BIO:  BURTON, Capt. Walthall, s/o Wilson & Eleanor (Bruce) Burton

Submitted by:  mike_m@deq.state.la.us   (Mike Miller)

BURTON   BRUCE   TERRELL

BURTON, (Capt.) Walthall, Nelson County, KY., then St. Landry Parish,
Louisiana

CAPT. WALTHALL BURTON, ELBA.--Capt. Walthall Burton was, before the war, one
of the most successful and largest planters on the Atchafalaya River.  He has
resided here since 1849.  He was born in Nelson county, Ky., March 28, 1807,
and is the son of Wilson and Eleanor (Bruce) Burton, both natives of Kentucky.
He resided in that State with his parents until 1811, at which time they
removed to Wilkinson county, Miss.  His father died in 1825, at the age of
fifty-two.  His widow survived until 1864.  

Capt. Burton is the third of six children.  He received his chief education 
in Wilkinson county, Miss., and when nineteen years of age he became over-
seer of a plantation near his home, which occupation he followed until 1827, 
when he married and went into business for himself.  In 1833 he removed to 
St. Helena parish, where he resided until 1849.

Capt. Burton has always been a progressive and successful planter.  After the
war he spent some time in steamboating on the Atchafalaya River, and was the
captain of several vessels, viz: Anna Wagly, Blackford, Bertha and Lizzie
Taylor, and others.  In 1883 he abandoned the river.

Capt. Burton has taken quite an active part in political affairs; in 1846 he
was elected member of the Constitutional Convention from St. Helena parish.
In 1847 he was sent to the Legislature to represent St. Helena, and was 
member of the Secession Convention from St. Landry; in 1879, he was elected 
a member of the Constitutional Convention from St. Landry parish.  Since that
time he has retired from political life.  The captain's plantation consists 
of a large tract of some very fine land.

In 1837 he was married to Miss Theresa A. Terrel, of Mississippi; to this
union was born six children, only one is now living, Mrs. Dr. Hartman.

Capt. Burton and his venerable wife have been united in matrimony for sixty-
four years.  She is a member of the M. E. Church.
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