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Burnet Bulletin, April 7, 1904;
Monday, April 4th, at his home in the Shady Grove neighborhood,
after suffering a long illness, A. M. Barton died, and was
buried Tuesday. Uncle Alex Barton was one of the pioneers of Burnet
County, having assisted in protecting this county from Indians. A
number of children, a host of friends and many acquaintances mourn
the death of Uncle Alex Barton.
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Burnet Bulletin, April 28, 1904
"Uncle Alex Barton. "
The subject of this sketch was born in Greenville, S. C. , June
10th, 1831. Died at his home near Shady Grove, April 4, 1904, lacking
a few months of being 73 years old. He married Miss Louisa
Hightower, January 15th, 1851, in S. C., Moved to Texas January
1st, 1854-settled near old South Gabriel this county and has lived
continuously in the county ever since. Was a member of the Baptist
Church since he was eighteen years of age, a Mason for many years,
being a member of Robt. E. Lee Lodge at Shady Grove at the time of
his death, was a democrat of the old school type and always took an
active part in politics; a devoted husband and father; a kind
neighbor and loyal friend-this was Uncle Alex Barton, as he was
familiarly called by all who knew him.
He served two years in the Confederate army and then came
home to serve in the frontier service, and many were the experiences
he had with the Indians. In his death another old land mark of Burnet
County has passed from our midst-not many remain who were here before
he came.
Fifty years in the County-a long, long time-and yet; time, in its
steady and unretarded motion, ticks the time away, and here we are
aware we stalk from the cradle to the grave. Sometimes in my busy
life, I find time to sit down by the wayside upon the stump of
reflection, and turning the tables of my memory back to my childhood
days, recall many names and faces of these old pioneer settlers and
my heart grows sad when I recall that so few remain-men who blazed
out the path that led to all the blessings we enjoy today.
Well can I remember back in the early seventies my father kept the
log hotel where now stands King's store, the post office building and
brick store on the corner. These old fellows would stop with us
during Court. My mother had a piano, (a very few then in town, none
in the country) and would sometimes play for them. Ofttimes "Uncle
Alex" has told me how he enjoyed that music; he thought no one could
play like her, for she plated for them the old style music-music with
a tune-not a combination of sweet sounds without a tune.
Alex Barton was an unlettered man, but a man with plenty of "hard
horse sense" -a mechanical genius; years ago he began working on a
perpetual motion problem, that led to what is known as the Bell Crank
patent. From this Phil Davis caught the idea that led to the
Davis balance wheel patent-something that revolutionized the whole
theory of mechanics, and is now being adopted by all the trunk lines
of the Country.
I remember years ago hearing happy-hearted George Arnett
saying that he hoped "Uncle Alex" would make a million dollars
out of his patent, that if he did hound pups would be worth a
thousand dollars a piece in Burnet County, and so they would; he
loved his dogs and the sport of the chase.
It made you feel good to go to his house. Always a good liver and
he treated you with that old time hospitality that made you feel at
ease and at home. He leaves seven children and a number of
grandchildren, two brothers and a wide circle of friends to mourn his
death. His estimable wife died several years ago. His children who
reside out of the County-Jim and Perry in Callahan County
and Walk in Nebraska all made a pilgrimage to his bedside to
see him before he died.
He was conscious up the moment of his death; he called his
children and friends who were present around his bedside and bade
them all good bye, said he was prepared and ready to go and with no
fears of the future, and thus, the light of this kind and generous
hearted old man went out.
Peace to his ashes-and honor to his memory. I pray that in that
far away home of the soul, near its crystal banks, where the birds
sing sweetest and the flowers bloom brightest-his has found a home
eternal. Tuesday, April 5th, at 11 o'clock at Shady Grove Church yard
with Masonic honors, surrounded by a large congregation of mourning
relatives and friends, he was tenderly laid to rest, to await the
"call of the roll up yonder."
Hail! and fare-the-well, old friend!
RUSTLER. Burnet, Texas, April 15th, 1904.
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