Rock Island Argus., 1896-12-14
BURIAL OF JOHN BARTON.
Coal vasisy,s Respscted Citizsp laii 3,
Rest Yesterday Aftsrnoou.

1tSs hSSIorusy AtteroOous
The mortal remains of Postmaster
JOHN Barton, of Coal Valley, we,e
committed to the tomb beside those
of his wife in Rural cemetery yester-
day. Services appropriate to the
occasion were held in the Presbyter-
ian church of Coal Valley at 10 .. NJ.
and st 12:i5 p. m. in the Presby ter
ian church of Beulsh. Large cougre-
cations gathered at each place to
evince the high estimation in which
they held the departed. Rev. Viii
liam B Mckee, Of Rock Island. was
the officiating minister. Upon the
casket was placed tokens OF gym
pathy and love, of carnations, roses
and other flowers, fresh and bcaut,-
full, tastefully woven with ever
greens in crosses, crowns and
wreaths.
Mr Mckee delivered :e. ling dis
course on the life of the deceased.
He said that at the close of last sum-
mer there were evidences OF declin-
ing health in his case, ard in the
hope Of recuperating it he thought
rest from business and change Of To-
cslity might consummate his desire.
For the two last months he had been
under the care Of his son at Secor.
With the realization that his hope
was rot granted him. he made ar
rangements for the disposition o; his
estate, and gave assurances OF his
readiness for death and preparation
for the sinless world. The church
at Coal Valley, of which he was 9
member, and its Sunday school, Of
which he was the faithful superin-
tendent for IS successive years. occu-
pied his thoughts and entered into
his conversation during the closing
days Of his life. He expressed q
strong desire that the Sabbath school
would furnish the persons to take
the places and do the work Of those
who have by death and removal been
taken from them. MIR. Barton, said
the preacher. was born Sept. 12,
1880, in Washington county, Pa
His parents were Hugh and Jane
Barton and were members OF the
Hopewell Presby terian church. of
which he became a member in 1850
Feb. 2S. 1856. he was married to Mi So
Mary Burns in Allegheny county.
Pa. About ten years ago his wife
departed this life.
The April following his marriage
he came west, 40 years ago, in COM
pany with q goodly number of solid
Pennsylvanians, who settled in Rural
township and vicinity. a number OF
| whom still remain and are amorg
our most estimable citizens. In 1866
he left the pursuit Of agriculture and
entered into the employ Of the Coal
Valley Lumber company. After this
he acceptsbly discharged the duties
OF several local civic offices, and at
his death was postmaster at Coal
Valley He was the father Of five
children, two Of whom are deceased.
While Mr.. Barton was faithful in
the discharge of all civic obligations
and participated in the secular inter
ests of his community, he had a con-
trolling faith in christianity and a
peculiar regard for the church of his
choice. His usefulness to society
exhibited itself in church attachment
aud christian work, especially in
that cf the Sunday school. He was
one Of the organizers Of the Beulah
and Cosl Valley churches, and Of the
Iatter's Sunday school. and Of its
original board of trustees was o
member. He had also been a faith.
full ruling elder for many years in
the Coal Valley church. II candor,
patience. qaietness in critical mo-
ments, conservatism, good judgmen;
and solid intelligence are worth any
thing to man they were conspicn-
Gus in Mr. Barton's cha actcr and
life.
As ruling elder, Mr.. Barton fire.
Iquently represented his church in
meetings Of the presbytry. When
| present at these meetings. he IVES :
quiet member. He was n good
thinker and safe adviser. lie took
broad, clear and intelligent views OF
all questions pertaining to the mis-.
sion OF the church. The year of 1896
his presbytry elected him comm,s
sioner to the general assembly which
met in Pittsburg. This was q high
honor, and was highly appreciated
by him. II was one of the happy
events of his life, and gave him the
opportunity to visit the place of bi,
nativity. and friends and relatives
| that remain.
MIR. Barton was above the aver
age .uymsn in knowledge OF eccles-
'asticsl history and law, theology,
civil affairs and politics. This was
due to his extensive reading. He vas
strong in his convictions, good and
instructive conversationaiist, a ten.
der husband, kind father, q good
citizen and an earnest christian.
There was multitude OF people
to pay their last tribute to him yes.
terday.