The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1897-06-12
OPELOUSAS, PARISH OF ST. LANDRY La. JUNE II. 1897
A Wedding Anniversary.

10! wonder which seldom before hath been
For it seldom before hath been given tc
sight,
1t must be that tho popular supersti-
tion that May weddings are unlucky is
not so, or perhaps, as the "bride'' of
whom we write, once said, "It was be-
cause it was so late in May for one
thing Is quite sure, and that is that the
oldest couple in Louisiana celebrated
the seventeen anniversary of their
wedding on Monday, May 81, at the
home of DR.. and Mrs. Geo. h. ToIson,
in Melville. La.
That couple is Capt, and Mrs. Wal
thall Burton, the grandparents of Mrs
Tolson. Capt. Burton has lived
through the most interesting period of
the worlds history. He has seen the
evolutions and revolutions that mark
the lapse OF nearly a century, and i'm his
day has occupied nearly every position
of honor and trust in the community
wherever he has lived
Descended from the Gray and Bruce
families Of Scotland, he was born near
Bardstown, Kentucky, March 2S, 1907,
and removed with his parents to Mis-
| slsslppi when very yonng, living on a
farm near WOodvile until old enough
to be sent to Kentucky to college.
Returning to Mississippi by steam
boat, railroads in that day being con
sidered as impracticable as airships, he
engaged in planting.
lie was married in 1927 to Theresa
Ann Iherell, also of Scotch origin. Had
that day been one of daily papers in
WoodvilIe, no doubt the next DAYS is
sue of the Woodville Inte)ligencer, or
some other equally suitably named bul.
letin, would have told of very inter
esting wedding the day before in some
thing like this wise:
yesterday marked an epoch in the
lives OF two OF our young people.
At the home of the brides uncle, Mr.
Jesse Brown, Theresa Ann TnereIl and
Walthall Burton, were married, Rev.
MIR. Brown of the Methodist Episcopal
church officiating. The bride wore
white brocaded silk made in empire
style, lace veil, and natural roses, and
the groom was very handsome and
very happy.
The bridesmaid was Miss Betsy
Brown, aunt OF the bride, who stood
with Lorenzo Brown, Il friend of the
groom. Two little candle bearers pre-
ceeded the bridal party.
1t was real Brown Wedding,' given
on Browns creek, at Brown Eouse,
with Brown attendants, one brown
candle bearer, Brown minister And
the queer part of it is that no two were
related except the bridesmaid and host"
Th@paper would no doubt have gone
ON Wishing them Il long aud happy life
with doubtless no dream of how truly
the wish would be fulfilled, for how few
can count seven decades of welded
life !
In 1888 they moved to St Helena Par
lsh, La.
Capt. and Mrs. Button had six chill
tl,en, only two of which lived to be
grown, Martha Edith, wife of Judge
John Joseph Morgan of Opelousas, and
Theresa Ann, who married DR., Henry
b. Hartman of New Orleans.
Capt. Burton's first civil office was
that of Magistrate which he held for !
many years. He was also trustee of !
schools, and at one time held three |
offices, which is rather unusual, though |
this was at the earnest request of his |
fellow citizens.
He was for many years captain of
the militia company known as the st. |
Helena Blues, which disbanded to send |
volunteers to the Mexican War.
He becamea member Of the Cousti-
tutional Convention in 1S45, and the
Legislature in 1916.
He voted for Henry Clay and
left the next day for the Atchafa-
laya river, where he purchased a
large tract of land out of which was
made the Ashland plantation.
With the exception of a few years
spent in Baton Rouge and New Or
leans, he has made his home on the
river.
lie was d member of the Secession
in 1861.
Ruined financially by the war, he be-
came commander OF several steamboats,
belonging to the Washington and At
line. In 1876 he retired from
the river aud remained on the planta-
ton.
Again he was chosen as delegate to
the Constitutional Convention which
in 1870.
At the age OF seveDly-six. when most
men have done with the work Of life,
he WAS given Il certificate Of efficiency as
pilot, master of steam vessels, etc, and
was employed by the Il. P. r. r. Co. to
run the transfer boat across the Atcha-
faiaya river It'll the completion of the
Melville bridge.
Up to II few months since he was mag
istrate and for a long time before his
of said Office he crossed the
waters Of the turbulent river, in his
little skitf, if need be. to marry young
couples, gave them hearty hand
shake and wished them long and useful
life as his has been.
Mayathis venerable couple celebra ~
their diamond wedding is tho wisidi6f
their friends.
Capt. Walthall Burton is tru.lNone of
whom it is said, Il
"Ye pioneers, it, is to you,
Our debt of gratitude is due
Ye builded wiser than ye knew, %
The firm fOllndatiors