Wood Co., TX - Obit - William Harvey Britton ***************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: June E. Tuck USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************** From the files of June Tuck BRITTON, WILLIAM HARVEY - At the funeral of W. H. Britton held at the Baptist church in Yantis Tues. evening of last week, the following biographical sketch of the life of this pioneer of Wood county, was read by Rev. J. C. Calhoun. This sketch was prepared by Andrew J. Britton, a nephew of the deceased, who was very close to him. "The deceased, William H. Britton, was 63 years of age at the time of his death. He is a pioneer; like all pioneers he was handicapped in his early life; his father was a confederate soldier and died during the civil war, leaving him a mere child; at the end of the war his mother, who was a member of the Hanson family of Smith County, moved to Wood County, and to the place where Dick Gilbreath now lives, which place she settled, with her six orphan boys, John, Jeff, Harvey, George, Bill and Frank Britton, all of whom are now gone except Frank. Deceased was afflicted and handicapped physically; he was on a walking stick practically all his life. After he was 19 years of age entered school and became a teacher in this county, his first school being taught within 30 steps of the cemetery where we will shortly lay him to rest. He studied law under the direction of the late Governor Hogg, when he lived at Quitman, and under the direction and encouragement of Judge Banks. He was admitted to the bar and practiced law until about ten years ago when his physical health would not permit further activities in his profession. He was a student under the late H. P. Eastman, a teacher well known among the old people of the community. H. P. Eastman and W. A. Goff, a Baptist minister largely shaped the early career of the deceased when a boy. In 1884 he was married to Miss Minnie McDaniel, and to this union 10 children were born, all of whom survive him. He was an uncle of George and Andrew Britton who are known to this community. The children are: Jim Britton, Myrtle, wife of Bill Morgan, Fannie, wife of Doss Nichols, Ola, wife of Walter Gilbreath, John, Ben, Maye, Jeff, Harvey, and Ruby. (The family that gave this obit had no date for it.)