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Submitted: 6/3/08 • Approved: 5/6/09 • Last Updated: 8/13/15 • R64690-G64677-S3
Jonathan Prescott Burton Mausoleum
September 20, 1820 - June 8, 1899
Children: Alice, Cora, J. Prescott & Courtney Burton
Married twice: 1st Elizabeth Jenkinson & 2nd Mary E. Zerbe mother of the above named children
J.P. Burton was born at Penn's Manor, near Philadelphia, PA. His greatgrandfather, Jonathan Burton, came to American with William Penn.
Died three days before his daughter's wedding to John E. McLain
Massillon Independent
Massillon Ohio
June 12, 1899
Sudden Death of a Well Known Citizen
The Funeral Services
Mr. Burton was Prominently Identified with Massillon's Business Interests and was a Man of Wide Influence and Cultivation
Jonathan Prescott Burton, aged 79 years, president and secretary of the Ridgway Burton Coal Company and one Massillon's best known citizens, died at his residence in East Main street between 11 and 12 o'clock on Thursday [June 8] evening, death being immediately due to heart failure. Mr. Burton was in his office as usual on Monday, but on Tuesday was too ill to attend to business. Since that time he had failed rapidly, and his death has been momentarily expected. With the exception of Courtney Burton, who arrived on the Pennsylvania limited from his school in the East early this morning, all the immediate members of Mr. Burton's family, Mrs. Burton, his two daughters and his eldest son, Prescott Burton, were with him to the end.
Mr. Burton was born at Penn's Manor, near Philadelphia, Pa., September 30, 1820. The family, of which he was a member originated in England, whence his great grandfather, Jonathan Burton, emigrated to America in the company with William Penn. In 1839, he commenced his active career in New York City, where he was engaged in the mercantile business. In 1843 he went to Philadelphia and became an importer in the firm of Davis, Burton & Co., being stationed in Europe the greater part of nine years. In the year 1857, in the company with Jacob E. Ridgway and other Philadelphia men, he took the first contract for building the Northern Pacific railroad from Stillwater to ST. Paul. Mr. Burton came to Massillon in the year 1859 and in connection with Mr. Ridgway, purchased the Massillon Furnace property and began the manufacture of pig iron and to operate coal mines. Then years later he organized the Ridgway Burton co., which operated both coal and iron mines. In 1881, with S. W. Croxton of Cleveland and Henry C. Davis, of Philadelphia, he organized the Pennsylvania Iron 7 Coal Co., conducting blast furnaces at Canal Dover.
Mr. Burton was at the time of his death president of the following companies; The Ridgway Burton Coal Company, of this city; the Pennsylvania Iron & Coal Company, of Canal Dover; the Burton, Biedler & Phillips Company, of Cleveland. He was also a director of the Union National bank and president of the Massillon Social Club. in the year 1845 Mr. Burton married Miss Elizabeth Jenkinson, who died in 1867 [????????????]. In 1871 he married Miss Mar E. Zerbe, who survives him with four children, Alice C., Clara, Courtney and J. Prescott, the latter having been connected with his father in business for several years. His sister, Mrs. L. M. Ogle, resides in York, Pa.
Mr. Burton was a man of superior attainments, with a mind broadened and cultivated by study and travel, and by business and social relations with men of various classes and conditions. Although quite and retiring by nature, he was a man of influence among his business associates and had a remarkable faulty of surrounding himself with those who like himself were men of integrity and reliability. In politics he was a Republican. He served as a member of the city council for two terms, during which time he was chairman of the finance committee. He was reared in the society of Friends and was a Master and Royal Arch Mason. Funeral services will be held from the house on Sunday afternoon at 2:30, to which friends of the family are invited. The burial will be private.
Invitations to the wedding of Miss Alice Burton and John E. McLain, which was to have taken place on June 15, have, of course, been withdrawn.
Massillon Independent
Massillon, Ohio
June 15, 1899
The funeral of the late J.P. Burton took place at the residence on the corner of Main and Prospect streets on Sunday afternoon at 2:30. Services were conducted by the Rev. C. M. Roberts, assisted by the choir of St. Timothy's church. The pallbearers were Jerome B. Zerbe and George L. Case, of Cleveland; J. H. Hunt, Robert H. Day, Per Lee Hunt and John E. McLain.
So large was the crowd which attended the festival given in the A.M.E/. Zion church last evening, and so freely did it spend it money, that, after all expenses had been paid, $21.55 remained. This sum has been applied on the salary of the Rev. Mr. Little, who asks The Independent to thank the people for him. The total receipts were $29,-90. The expenses were $8 35.
The Massillon Independent
Massillon, OH
June 19, 1899
Miss Alice C. Burton and John E. McLain were quietly married at 3 o'clock Thursday at the Burton residents, in East Main Street. Only the members of both families were present. The Rev. C. M. Roberts, of St. Timothy's church, officiated. Mr. and Mrs. McLain will spend about two weeks in the East and will subsequently occupy a residence in East Main street.
Contributed on 6/3/08 by Schumaker4
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Record #: 64690