Obituary: "William E. Burton was born in Ohio, December 10th, 1831 and died July 27th, 1918 at his home in Long View aged 86 years, 2 months and 17 days. He was married to Harriet Perkins February 13th, 1852 and to this union was born nine children, all of which are living. He became a Christian in early life and leaves to mourn his loss his wife, the nine children and 78 grandchildren and 81 great grandchildren, being 168 descendants all of whom are living, this being the first death in the family. He was a member of the Fairland M. E. church but about 3 years ago he, with his wife moved to this place and lived here until his death. The funeral services were held at the M. E. church here conducted by his pastor, Rev. J. R. Warlick, assisted by the U. B. Pastor, Rev. C. T. Shortridge at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Burial was in the Fairfield cemetery."
William Burton, according to his Civil War enlistment record, was 5 feet, 4 inches tall, light complected, light haired and had gray eyes. His occupation when enlisted was that of farmer and the record states that he was drafted; mustered in at Terra Haute March 22, 1865; served as a private in Company B of the 53rd Indiana Infantry; and mustered out with his company at Louisville, Kentucky, July 21, a scant four months later. At the time of his drafting, he was thirty-six years of age and the father of six children.
Some family tradition states that "he was quartermaster . . . was in famous march with Sherman through Georgia to the sea and was discharged there." This tradition would not seem to be born out by recorded history. Sherman's march was half over by November 1864. The four hundred-and-twenty-five-mile march from Savannah to Goldsboro was accomplished in fifty days, the army averaging ten miles per day. By the time William Burton was drafted, the march was essentially over. He claimed in his pension application that he had sustained a sunstroke at Louisville. Nothing in his dossier provides proof that he either participated in Sherman's march or saw battle. What is found in the record is that he was in the service only a short time. Some say he got out on disability, which may refer to the sunstroke.
William Burton, according to his Civil War enlistment record, was 5 feet, 4 inches tall, light complected, light haired and had gray eyes. His occupation when enlisted was that of farmer and the record states that he was drafted; mustered in at Terra Haute March 22, 1865; served as a private in Company B of the 53rd Indiana Infantry; and mustered out with his company at Louisville, Kentucky, July 21, a scant four months later. At the time of his drafting, he was thirty-six years of age and the father of six children.
Some family tradition states that "he was quartermaster . . . was in famous march with Sherman through Georgia to the sea and was discharged there." This tradition would not seem to be born out by recorded history. Sherman's march was half over by November 1864. The four hundred-and-twenty-five-mile march from Savannah to Goldsboro was accomplished in fifty days, the army averaging ten miles per day. By the time William Burton was drafted, the march was essentially over. He claimed in his pension application that he had sustained a sunstroke at Louisville. Nothing in his dossier provides proof that he either participated in Sherman's march or saw battle. What is found in the record is that he was in the service only a short time. Some say he got out on disability, which may refer to the sunstroke.
Obituary: "William E. Burton was born in Ohio, December 10th, 1831 and died July 27th, 1918 at his home in Long View aged 86 years, 2 months and 17 days. He was married to Harriet Perkins February 13th, 1852 and to this union was born nine children, all of which are living. He became a Christian in early life and leaves to mourn his loss his wife, the nine children and 78 grandchildren and 81 great grandchildren, being 168 descendants all of whom are living, this being the first death in the family. He was a member of the Fairland M. E. church but about 3 years ago he, with his wife moved to this place and lived here until his death. The funeral services were held at the M. E. church here conducted by his pastor, Rev. J. R. Warlick, assisted by the U. B. Pastor, Rev. C. T. Shortridge at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Burial was in the Fairfield cemetery."
William Burton, according to his Civil War enlistment record, was 5 feet, 4 inches tall, light complected, light haired and had gray eyes. His occupation when enlisted was that of farmer and the record states that he was drafted; mustered in at Terra Haute March 22, 1865; served as a private in Company B of the 53rd Indiana Infantry; and mustered out with his company at Louisville, Kentucky, July 21, a scant four months later. At the time of his drafting, he was thirty-six years of age and the father of six children.
Some family tradition states that "he was quartermaster . . . was in famous march with Sherman through Georgia to the sea and was discharged there." This tradition would not seem to be born out by recorded history. Sherman's march was half over by November 1864. The four hundred-and-twenty-five-mile march from Savannah to Goldsboro was accomplished in fifty days, the army averaging ten miles per day. By the time William Burton was drafted, the march was essentially over. He claimed in his pension application that he had sustained a sunstroke at Louisville. Nothing in his dossier provides proof that he either participated in Sherman's march or saw battle. What is found in the record is that he was in the service only a short time. Some say he got out on disability, which may refer to the sunstroke.
William Burton, according to his Civil War enlistment record, was 5 feet, 4 inches tall, light complected, light haired and had gray eyes. His occupation when enlisted was that of farmer and the record states that he was drafted; mustered in at Terra Haute March 22, 1865; served as a private in Company B of the 53rd Indiana Infantry; and mustered out with his company at Louisville, Kentucky, July 21, a scant four months later. At the time of his drafting, he was thirty-six years of age and the father of six children.
Some family tradition states that "he was quartermaster . . . was in famous march with Sherman through Georgia to the sea and was discharged there." This tradition would not seem to be born out by recorded history. Sherman's march was half over by November 1864. The four hundred-and-twenty-five-mile march from Savannah to Goldsboro was accomplished in fifty days, the army averaging ten miles per day. By the time William Burton was drafted, the march was essentially over. He claimed in his pension application that he had sustained a sunstroke at Louisville. Nothing in his dossier provides proof that he either participated in Sherman's march or saw battle. What is found in the record is that he was in the service only a short time. Some say he got out on disability, which may refer to the sunstroke.
