Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 419-420 [Daviess]

BEDFORD FORREST BURTON.  From a humble position in the business world
Bedford Forrest Burton has steadily worked his way upward, directing his
energies in those channels through which prosperity comes.  An
analyzation of his life record shows that energy, close application and
mastery of the work entrusted to him have been the salient features in
his career.  He is now cashier of the Farmers' Bank of Wickliffe, and is
also successfully engaged in dealing in real estate.
    Mr. Burton was born on a farm in Daviess county, Kentucky, September
20, 1867, and is descended from one of the old families of Virginia.  His
great grandfather, Bassett Burton, was a native of Virginia, whence he
removed to Kentucky, and in this state Addison Burton, the grandfather,
was born, reared and spent his entire life.  Richard B. Burton, the
father of our subject, was born in Daviess county, Kentucky, where he is
still living at the age of sixty-seven years, his entire life having been
devoted to farming.  In early manhood he wedded Miss Margaret S. Pate, a
native of Ohio county, Kentucky, and a daughter of Dr. Mason Crawford and
Charlotte (Miller) Pate.  Mrs. Burton passed away in 1901, at the age of
sixty-five years, respected by all who knew her.  She was the mother of
four sons, one of whom had died in infancy.  The brothers of our subject
are Jefferson Davis Burton, a farmer and school teacher of Daviess
county, Kentucky, and Alverdie P. Burton, also a farmer of Daviess
county.
     On the home farm Bedford F. Burton spent his boyhood and youth,
assisting in the labors of field and meadow.  The sun shone down upon
many a field which he plowed and planted, and when not engaged with the
work of cultivating the soil he attended the public schools, acquiring a
good, practical English education.  When twenty-three years of age he
left home, and for three or four years was engaged in painting and
paperhanging at Newbern, Tennessee, and Wickliffe, Kentucky, having
resided continuously in the latter city since 1892.  In May, 1896, he
accepted the position of bookkeeper in the Bank of Wickliffe, and was
connected with that institution for three and a half years, three years
of which time he served as assistant cashier.  On the 20th of March,
1902, the Farmers Bank of Wickliffe was organized and opened for
business, and Mr. Burton became cashier, in which capacity he has since
served.  The success of the bank may be attributed in no small degree to
his efforts, for his thorough understanding of the business has been an
important factor in the control of the institution, and his obliging
manner and unfailing courtesy have secured many patrons.  In connection
with Charles Wickliffe, he is also engaged in operating in real estate
under the firm style of Burton & Wickliffe, and they have handled
considerable valuable property and negotiated many important realty
transfers.
     In 1899 Mr. Burton was united in marriage to Miss Minnie E. Rich, a
daughter of Jesse A. Rich, of Ballard county, Kentucky, and they now have
one child, Winnie Goebel.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Burton have a wide circle of
friends in Wickliffe, and the hospitality of the best homes of the city
is freely accorded them.  While Mr. Burton has never sought or desired
office, he always keeps well informed on the political issues of the day,
as every true American citizen should do, and votes for the measures
which he believes will affect the weal of the nation.  His support is
ever given to Democracy, and his social relations connect him with the
Masonic fraternity.  There have been no exciting chapters in his life
history, but his record proves the force of determination and honorable
effort in the business world, and shows that the world is not to
acknowledge worth and merit.

Burton Crawford Miller Pate Wickliffe Rich
=
Ohio-KY TN Ballard-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/daviess/burton.bf.txt