The gold leaf., 1891-12-31
REV. ROBERTO.BURTON, DID.
Death Of This Eminent Methodist
Divine at His Home Near We'll

Death Of This Eminent Methodist
Divine at His Home Near We'll
don.
From the Ronnoke Neps OF DEC. oath,
We take the following:
The Rev. R. 0. Burton, D. D., died at
his home about five miles from this place
on Thursday last, the 18th inst, after
an illness Of about two weeks, in the S1st
year Of his age. DR.. Burton was in ex-
cellent health until he attended the an
nual session OF the y. c. Conference which
convened on the 25th inst, at Greenville.
While there he took deep cold on account
OF exposure on Sunday when it showed
all day. He returned home and in few
days was confined to his bed with an
attack of bronchitis, which, enfeebled by
age, his system was unable to resist.
DR.. Burton was born in Campbell
county, Virginia. on June 3Oth, 1911.
He was appointed cadet at West Point
and was there while General r. E. Lee
was post adiutant. General Beauregard
was cadet there at the same time.
After a year or two he resigned and re-
turned home, and shortly afterward en-
tered the NJ. +. Church and Joined the
Virginia Conference, which at that time
embraced the whole of North Carolina, ut
Petersburg during the session of 1893.
He was sent by the Conference to work
in that portion of it included in this
State, and while engaged in pastoral ser
vice married the daughter of Col. Andrew
JOyner, of this county, one of the most
prominent men in the State at that day
He lived thereafter in this county, though
retaining his connection with the Con-
ference, and working in various parts OF
its bounds. The offspring of this mar
riage were John o., Andrew j., Robert
O., and Henry. Sometime after the
death OF his first wife he married the
daughter of Maj. j. Pearson, also oi
this county. The children of the second
marriage are Olivia, Eirgisius, James,
Roberto and Edward. All these survive
| him and were gathered about his bedside
watching the Pickering flame of life e1
| pire as hesoul of their beloved and loving
father winged its way to brighter realms
above. AS he grew weaker and weaker
on that Thursday morning the watchers
knew the end had come and as he breatheG
his last the grief for the departure o.
their honOred father could not be sup
pressed, though full well they knew the
mortal had put on immortality.
After the North Carolina Conference
was erected he became member OF il
and retained his connection with it unit
his death, with the exception of the -four
years of the war when he was transferred
to the Virginia Conference. He was ont
of the most prominent members of that
body and welded IL mighty influence il
/ it's deliberations. He filled some of the
most important pastorates in the State
and was several times Presiding Elder
spoken of i'll connection with the Episco
pal office one Of which was then vacant
Some years ago the University of Nortl
Carolina conferred upon him the degree
of Doctor of Divinity, and most worthi J
| was it bestowed.
| Dr. Burton was deep aud clear
| thinker, and few indeed were the subjects
upon which he did not have fully digested
and we'll defined views. He always had
the courage of his convictions ant
whether in the pulpit or in debate he was
eloquent and powerful. His sermons
were productions of the highest order ant
his congregations often sat spell bound
| by his grand flow of oratOry. He was 9
faithful servant in the work OF tn.
Master, and the account of his steward
ship will receive the plaudit of we'll done
| thou good and faithful servant, enter intt
| the Joys of the Lord He has entered
into the joys OF his Lord, and now rests
from his labors, with neither care, mol
pain, nor sorrow, and not wave o
trouble rolls across his peacefnl breast.
DR.. Burton was buried Friday after
noon at " Poplar Greve," the old JOyne
homestead, where other members of th'
family are buried. The services wer
conducted by the Rev. S. d. Adams
Presiding Elder of this district, assisted
by the Revs. w. l.. Cuninggim, O
Henderson, j. N. Cole, of Raleigh, R. p
Troy and J. NJ. Rhodes, of Littleton, A
McCullin, of Warrenton, W. w. Rose
of Toisnot, who had come to pay the las
sad tribute of respect to the venerable
man of God.