Albert Burton

BURTON, BAKER, PUFFER, LACY, CARRIER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/10/2011 at 14:16:24

ALBERT BURTON. It is conceded to be one of the most difficult things known to the business world to establish a local paper on a paying basis. It requires more patience, perseverance and tact than almost any other undertaking. Few there are who properly understand the trials which beset the thorny path of the country editor, who is expected to issue a paper that will compare in every way with the dailies of the larger cities. The subject of this sketch can properly appreciate these remarks, as he has for some years edited and published a family newspaper, the Conrad Journal, that finds its way into many a household, and is a fair specimen of its kind.

Mr. Burton of this sketch was born May 18, 1842, in Brighton, Monroe County, N. Y., and is the son of Alvin and Harriet M. (Baker) Burton. The father, who was born in Windsor, Vt., emigrated to New York when eighteen years of age, and learned the trade of a brickmaker from an uncle, which occupation he followed throughout his life. In 1853 he came west to Princeton, Bureau County, and in 1867 he moved to Marseilles, LaSalle County, Ill., where he was residing at the time of his decease, at the age of sixty-seven years. His father, the grandfather of our subject, was Ezra Burton, also a native of the Green Mountain State, where, in connection with farming, he kept an old-fashioned inn. His mother’s maiden name was Puffer, and she was also a native of Vermont. There they spent their entire lives, dying in Rutland County when quite old.

The mother of our subject was born in Greene County, N. Y., and had reached the age of three-score and ten at her death, which occurred in Marseilles, Ill. She reared a family of ten children, of whom five sons and four daughters are yet living, all the sons, but our subject being engaged in the manufacture of brick. Mrs. Harriet Burton was the daughter of David and Sarah (Lacy) Baker, who lived and died in New York State, aged respectively eighty-four and sixty-two years.

Our subject passed his boyhood days assisting his father in a brickyard, and when fourteen years of age entered a printing office at Princeton, Ill., where he learned the art preservative, and continued to work for four years. Then, going to Chicago, he entered a job printing office, and after a stay there of one year went to Galesburg, the same state, whence he was compelled to return to Princeton on account of sickness. There he was residing on the outbreak of war, and, being eager to enlist his services, became a member of Captain Paddock’s company in the three months’ call. The company being sent home, however, our subject went to St. John’s, Mich., where he ran a printing office on his own account for two years and then returned to Illinois.

During his stay in Michigan, Albert Burton and Miss Eleanor P. Carrier were married, July 18, 1862. Mrs. Burton was born in Madison County, N. Y., and by her union with our subject became the mother of five children, one of whom is deceased. Those living are Luman A., Frederick L., Eva M. and Laura E.

On returning to Princeton, our subject re-enlisted, becoming a member of Company I, Twelfth Illinois Infantry, and did valiant service in all the battles in which his company participated until the close of the war, at which time he was honorably discharged, being mustered out at Louisville, Ky. When again entering upon the peaceful pursuits of life, Mr. Burton went to Galesburg, where for two years he worked on the Free Press, then going to Chicago, he was similarly employed for four years. Again on the move, he spent nine months at his trade in Joliet, and at the expiration of that time started the Marseilles Herald, which he continued to publish for four years. Selling out to good advantage, he in 1874 came to this state and located in Cherokee, whence, three months later, he removed to Holland, Grundy County, and again edited a paper, which met with indifferent success. In 1880 he came to Conrad Grove and established the Journal, which is a neat, well regulated sheet containing much useful information and local matter of interest to its readers. It is an independent organ.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894