The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-05-23
DAVID BARTON.
BRIEF SKETCH OF HIS LIFE-DEsCRIP
TIoN OF THE MONUMENTS ERECTED
TO HIS MEMORY AT BOOM
VILE, MO-, WHERE HE
DIED SEPTEMBER 28,

Written for this paper by Col. william F.
Switzler.
Commemorative monum e n s,
erected in memory of important |
events or in honor of the illustrious
dead, are of great antiquity. They
are constructed of various materials |
and in various shapes and sizes, from
the small church yard cross to the
Great Pyramid |; and, in. our own
country, In thefofrn Of the Washing
ton monument at the national
capital. The mass of stone known
in history as the Great Pyramid
served as a tomb, at last If not at
first; and it is claimed that the other
pyramids of Egypt are tombs and
nothing else. OF different character,
how ever, is the Great Sphinx, which
was erected in honor of divinity or
system of worship and devotion,
and is probably the Oldest monume mt
of which any considerable remains
now exist.
Very curious species of monu-
ments existed among the Greeks to
commemorate the triumphs of the
leaders and organizers of the Diony-
siac musical festivals, among which
may be mentioned beautiful build
ing in Athens known as the Monu-
ment of Lysicrates.
Among the Romans, the large and
richly adorned columns of Trajan
and of Marcus Aurelius may be
mentioned. In London, the Nelson
column in Trafalgar Square, in Paris,
the Napoleon column of the Place
Vendome, in Baltimore and Wash
ington, the Washington monuments,
and at st. Petersburg the pillar of
Alexander ]. Obelisks to commem-
'orate the life and achievements of
warriors and statesmen are nearly
akin to the column or shafts; and a
truly characteristic of more modern
times is The memorial chapel, Gas the
Fisher Chapel at Columbia, Missouri
the memorial hospital, the college
hall, or library or professorship,
named in honor of the man or the
event commemorated.
There are many tall and costly
shafts and pieces of statuary in
Missouri erected in honor of the
8 ilustrious dead of the state. Among
these are two monuments at Boon
vile erected over the grave OF
David Barton, the first of the two
senator's elected TO congress in 1920,
and who died at Boonville, Septem-
Der 2S, 1887. He was one of the
ablest and most distinguished states
men known to the early history OF
Missouri. He held important and
responsible offices during the terri
torial existence of Missouri and was
the president of its first constitu
tiC nal convention which met on June
IL, 1920, in the dining room Of the
, City Hotel, corner of Third anC
n Vine Streets, st. Louis, and was the
| author of many of the most impor
a TAFT provisions of the constitution
adopted.
Alter distinguished service of tel
!, years in the United States State
, Senate, he was succeeded by Alex
, ander Bnckner, who was membe
a of the convention Of 1920, from
Cape Girardeau county, and died il
May, 1888, before his term as Unite'
States senator expired. He wa
succeeded by Lewis F. Linn, of Ste
Genevieve.
Barton was whig, and opposes
the election of Andrew Jacks an
-. the distinguishing measures of hi
y, administration. His inGemperat
habits, acquired while he was sen
;. ator in congress, rather than hi
:. adherence to the Wing party, wer
y, the cause of his retirement from tn
:, senate in 1881; and also his failure a
-. the election of that year to be chose
member of the United States hous
- of representatives over Spence
Pettis, the Jackson candidate.
,t At the state election in 1894, how
" ever, he was chosen by the people {
\. st. Louis a state senator and serve
l. four years. This closed his officii
10 career, soon after which, bein
l. an unmarried man he accepte
= the hospitality of friend and rela
m tive, the late William Gibson, of tn
n vicinity of Boonville. Here h
seemed to have no fixed or reguls
business; and his reason becomin
! dethroned by the growing habit I
intemperance, he became a mania
"a There being at that time no asylu
% for the insane in the state, he WI
to confined, at times, even chained to
"A staple in the floor, in room in NJ
;. Gibson's residence. 1t has bee
, only a few years since this ring I
~ staple was removed, for the house
l., still In existence.
Of After his death his remains we
B. inferred in the old city cemetery
,e Boouville, now almost entirely abal
l. doned; and soon afterwards a lin,
90 stone monument about ten feet hil
y. with appropriate inscriptions W
ur erected at his grave. Who erect'