The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-10-06
ERNEST H. BARTON.
Death Claims one Of the Best Known Cit
liens OF Ascension Parish.

! Death Claims one of the Best known Cit
| liens of Ascension Parish.
/ Ernest FL. Barton. owner of ST. Emma
plantation and one of the best known
and most highly esteemed sugar plant
ers OF this parish, died very suddenly
at 1915 o'clock Wednesday night,
from the effects Of attaeeEzsof acute
nervous Indigestion. The sad event
transpired at the palatial Barton home
on 81. Emma plantation, and will carry
profound sorrow and regret into many
households. Mr.. Barton was appar-
emily in the very best Of health and
spirits when he retired to his room
about 10 O'Clock Wednesday night, at
the conclusion Ut game of billiards
with his son-in-law, Capt. Frank K.
Sims. He chatted wFh his wife for
several minutes afteg disrobing and
made some trivial remark to her just
as she turned out the light and di-
rected her steps toward the bed. The
words proved to be his last, for a brief
moment later, with smile on his lips
and content in his heart, he closed his
eyes in the long sleep that knows no
waking and passed quietly away.
Death came to him as he had earned
it-peacefully, calmly, softly, as the
slumber after a days work honestly
done, the setting Of sun that had
been untarnished by the slightest touch
of cloud.
Mr.. Barton was a native OF Assump-
ton parish, having been born on Lit
tie Texas plantation Dec. 5. 1854. His
early education was derived from pri-
vate tutors and subsequently he at
tended the University Of Virginia,
from which Institution he graduated
with high honors. Returning to Lou
in the man agement Of Trinity planta-
ton, Assumption parish, afterwards
assuming the position of manager of
the ST. Clair estate in St. James par
ish. His next venture was the leasing
of Minnie plantation, and in the year
1891 he purchased the well-appointed
ST. Emma place in this parish, short
distance below onaldsonvil1e, where
he took up his residence the following
year.
In 1879. MIR. Barton married Miss
Bertha Beasley, the ceremony being
performed at the old Beasley home
stead on Wildwood plantation, As
sumption parish, and the union was
blessed with five children, four Of whom
survive their father, towit: Mrs. Frank
L. Sims, Misses Ida and Roberta Bar
ton, and Ernest Il. Barton, Jr. The
deceased is also survived by his de-
voted wife, two brothers, Walter I. Bar
ton, Of Riverside plantation, and CLAIR
ence C. Barton, OF Little Texas, and
one sister, Mrs. Efie L. Pike, of St.
Clair plantation.
Mr.. Barton always manifested deep
interest in public affairs, and was fore
most in every movement looking to the
benefit Of the community in which he
lived. At the time of his death he was
serving the parish as a member of the
board of jury commissioners, and
filed thai and other positions OF honor
and trust with signal ability and dis
tinetion. He was leading member
OF the Ascension Club of Donaldson
vile, and the rooms of that organiza
ton have been draped in mourning as
tribute of respect to his memory.
The funeral took place at noon
Thursday, fnterment being made in the
Episcopal cemetery at Napoleonville
after impressive services at Christ
Church, Rev. Quincy Ewing offieiat-
ing. The pall-bearers were as follows:
r. N. Sims, Clerville Himel, Walter
Lemann, Arthur (. Barton, z. A. Au-
coin, Jas. B. Murphy, Edward 2. Muir
ply and S. Kennedy Barton.
Generous, kindly, sympathetic, a
man of highest integrity and excep-
tionally engaging personality, he was
respected and admired by all who
knew him, both ID the business and
social world, and those who knew him
best loved him most. It may be said
that no citizen Of Ascension parish
stood higher in the esteem of his
friends, neighbors and acquaintance
than did Ernest H. Barton, and his
sudden and untimely death has caused
void that only time can fill and a
wound that naught but divine Prov
idence can heal.