Tarrant County TXGenWeb - Dr. William Burts obit

Tarrant County TXGenWeb

Dr. William Paxton Burts
Citizens of Two Generations Honor His Memory

Fort Worth Gazette
Saturday, Sept.. 7, 1895

Probably never before in the history of Fort Worth has there been such a demonstration as occurred yesterday afternoon at the funeral of Dr. BURTS. The streets in the vicinity of the family residence at the southwest corner of First and Rusk Streets were thronged with vehicles of every kind belonging to all classes of citizens there to pay their last respects and tribute of friendship. The older citizens particularly showed their high regard for the man whose life had been spent in the service of the community and who had been prominent in good works since coming here to link his destiny with that of Fort Worth in the early days. Present were men who had seen the little frontier village grow into a town and city in what was then the far West but there were only a few who had been with him in the first year of his career for he antedated a generation of those. Two old city officials who were co-laborers with him in the early days, his old brethren of the medical profession and the lodge were represented by a few of their number. There were a few score who remembered him as a physician in the days of the war, riding far and near through the country to answer every call of suffering humanity and a few hundred who had known him in the prime of life, but the thousands who looked upon the scene had known this eminent old man only in his later years. However, all realized that there was something more than usual interest in the impressive service and this funeral will be long remembered by all those in attendance.

While the assembly represented every class of citizen, the scene was made particularly impressive by the appearance of the members of the city government in carriages, in addition to the attendance of the Masons and Knights of Honor who came in a body from the lodge rooms. Members of the fire department turned out as the fire bell rang a solemn requiem. The bier was covered with beautiful floral arrangements, most of the designs consisting of wreaths and crosses. A brief but eloquent talk was delivered by Rev. J. H. MORRISON, the well known evangelist from Memphis, who has recently conducted a series of meetings at the Broadway Presbyterian Church.

The ceremonies closed with services conducted by the Masons at the grave in the new cemetery. Serving as pall-bearers were: Messrs Zane CETTI, John Peter SMITH, J. C. TERRELL, J. C. SCOTT, M. B. LOYD, Nat WASHER, A. G. McCLUNG and J. Y. HOGGSETT. Relatives present included Dr. Burts' daughter, Mrs. C. H. REYNOLDS, of Atlanta, Ga.

Dr. Burts was born in Green Meadow, Washington County, Tenn. December 7, 1827 and was reared in the Presbyterian faith - in which he lived and died. He was, at one time, a presiding elder in a church in Tazewell County, Va. when Rev. Isaac N. NEFF was pastor there. He came to Fort Worth in 1858 and was in medical practice at one time with Dr. Julian FEILDS.

[In 1862 Dr. Burts enlisted in the Tarrant County Rifles, organized by Dr. C. M. PEAK but did not see active service since he was needed at home, but provided a substitute. The REL Camp UCV considered him a veteran just as if he had been in battle. He served as mayor of Fort Worth and was one of the first commissioners appointed to the Pioneers Rest Cemetery Association].

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