biographical Sketch - John M. Belk
John Middleton Belk was born to Lee T. and Martha (Lambert) Belk in Tallapoosa Co. (Ala.) March 22, 1848. They also had one daughter, Fannie. His father was from Alabama and for many years was a master of boats on the Tombigbee and Black Warrior Rivers. John Belk had a limited education, enlisting in the 8th Alabama Infantry at a very young age. After being wounded in Rome (Ga.) at the age of 16 he traveled to St. Louis, Atchison (Kans.) and Omaha (Neb.) where he trained as a Missouri River pilot on the Sunset under Capt. Lingo. In 1867 he earned his daylight pilot license and from then until retirement in 1926 piloted boats on the Missouri.
In 1873 Belk married Elizabeth Ann Hayes. They had four children: John Benjamin (1878-1962), Lorenzo H. (1893-1965) and two daughters, Martha and Margaret , who both died very young. The family lived in Yankton until 1881 when they moved to Bismarck. John M. Belk died at Yankton in 1929.
Sources:
    History of North Dakota, by Lewis F. Crawford, 1931
    Ancestry.com
PHOTOGRAPHS INVENTORY
00124-01              J.  Ben Belk 1903 
    00124-02              F.  Y. Batchelor on Missouri River at Washburn (ND) 1900
    00124-03              Warehouse,  Bismarck (ND) 1902
    00124-04              Helena,  Ella Fortune, Clement Farr, Bismarck (ND) 1902 
    00124-06              Camel  Back Hollow upriver from Northern Pacific Railroad Bridge 1902 
    00124-07              Camel  Back Hollow upriver from Northern Pacific Railroad Bridge 1902 
    00124-08              Camel  Back Hollow upriver from Northern Pacific Railroad Bridge 1902 
    00124-10              Camel  Back Hollow upriver from Northern Pacific Railroad Bridge 1902 
    00124-11              First  locomotive engine on first bridge, Bismarck (ND)
    00124-12              Florence  Satterlund 
    00124-12-16        Ben  Belk 1903
    00124-12-20        Ben  Belk 1903
    00124-12-39        Ben Belk  1903
    00124-13              Florence  Satterlund
    00124-14              Florence  Satterlund 
    00124-15              Max  Kupitz, Howard Hines, Bert Allen,  and Billy Fisher Wilton (ND) 1899
    00124-15              Bismarck  Baseball Team, Wilton (ND)  1899
    00124-16              Bismarck  Baseball Team, Wilton (ND)  1899
    00124-17              Railroad  Depot, Wilton (ND)
    00124-23              Fountain,  Fort Totten (ND) 1902
    00124-24              Southern  parade grounds, Fort Totten (ND) 1902
    00124-25              Parade  grounds, Fort Totten (ND) 1902
    00124-26              Camp  Lawton 1904
    00124-27              Lovers  Lane Chautauqua, Devils Lake (ND) 1902
    00124-28              Minnie  H 1902 
    00124-29              Minnie  H 1902 
    00124-30              Minnie  H 1902 
    00124-32              The flock at Woods ND) 1903
    00124-33              Belle  and Aldyth Ward 1903
    00124-34              Belle  and Aldyth Ward 1903 
    00124-35              Belle  and Milan Ward 1903 
    00124-39              Aldyth  and Belle Ward, Bert Finney, Eleanor Logan, Charles Hart, Mabel Dietrich, Charles  Anderson, Pat Byrne, Doll Deitrich, Nan Mudgett, Charles Chub, Will O'Hara, Edna  Winchester, Elizabeth Jones, Bess Waggner, Helen Wilson, Edna Winchester, Dr.  Victor LaRose, and Florence Satterlund 1903
    00124-40              Northern  Pacific train 1905 
    00124-41              Northern  Pacific train 1905 
    00124    0042       Jennie Atrill, Eleanor Logan, Aldyth  Ward, Emma Stevens, Floe Young, and Clara Stevens 1905
    00124-43              Jennie  Atrill 1905
    00124-44              Battleship  Prow, Scoria Buttes, Garrison (ND) 1905
    00124-45              Fishing  from Steamboat Washburn, Garrison (ND)
    00124-46              Clara  and Emma Stevens 1905                    
    00124-48              Milan  Ward, Aldyth Ward, Eleanor Logan, Floe Young, Ted Young, Frank McGray, and  Jennie Atill 1905 
    00124-50              Bismarck  High School, Bismarck (ND) 1903
    00124-51              Capitol,  Bismarck (ND) 1904
    00124-52              North  Dakota State Capitol in winter, Bismarck (ND) 1904
    00124-53              Old  Northern Pacific Railroad Bridge, Bismarck (ND) 1905
    00124-54              Under  the old Northern Pacific Railroad Bridge, Bismarck (ND) 1905
    00124-55              Above  the old Northern Pacific Railroad Bridge, Bismarck (ND) 1905
    00124-56              Steamboat  landing below the old Northern Pacific Railroad Bridge, Bismarck (ND) 1905
    00124-57              Steamer  Minnie H, Devils Lake (ND) 1883-1908 
    00124-58              Joseph  Kelly, Thomas McCormick, and Piatt Dunn at Camp Grafton, Devils Lake (ND) 1905
    00124-58 –  67    Camp Grafton, Devils Lake (ND) 1904
    00124-68              The  steam Irishmen digging sewer ditches, Jamestown (ND) 1904
    00124-69              Hilda  Satterlund 1905
    00124-69 –  70    Ben Belk 1905 
    00124-70              Hilda  Satterlund 1905 
    00124-71              Mrs.  Rupert, Mrs. Rust, Mrs. L. K. Tompson, Mrs. Wakeman, Mrs. W. H. Webb, Mrs.  Penwarden, Mrs. Dietrich, Mrs. Dawson, Mrs. Caherty, Mrs. Fortune, Mrs. Logan, Mrs.  Faunce, Mrs. E. E. Marris, and Mrs. Stewart
    00124-72              F.  Y. Batchelor loading coal onto a train, Bismarck (ND) 1902
    00124-73              Loading  coal onto a train 
    00124-00074  Governor  John Burke attending destruction of confiscated alcohol, State Capitol,  Bismarck (N.D.)  05/17/1907
00124-00075  Governor  John Burke attending destruction of confiscated alcohol, State Capitol,  Bismarck (N.D.)  05/17/1907
00124-00076  Destruction  of confiscated alcohol near ice house ND State Capitol Bismarck (N.D.)                05/17/1907
00124-00077  L. H.  Belk helping in destruction of confiscated alcohol near ice house, State  Capitol, Bismarck (N.D.)  05/17/1907
00124-00078  Cache on  5th Street where alcohol was found Bismarck (N.D.) 05/17/1907
00124-00079  Governor  John Burke attending destruction of confiscated alcohol, State Capitol,  Bismarck (N.D.)  05/17/1907
00124-00080  Mrs.  Florence H. Baldwin watching Billy Laist empty barrel of alcohol, State  Capitol, Bismarck (D.T.)    05/17/1907
00124-00081  Destruction  of confiscated alcohol near ice house, State Capitol, Bismarck (N.D.)   05/17/1907
00124-00083 Swimming in the James River  1905      
00124-00084 Soo Line wreck near Washburn, N.D.  ca. 1905  
00124-00085 Old Northern Pacific Railroad Bridge and train,  Bismarck, N.D.  ca. 1903  
00124-00086 Northern Pacific freight train near Bismarck,  N.D.  ca. 1905  
00124-00087-1 Swimming in the James River  1905      
00124-00087-2 Swimming in the James River  1905      
00124-00087-3 Swimming in the James River  1905      
00124-00088  Great  Falls of the Missouri  ca. 1880  
00124-00089  Frozen  waterfall ca. 1880  
00124-00090  A  mountain of brimstone ca. 1880  
00124-00091  Cascade  Falls from below Missouri River ca. 1880  
00124-00092  Fort  Benton and Missouri River ca. 1880  
00124-00093  Citadel  Rock ca. 1880  
00124-00094  Dome of Citadel  Rock ca. 1880  
00124-00095  Castle  Rocks ca. 1880  
00124-00096  Palisades  of the Missouri   ca. 1880  
00124-00097  Castle  Rock Pass ca. 1880  
00124-00098  Scoria  Cut near Iron Bluff   ca. 1880  
00124-00099  F. Jay  Haynes at the Falls with his camera ca. 1880  
00124-00100  Great  Falls from below ca. 1880  
00124-00101  Great  Falls from above ca. 1880  
00124-00102  Rainbow  Falls below ca. 1880  
00124-00103  Yellowstone  Valley Farm, Eagle Butte ca. 1880  
00124-00104  Eagle  nest, Eagle Butte ca. 1880  
00124-00105  Eagle  Butte summit ca. 1880  
00124-00106  Monument  Park ca. 1880  
00124-00107  Grand  Canyon of the Yellowstone     ca.  1880  
00124-00108  Great  Falls of the Yellowstone, 360 feet, Yellowstone National Park  ca. 1880  
00124-00109  Petrified  Indian, Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park ca. 1880  
00124-00110  Looking  west from Geyser Hill ca. 1880  
00124-00111  Bee Hive  Cone, Old Faithful spouting, Yellowstone National Park ca. 1880  
00124-00112  Comet  Geyser during eruption, Yellowstone National Park ca. 1880  
00124-00113  Hot  Spring Terrace, Devils Thumb, Yellowstone National Park ca. 1880  
00124-00114  Grotto  Geyser Cone, Upper Basin, Yellowstone National Park ca. 1880  
00124-00115  The Paint  Pot, Lower Geyser Basin   ca. 1880  
00124-00116  Liberty  Cap, extinct geyser cone, Yellowstone National Park ca. 1880
  00124-00117 High water at steamboat landing freight  warehouse, Bismarck (D.T.)  1881      
00124-00118 Ice Jam on Main Street, Mandan (D.T.) ca.  1890  
00124-00119 Missouri River steamboat landing, Bismarck  (D.T.)   1880-1889 
00124-00120 Pioneer Hose Co. horse drawn fire wagon on 4th  St., Bismarck (N.D.) 1890      
00124-00121 Steamer Montana wrecked by tornado at Bismarck  Landing, Bismarck (D.T.) 06/30/1879
00124-00122 Sentinel Rock, Badlands (D.T.) ca. 1880  
00124-00123 Watchdog of the Bad Lands ca. 1880  
00124-00124 Scenes in the Bad Lands ca. 1880  
00124-00125 Sioux war dance XX        
00124-00126 Ice gorge, Missouri River near Yankton (D.T.) 1872      
00124-00127 Ice gorge, Missouri River at Yankton (D.T.)   1872      
00124-00128 Crook's Expedition in the Black Hills (D.T.)  1876      
00124-00129 Travois with wounded man from Battle of Slim  Buttes 1876      
00124-00130 Looking for buffalo in Montana 1870      
00124-00131 Steamer Nellie Peck lying on 9 feet of ice on  railroad track, Yankton (D.T.) 1881 
00124-00132 Heart Arch, near Fort Keogh (Mont.) XX
00124-00133 Charles Bentley portrait 1880
00124-00134 Burleigh County pioneer women at a party honoring Mrs. Hilda (Satterlund) Wentz 07/1939
00124-00135 Staff and officers, NDNG 1st Regiment Infantry Co. L, William A. Bentley commanding 1888
00124-00136
 William A. Bentley, physician and mayor of Bismarck ca. 1880
  00124-00137 Rain-in-the-Face ca. 1880
  00124-00138 Steamer Montana wrecked by tornado, Bismarck  Landing 06/30/1879
00124-00139 Steamer Nellie Peck at Fort Benton (Mont.) 1871
  00124-00140 00124-00140 Jerking venison at Red Stone's camp ca. 1879
  00124-00141 Standing Rock Indian village ca. 1880
  00124-00142 Chief Joseph (Nez Perce) ca. 1880
  00124-00143 Crow camp 1883
00124-00144 Cowboys' camp ca. 1880
00124-00145 Soo Line celebration parade, Bismarck (N.D.)  1902
  00124-00146 Gall ca. 1880
00124-00147 Luisa Capiani ca. 1880
00124-00148 Villa Cappianai XX
  00124-00149 Main Ave. decorated for Capitol Cornerstone Laying, Bismarck (D.T.) 1883
  00124-00150 Main Ave. decorated for Capitol Cornerstone Laying, Bismarck (D.T.) 1883
  00124-00151 Steamer Far West cabin ca. 1880
  00124-00152 Wreck of Steamer Western at Yankton (D.T.) 03/31/1881
  00124-00153 Running ice Missouri River ca. 1880
  00124-00154 Elbridge Faunce ca. 1910
00124-00155 Mrs. E. M. Brown 1885
  00124-00156 Anna E. Eaton (Mrs. Orlando S.) Goff 1880
  00124-00157 John Davidson ca. 1900
00124-00158 Jesse K. LaWall, age 2 years 1890
00124-00159 May Bell Hunt (Mrs. Richard) Penwarden 1895
  00124-00160 Steamer Nellie Peck on the ice, Yankton (D.T.) 1881
  00124-00161 Passenger dining cabin, Steamer Dacota XX
  00124-00162 Captain J. M. Belk XX
  00124-00163 Cowboy roundup circa 1883
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