Burnet Bulletin, April 7, 1904;

Monday, April 4th, at his home in the Shady Grove neighborhood, after suffering a long illness, A. M. Barton died, and was buried Tuesday. Uncle Alex Barton was one of the pioneers of Burnet County, having assisted in protecting this county from Indians. A number of children, a host of friends and many acquaintances mourn the death of Uncle Alex Barton.

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Burnet Bulletin, April 28, 1904

"Uncle Alex Barton. "

The subject of this sketch was born in Greenville, S. C. , June 10th, 1831. Died at his home near Shady Grove, April 4, 1904, lacking a few months of being 73 years old. He married Miss Louisa Hightower, January 15th, 1851, in S. C., Moved to Texas January 1st, 1854-settled near old South Gabriel this county and has lived continuously in the county ever since. Was a member of the Baptist Church since he was eighteen years of age, a Mason for many years, being a member of Robt. E. Lee Lodge at Shady Grove at the time of his death, was a democrat of the old school type and always took an active part in politics; a devoted husband and father; a kind neighbor and loyal friend-this was Uncle Alex Barton, as he was familiarly called by all who knew him.

He served two years in the Confederate army and then came home to serve in the frontier service, and many were the experiences he had with the Indians. In his death another old land mark of Burnet County has passed from our midst-not many remain who were here before he came.

Fifty years in the County-a long, long time-and yet; time, in its steady and unretarded motion, ticks the time away, and here we are aware we stalk from the cradle to the grave. Sometimes in my busy life, I find time to sit down by the wayside upon the stump of reflection, and turning the tables of my memory back to my childhood days, recall many names and faces of these old pioneer settlers and my heart grows sad when I recall that so few remain-men who blazed out the path that led to all the blessings we enjoy today.

Well can I remember back in the early seventies my father kept the log hotel where now stands King's store, the post office building and brick store on the corner. These old fellows would stop with us during Court. My mother had a piano, (a very few then in town, none in the country) and would sometimes play for them. Ofttimes "Uncle Alex" has told me how he enjoyed that music; he thought no one could play like her, for she plated for them the old style music-music with a tune-not a combination of sweet sounds without a tune.

Alex Barton was an unlettered man, but a man with plenty of "hard horse sense" -a mechanical genius; years ago he began working on a perpetual motion problem, that led to what is known as the Bell Crank patent. From this Phil Davis caught the idea that led to the Davis balance wheel patent-something that revolutionized the whole theory of mechanics, and is now being adopted by all the trunk lines of the Country.

I remember years ago hearing happy-hearted George Arnett saying that he hoped "Uncle Alex" would make a million dollars out of his patent, that if he did hound pups would be worth a thousand dollars a piece in Burnet County, and so they would; he loved his dogs and the sport of the chase.

It made you feel good to go to his house. Always a good liver and he treated you with that old time hospitality that made you feel at ease and at home. He leaves seven children and a number of grandchildren, two brothers and a wide circle of friends to mourn his death. His estimable wife died several years ago. His children who reside out of the County-Jim and Perry in Callahan County and Walk in Nebraska all made a pilgrimage to his bedside to see him before he died.

He was conscious up the moment of his death; he called his children and friends who were present around his bedside and bade them all good bye, said he was prepared and ready to go and with no fears of the future, and thus, the light of this kind and generous hearted old man went out.

Peace to his ashes-and honor to his memory. I pray that in that far away home of the soul, near its crystal banks, where the birds sing sweetest and the flowers bloom brightest-his has found a home eternal. Tuesday, April 5th, at 11 o'clock at Shady Grove Church yard with Masonic honors, surrounded by a large congregation of mourning relatives and friends, he was tenderly laid to rest, to await the "call of the roll up yonder."

Hail! and fare-the-well, old friend!

RUSTLER. Burnet, Texas, April 15th, 1904.