John R. Belisle Colfax County, New Mexico

John R. Belisle, a farmer on Johnson's mesa, Colfax County, New Mexico, his post office address being Bell, dates his birth in Bates County, Missouri, December 27, 1868. He is a son of William and Millie Parthenia (McClain) Belisle, farmers, and was reared in Bates and St. Clair counties. At the age of twenty-one years he came west to New Mexico, landing here in August, 1800. The next year he was followed by his brother, Marion W., and subsequently by his other six brothers.

On his arrival in Colfax County, John R. Belisle was employed on the mesa by A. L. Bell, and while thus occupied he took claim to a tract of government land, which he "proved up," and which he traded, in November, 1900, for his present farm, a tract of four hundred and eighty acres. On this place at the time he came into possession, a house had been built and some other improvements made. He is continuing the work of improvement and devoting his broad acres to general farming and stock raising, with the success which his well-directed efforts merit. Politically Mr. Belisle has always been a Democrat. He served one term as a member of the school board, District No. 5. September 24, 1893, he married Miss Rosa E. Dale, daughter of J. P. Dale, who came to this Territory the year before Mr. Belisle located here. Three children are the fruits of their union, namely: Willie, Mary and John.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.