The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-02-08
In Memoriam.

years OF useful lie, the latter part OIL
which was spent in invalidism, thus
has passed away one of Palatka's
oldest and most influential citizens,
long identified with the history of
the town.
Judge Burt was born in Rutland,
VT, September 2Sth 1926. He was
one of the large family of Charles
Burt, a prominent and prosperous
merchant in that city, and acquired
his education in the public school
and under his fathers tutelage.
In 1850 he went to Galveston,
Texas, and engaged in the mercan-
tile business, but in the following
year saw an advantage in moving to
Savannah, Ga. There he continued
his mercantile occupation and also
became commission merchant and
incidentally becoming closely con-
nected with the principal mercantile
firms of st. Augustine and Palatka.
Owing to the failure of the business
house in Palatka, in 1852, he was
called here to act as receiver. Soon
after settling in the town he was
made trustee of the Palatka Tract
and this brought him in close bust
ness association with Judge Isaac ii.
Bronson and Judge VIM. Forward,
both of the Supreme Court of Flori-
da, besides other prominent lawyers
of that time.
In 1854 he was appointed agent of
the Bank of Charleston, transacting
through it the first banking business
in this city. After representing this
bank exclusively for some six years
he also accepted the agency of the
Peoples Bank of Charleston, the
State Bank of Florida and Bank of
St. Johns. Under Governor BroOme
he received appointment as a county
commissioner in 1866, and was re-
appointed in 1851, by Governor Per-
ry, who likewise gave him COM
mission in 1858 as delegate to the
Southern Commercial Convention
held in Montgomery, Ala. In 1859
he was made postmaster by the
United States Postmaster General
Joseph Holt. During the same year
he was elected Judge of probate for
Putnam county, being the first to fill
that office and which he held until
after the war. Although not law.
yer by profession his aptness and as
sociation with legal minds had given
him a clear conception of its princi-
Piles and practice, and thus it was he
received a commission from Cover
nor Walker in 1866 as Judge of the
criminal court for Putnam county.
In the year of 1862 he was appointed
receiver of statesmen of public lands
for the east circuit of Florida which
position be held until the close of
the war, rendering the state valuable
service during his term of office.
He identified himself with the in
terests of the south, but did not en-
ter active service as he was in the
state employ, though he was MEM
Der of the home guard. In 1865 he
received his pardon from President
Andrew Johnson. In 1877 he was
commissioned by Governor Drew a
member of the Board of Education
of the East Florida Seminary.
In connection with the various Of
fees he held, Judge Burt continued
to carry on an extensive real estate
business, and represented number
of insurance companies. After the
which many estates were Justly set
tied and many present homes &C
quired. During the fifties he was
instrumental in having the settle
ment incorporated and later the
plating, surveying and opening of
streets was left to his discretion.
He located and established what is
known as New Town for the colored
population. While acting in the ca
pacity of mayor, alderman, or any
other city officer, he ever kept before
him the interests of the town ana did
everything in his power to promote
its growth and brighten its future.
In the year of 1868 he married Miss
Fanny Horton Russell, daughter of
DR.. J. P. Russell, II. S. A. of Cover
errors Island, n. Y, who died at his
home while serving the government
in 1919. Before her marriage she
was for many years resident of st
Augustine.
In the fall of 1884 he moved with
his family on the Heights where he
had invested in large, young orange
grove. Among his other undertake
ings, he was among the first orange
growers in this section and the first
to bud and graft on the wild sour
stock. In concurrence with other
residents on the Heights the town of
Palatka Heights was incorporated in
the year of 1886. Up to within two
years of his demise he was an active
office holder in the town council of
the corporation.
The funeral service was conducted
from st. Marks Episcopal church at
10 80 a. m, Saturday, Feb. I'd. With
st. Marks church he had all his life
been identified, acting as treasurer,
vestryman, and warden from its or
ganization in 1866 until 1887, and was
licensed as lay reader by Bishop
Rutledge in 1855. In March 1866,
with the assistance of others, he or
ganized a Sunday school and started
lay services until a clergyman was
sent to take charge of the parish, and
to this church so dear to him he was
taken for the last rites. The inter-
ment was in West View cemetery at
the noon hour. The casket was borne
to its last resting place by four of his
sons, James Leonard, Charles, Ed
mund Russell, land George William,
and Messrs. J. c. Sands and DR.. Ros-
9nberg. The honorary pail bearers
were Messrs. w. G.. Hargrove, Mar
tin Griffin, Capt. R. ]. Adams, j. E.
Marshall, DR.. w. H. Cyrus and JOS
aph Price.
The deceased is survived by his
widow, three daughters and six sons, |
1ll.of whom were present with the
exception of one son, to pay their
asst respects to the loved one. Two |
sons and q daughter are married |
Three sons are electricians, one
awyer, one a druggist, and one a
banker.
blessed are all they that fear the
Lord; and walk in His ways.
He that hath used no deceit in his |
.ongue, nor done evil to his neighbor:
md hath not slandered his neigh !