1907-12-Improvement Era—Events and Comments

Events and Comments

Improvement Era, v11 n2, December 1907, pp. 159-160.

Bishop Robert Taylor Burton. — In the death of Bishop Robert T. Burton, which occurred at his home in Salt Lake City, on Monday, November 11, 1907, there passed away one of the historical pioneers of the Church, of Western America, and of the state of Utah. In 1817, his parents, Samuel and Hannah Shiplev Burton, emigrated from England to America, residing first in New York about three years, and then removed to Canada West, where he was born in Amersberg, October 25, 1821. From the time he was converted to the gospel, at the age of sixteen, to the time of his death— in Missouri, in Illinois, in the exodus and in Utah — he was ever in the forefront of the religious, civil and military battles of the community. He returned with his parents to the United States in 1828, and later went to Canada, in 1838, where he was baptized, October 23, bat year, by Elder Henry Cook. In 1843 and 1844. he filled a mission in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio, returning to Nauvoo just two weeks prior to the martyrdom of the Prophet and Patriarch. He was on guard in Nauvoo at the time of the tragedy in Carthage. In the exodus from Nauvoo the Burtons crossed the river in February, 1846, and joined the Saints at Winter Quarters in May, 1848, the mother of the fami'y having died in the meantime, and was buried in a lonely grave on the banks of the Missouri. Robert T. Burton crossed the plains in the company of Brigham Young, and arrived in Salt Lake City in the latter part of September, 1848.

He joined the local militia in 1849, and took part in all the early campaigns against the Indians, and aided in protecting the settlers from their depredations. In 1853, he was made Captain; in 1855, Major; in 1857, Colonel; and in 1868, he was commissioned Major-General by Governor Duikee. He aided the belated handcart company in the fall of 1856, took part in the Echo Canyon war in 1858, protected the mails and settlers on the Platte in 1862, engaging also that year in the "Morrisite War" on the Weber; and until its disbandment in 1870, was one of the principal men with Lieutenant General Wells, who perfected and directed the operation of the Territorial Militia. His civil offices were many, including constable of Salt Lake, U. S. deputy marshal, sheriff, assessor and collector, Territorial deputy marshal, collector of internal revenue, by appointment of President Lincoln, member of the city council and territorial legislature, and a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Deseret.

His ecclesiastical offices are no less numerous: bishop's counselor, bishop of the 15th ward, Salt Lake, missonary to the Eastern States (1869), to England (1873), second counselor to Bishop Edward Hunter, (1875) until the Bishop's death (1883) when, July 31, 1884, he became first counselor to Bishop W. B. Preston, in which capacity he continued actively to officiate until the day of his death. He was a farmer and home manufacturer, besides. He, with others, built and operated the Wasatch Wollen mills on Farley s creek, and on his State Street farm, raised cattle and cultivated the land. He was full of integrity, courageous and upright; and his fidelity to duty and trust was never questioned. Funeral services were held in the Assembly Hall, Thursday, Nov. 14, 10 a. m., and he was buried in the Salt Lake City cemetery. Among those who spoke were Presidents John R. Winder, Anthon H. Lund and Joseph F. Smith.