BURTON, Mrs. Abby C.: 1823-1906

BURTON, CLARKSON, FREEMAN, SMITH, BROWN, SPRINGER, HENDRICKS

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 7/25/2013 at 05:02:13

Mrs. Abby C. Burton of Bentonsport died suddenly, Friday, at Mt. Pleasant Park, near Clinton, Iowa, where she had gone recently to spend a month with her daughter. Mrs. Burton was one of Van Buren county's pioneers, coming here in 1837. Probably there are not a dozen people living in the county who settled here at so early a date, when the conveniences of life were few and while this section was the hunting ground of the Sax and Fox Indians who, with Black Hawk and Keokuk at their head, were located at Iowaville, in the northwestern part of the county. Mrs. Burton was a noble and dearly beloved woman.

Abigail Clarkson Freeman was born at Hamilton, Ohio, Aug. 6, 1823, and died Sept. 21, 1906, aged 83 years, 1 month and 15 days. She emigrated to the territory of Wisconsin (what is now Iowa) at the age 15 and in her 17th year was married to John Wesley Burton Nov. 26, 1839.

They settled on the farm one mile west of Bentonsport, where they resided until Mr. Burton's death 14 years ago. Mrs. Burton was a woman of noble birth, beautiful Christian character, pleasant companionship and beloved by everyone.

Out of a large family but four children are living, Wm. V. of St. Louis, Mo., Dr. B.O. Burton, Shenandoah, Mrs. Fannie Smith of Bentonsport and Martha of Chicago, Ill. All were present.

It is interesting that one beautiful daughter Mary, now dead, was born 50 years ago today. Mrs. Burton died Friday at noon Sept. 21, at the summer home of her youngest daughter Martha, at Mt. Pleasant Park, near Clinton, Iowa, where she had gone for a month's visit. A funeral service was held under the trees at the park at 2 p.m. Saturday, and one Sunday morning her daughter left Clinton with her mother's remains, reaching home via of Davenport and Eldon Monday at noon. The funeral service was held from the Presbyterian church at 2 p.m., Rev. C.S. McElhinney speaking words of comfort from the text, "The Age of Man." The pall bearers were Mssrs. Isaac McCracken, James McCrary, Geo. W. Jack, W.H. Carter Jr., and A. McDonald.

The choir, composed of Messrs. Jo McCracken, Oce Bostock and Misses Effie Seward, Etta Weaver, Nellie Marriott and Maude Ruble, sang several beautiful selections. Interment was in the Bentonsport cemetery.

Mrs. Burton was a cousin of the late Mrs. Hendricks, wife of Grover Cleveland's vice president, and related through her husband with the late congressman, W.M. Springer of Illinois. She was a member of the Van Buren county Old Settlers Association and a member of the Bentonsport Congregational church.

Mrs. Lutitia Brown of Bentonsport is the only surviving sister and member of the original family.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 161, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA