Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-09-25
HON. DAVID BURT.
Death at Mortified at II 80 Friday
Night.

News was received in St. Paul yester-
day of the death, at his home IN North
field, at 11:3O Friday night, of Hon. David
Burt, late State superintendent of public
instruction. Mr.. Burt has been afflicted
with pulmonary affection for years, the
disease assuming an aggravated form
within the past six months, during which
time he has failed rapidly, until finally
death came to his relief as above stated.
Mr.. Burt was son of John Burt, a
builder of cotton factory machinery, and
was born in Munson, Mass, August 2,
1862. The Burts were from England,
and settled in Randolph, Mass, deceased
being about the fifth generation born in
this country. He acquired good educa-
ton in the common schools of his section,
and at the age of 10 he was engaged as
the teacher of the school in his district.
He continued to teach for ten years,
when he entered Welbraham academy,
Mass, where he prepared for college. He
cnteaed the Junior class of Oberlin IN
1916, teaching two winters in Ohio, and
graduating with his class in honorable
distinction. After receiving his collegl-
ate degree he spent three years in the
Theological seminary at Andover, Mass.
graduating in 1851. In the autumn Of
this year he married Fanny B. Rice and
became pastor of the Congregational
church of Raymond, Mass. In the spring
of 1855 he resigned on account of bron-
chial difficulty, intending to try the in
land climate, but after short respite
from labor he took charge of the Congre-
gational church at Rutland, Mass, where
he remained until the autumn OF 1857,
when he removed to Chicago, where he
taught select school during the follow
ing winter.
In May, 1858, Mr. Burt removed to
Winona, this State, under call OF the
Congregational church Soon after he
was appointed superintendent of the
public schools in that city. In 1859 he
was made member of the prudential
board of the state normal school, located
there He also served as county exam
liner of county school teachers, and was
an original member of the State Teachers
Association, organized about that time.
In August, 1866, Mr. Burt was appoint
ed by Gen. Howard on the staff of Gen.
Clinton B. Fisk, commissioner OF the
Freedmen's Bureau at Nashville,
Tenn. The duty assigned him
in this position was that OF
general superintendent of the colored
Schools of the state, which schools were
then under the charge of the bureau
The climate Of the South proving I'M
favorable to his health, he resigned after
about two years of service and returned
to Minnesota. In the autumn of 1868
and the winter following he supplied the
Plymouth church OF Minneapolis, in the
absence of it's pastor, then in Europe.
While on visit in Massachusetts in the
autumn of 1869, he was Frustrated by a
severe hemorrhage of the lungs. While
in that condition he was informed
he had been appointed super
intendent of schools for Winona county,
the duties of which he assumed the fol-
lowing spring. In 1875 he was appointed
and accepted the Office of state superin
tendent of public instruction, which po
sition he held until few weeks since.
Mr.. Burt was thoroughly devoted to
the cause of education, and in the office
of superintendent of public instruction
labored zealously and untiringly to sys-
tematize our system and elevate the place
he purposed to make his future home.
Here some six weeks ago he was confined
to his bed, since which his decline has
been steadily going on, until finally death
claimed him as above
By his marriage, Mr.. Burt had four
children, one of which died and was bur-
led at Rutland, Mass, and another at
Winona, while two survive him, son,
Charles, clerk in the Office lately vacated
by his father, and daughter, who with the
wife and mother, constitute the immedi-
ate family of the diseased, left to mourn
his death. The funeral will take place
at Mortified, his home for the past six
months, at p. m. to-day.