An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 426-427 A.K. BURT, a member of the City Council, and a prominent merchant of Vancouver, was born in Edgar county, Illinois, August 24, 1853, a son of Manuel and Lucinda (Tefft) Burt, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of New York. The mother was descended from one of the early families of that State. The Burts were early pioneers of the Buckeye State. The ancestors came to America in the seventeenth century and figured prominently in the Indian and Revolutionary wars. A.K. Burt, the eldest of three children, was reared and educated in Adair county, Missouri, where his parents had moved at the close of the Rebellion. He followed agricultural pursuits in that State until 1880; engaged in the same occupation in Minnesota for a time, went thence to New Orleans, and finally returned to Missouri. From 1880 until 1884 he followed farming in Clarke county, Washington, and in the latter year embarked in business in Vancouver, virtually without capital. His stock then consisted of only fish and poultry, and two years later he added groceries to his business, and this enterprise flourished until 1889. June 22, of that year, the entire enterprise was practically wiped out by fire, and, as there was no insurance on his stock, it was a total loss. Nothing daunted, however, Mr. Burt again started business with no other capital than a few debts and plenty of pluck and perseverance. His trade now, although a local one, has become lucrative, and will compare favorably with other grocery houses of the city. In 1892 he was elected a member of the City Council, is also a member of the following committees: fire, water, health, police, election, and is chairman of the landing and wharf committees. Politically, he is a stanch and active Republican. Mr. Burt affiliates with the Improved Order of Red Men and the U.O.A.M., in both of which he has passed the official chairs. Our subject was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Gadeon, a native of Iowa, and they have three children: Rosa D., Mary A., and Nellie E. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.