My Genealogy Hound

HIRAM A. BURTON is now a prosperous farmer and grape grower living in the town of Ripley, but formerly was a teacher of ability, whom the children of the generation now just reaching fifty years of age will remember as having taught for a number of years. He is a son of Hiram and Harriet (Skinner) Burton, and was born in the town of Portland, Chautauqua county, New York, October 22, 1822. John Burton, the grandfather of the sixth generation remote, was a subject of King Charles II., and lived at Durham, England, where he died. He had a son John, who was born in 1685, and emigrated to America, finally settling in Massachusetts, where he died in 1763. He also had a son John, who was born at Danvers, Mass., in 1726, and lived until 1798, when he died at Sutton, the same State. One of his sons, too, was named John, the great-grandfather of Hiram A. He lived until September 30, 1837, and passed away at the same place. Simon Burton (grandfather) was born at Sutton, Massachusetts, November 19, 1769, and came to Chautauqua county soon after the close of our second war with England, in which, with four of his sons, he gallantly served his country. Although he was a millwright, he bought a farm and followed these occupations in conjunction with each other until he died in 1842, in the town of Portland. Simon Burton was possessed of an education and intellect far above the average of his day. He was a prominent universalist, and enjoyed the distinction of being editor of the church paper called Gospel Advocate. In politics he favored the Whig party and gave them such assistance in their campaigns as he could. He married Margaret French and reared a family of seven sons and three daughters. Two of the former lost their lives in the war mentioned above. Hiram Burton (father) was born in Croydon, New Hampshire, November 22, 1799, and came with his father to Portland in 1816. He had learned the trade of millwright but, like his father, also owned and operated a farm. He was a whig and afterwards a republican, and served as commissioner of highways for a number of years. He belonged to the Universalist church, and served in the war of 1812 with his father. He married Harriet Skinner, who was born in Chenango county in 1805. After the death of her parents she came to Chautauqua county with a large family of brothers and sisters and located near Brocton, and died January 14, 1890. They reared a family of five sons and three daughters.

Hiram A. Burton received a superior education for his day at the district schools and the Fredonia academy. Succeeding his school life he taught for a number of years, and ranked high as an instructor and disciplinarian. Afterwards he engaged in farming and fruit growing which he still follows, having come to Ripley in 1868.

He married Ellen M. Harris, who was born May 27, 1820, and is a daughter of Jonathan G. and Lucy (Miller) Harris, and came from a family of seven children, all born in Vermont, but who afterwards came to Chautauqua county. One, Gilbert D., entered the civil war and lost his life at the bloody battle of the Wilderness. Mr. and Mrs. Burton are the parents of four children, all daughters: Lucy, born May 18, 1845, married to Talmage B. Little, a grape grower of this town; Sarah, born July 28, 1855, is the wife of T. J. Walker, who is engaged in the same business in the same town; Maria M., born January 22, 1858, is the wife of George W. Onthank, in Ripley, also growing grapes; and Cora Annette, born August 21, 1865.

Hiram A. Burton is an energetic, pushing man who enters into everything he takes hold of with life and vim. He belongs to the Republican party, the Universalist church, is a member of the Equitable Aid Union, and other co-operative and fraternal organizations.