John Burton, our subject, was the fifth son and sixth child of his parents, and is the eldest of those now living. His brother Thomas resides in West Galena Township, where he is a farmer, and has reared a family. His sister Priscilla is the wife of James Hasleman, and is living on a farm in the township of Rawlins. Our subject was reared by his parents until he was twelve years of age, when he was taken into the smelting works by his father, and early became known as a very expert smelter. While the business was in its palmy days he was a leading man in it, and has smelted many millions of pounds of Galena ore. He has had an experience interesting to hear, but too long to relate in this sketch. He discovered and developed many valuable veins and drifts of ore, and made much money in his day, but, like many others engaged in his calling, spent much of it in prospecting and in futile efforts to make it more prolific.
In 1849, during the period of the gold excitement in California, Mr. Burton helped to organize a company in Galena, with outfits of four mules to a team, and a good stock of provisions, and started overland for the coast April 1. The cavalcade consisted of eighteen teams, with an average of four men to the wagon – making a total of seventy-two men. The trip consumed the time between April 1 and August 18, when they arrived in Sacramento, Cal. The journey was attended with no trouble, but, on the other hand, many incidents of pleasure, and forms one of the pleasantest recollections of the early life of our subject. After arriving there, with others he set to work at once washing the gold in the placer mines at Salmon Falls, on the South Fork of the Sacramento River. He remained there for about one year, and brought back considerable gold dust, which he sold at the United States mint at New Orleans. On his return he embarked at San Francisco, went thence to Aspinwall, and there he re-embarked for New Orleans, and from there up the river home. In 1877 he made a business trip to the Pacific coast, going through California, Oregon, and Washington Territory.
Our subject was united in marriage, in East Galena, in 1858, with Miss Hannah E. Watts, who was born in Philadelphia, Pa., May 13, 1840, and is a daughter of John and Mary (Ball) Watts. Her father was accidentally drowned in the river at Galena, in June, 1880. He was then quite an aged man, and while trying to secure some wood which was floating down the stream he accidently slipped in over his depth, and not being able to swim, was drowned. He was then about seventy-two years old. He was born, reared and married in Baltimore, Md., and later went to Parkesburg, Pa. From there he emigrated to Jo Daviess County in the fall of 1857, and here followed his trade of iron worker until too old for active labor. His widow now lives in Galena with her youngest son, Edward Watts, and is seventy-two years of age.
Mrs. Burton is the second child and also second daughter of a family of three sons and five daughters. She has two brothers and two sisters now living – Mathew and Edward, and Catherine and Mary, all married and heads of families. Mrs. Burton was educated in Pennsylvania, and was a young lady of seventeen when she accompanied her parents to Illinois. She and her husband have but one child, a daughter, Annie, wife of William Falancer, a native of America, born of German and French parents. They live on the old homestead, and carry on the farm. They have four children: William, Stella, Walter and Harry. Mr. and Mrs. Burton are hospitable and intelligent people, who are justly esteemed by those who know them, and are valuable members in the community in which they live. In politics he is a Republican.
We invite the attention of our numerous readers to a fine portrait of Mr. Burton on another page of this work.
From Portraits and Biographical Pg 663, Transcribed & Contributed by Carol Parrish
JOHN BURTON has lived at his present residence, on section 15, of East Galena Township, since 1831, and is therefore entitled to be classed among its early settlers. Since taking up his residence in this county he has successfully been engaged as a miner and smelter, and is now one of the prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of the township, owning an excellent farm, where he makes his home, in addition to which he is the proprietor of some good city property. He was born in Derbyshire, England, Jan. 12, 1822, and comes of a family who had for many years been farmers, smelters and miners in their shire. In that place his father, Robert Burton, was reared and there engaged in the occupation of miner and smelter, and for some time was also a farmer. He was married near his old home to Miss Ann Haslan, also a native of Derbyshire, who was of similar descent as himself. After the birth of seven sons and two daughters, Robert Burton and wife started for America, taking passage in the large sailing-ship “Great Britain,” leaving Liverpool, Nov. 1, 1827. When but a short way out in the channel they came into collision with another vessel, and were compelled to put back to Liverpool to repair damages. A month was spent in getting ready for sea again, and once more starting, after a tempestuous voyage of seven weeks and two days, they arrived at New York City in March, 1828. Going at once to Philadelphia, Pa., the father procured employment at his trade of smelter, at which he worked there until March, 1831, when they decided to come to Galena, Ill., where they arrived May 7 of that year. He immediately procured employment at his trade, and at once was recognized as one of the leading smelters of the country. He soon became the owner of considerable land near the city, which was better adapted for farming than for mining purposes. Having a good water-power he soon built a grist-mill, which he successfully operated for many years. His death occurred at his home in East Galena in 1855, at which time he was seventy-four years old. His wife followed him to the grave the following year, dying at about the same age. During his residence in Jo Daviess County Mr. Burton had become one of its best-known citizens, and was universally recognized as an enterprising man, whose character was above reproach. Both parents had been brought up in the Episcopal Church. After coming to this country one child, a daughter, was born to them, but of their entire family three only are now living.
