Clarence M. Burton
Encyclopedia
Clarence Monroe Burton was a Detroit lawyer and businessman, historian
, and philanthropist
.
to the town of Battle Creek
, Michigan
. There, Dr. Burton founded the Battle Creek Journal and ran the newspaper until he was bitten by the gold bug in 1853. The family packed up and moved to the tiny California mining town of Whiskey Diggings, 85 miles from Marysville
.
Clarence M. Burton was born in Whiskey Diggings on November 18, 1853, while his father was away attending another patient. Dr. Burton soon tired of the rugged mining life, and in 1854 the family left Whiskey Diggings and sailed for the east coast. However, their ship, the Yankee Blade, was hijacked and sunk off Point Arguello
. Hundreds of passengers drowned, but all the Burtons survived; they returned to San Francisco, staying there until 1855, when they sailed back to New York to reunite with Annie's family.
The Burtons moved back to Michigan, this time settling on a small farm on the outskirts of Hastings
. Dr. Burton started another newspaper, the Hastings Banner (which is still published today) in addition to reviving his medical practice. The Burtons had three more children: William, Ella, and Edward.
Clarence Burton grew up in Hastings, attending the local public schools there until 1869, when he followed his brother Charles to the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor
. He began studying science, but in 1872 entered the Law Department at the University and received his degree in 1874.
On Christmas Day, 1872, while he was still attending law school, Burton married Harriet Jane Nye. The couple eventually had eight children, the first of whom, Mary Agnes, was born in Ann Arbor.
. He went to work for the firm of Ward and Palmer in Detroit for a yearly salary of $100 (soon boosted to $300).
Burton and his wife, Harriet, lived in relative poverty for the first few years of Burton's career, living first in a rented three-room house on Henry Street and then buying a house at Brooklyn and Trumbull on the edge of Corktown
. They had two more children during this time: Charles in 1876 and Clarence in 1878. However, Burton worked hard, and in 1881 the family moved to a more well-to-do section of the city on Brady Street. Here, two more sons were born: Fred in 1882 and Louis in 1884.
During this time, Burton joined the title abstract firm co-owned by John Ward, a partner in Ward and Palmer. Ward and his nephew, Eugene Skinner, had started the business in 1866, and by the time Burton joined the business, the abstract records had been collected. Burton devoted himself to the business, and Ward and Skinner gave him much of the responsibility for running it. Skinner, however, had never really warmed to this business, and in 1881 he sold his share of the title company to Burton. Two years later, Burton was admitted as partner in Ward and Skinner, and he later bought all of John Ward's interest in the business.
In 1886, Burton moved again to Brainard Street, where his next son Frank was born. In 1890, a sixth son, Ralph, was added, and a few year later, a second daughter, Harriet.
In April 1915, Burton organized the Burton Investment Co, for the purpose of erecting 100 modestly priced homes in Detroit.
By the 1890s, Burton had amassed a considerable collection of historical documents. He had a special fireproof addition built onto his Brainard Street house to hold his library. Burton revered his collection, but he welcomed scholars, or even casual researchers, to use his library, even going so far as to advertise its availability in the City Directory.
In 1895, he turned his attention to writing histories, beginning with A Sketch of the Life of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, Founder of Detroit, which was published that year. A Chapter in the History Of Cleveland followed soon after, and one of his most famous works, In the Footsteps of Cadillac, was published a few years later in 1899.
Burton continued to collect books and manuscripts throughout his life, slowing down in the mid-aughts when original material became scarce. Later, he concentrated more on writing, producing works that included The Building of Detroit in 1912, Barnabas Campau and his descendants in 1916, the five-volume The City of Detroit in 1922,
candidate for the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
, but lost the general election. In 1922 he ran for Congress, but was defeated by Vincent M. Brennan
.
In 1907, he spent copious time involved with the 1907 State Constitutional Convention, and in 1913 sat on the Detroit Charter Commission. In 1908, Burton was elected City Historiographer for Detroit, a position he held until his death in 1932. In 1913, as a result of his keen interest in local history, Burton was elected to the Michigan Historical Commission, a membership he also held until his death.
, along with the deed to his Brainard Street residence. In September 1915, the Burton Historical Collection, located on Brainard Street, was opened to the public. The collection donated by Burton included 30,000 volumes, 40,000 pamphlets and 500,000 unpublished papers; more material was added to the collection in subsequent years. In 1921, the collection was moved to the main library.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
Early years
In 1849, Dr. Charles Seymour and Annie Monroe Burton, along with their young son Charles Francis, moved from New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to the town of Battle Creek
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. There, Dr. Burton founded the Battle Creek Journal and ran the newspaper until he was bitten by the gold bug in 1853. The family packed up and moved to the tiny California mining town of Whiskey Diggings, 85 miles from Marysville
Marysville, California
Marysville is the county seat of Yuba County, California, United States. The population was 12,072 at the 2010 census, down from 12,268 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area, often referred to as the Yuba-Sutter Area after the two counties, Yuba and...
.
Clarence M. Burton was born in Whiskey Diggings on November 18, 1853, while his father was away attending another patient. Dr. Burton soon tired of the rugged mining life, and in 1854 the family left Whiskey Diggings and sailed for the east coast. However, their ship, the Yankee Blade, was hijacked and sunk off Point Arguello
Point Arguello Light
Point Arguello Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Point Arguello, serving the Santa Barbara Channel, California adjoining Vandenberg Air Force Base near the city of Lompoc, California....
. Hundreds of passengers drowned, but all the Burtons survived; they returned to San Francisco, staying there until 1855, when they sailed back to New York to reunite with Annie's family.
The Burtons moved back to Michigan, this time settling on a small farm on the outskirts of Hastings
Hastings, Michigan
Hastings is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, the county seat of Barry County as well as the county's only city. The population was 7,095 at the 2000 census. The city borders Hastings Charter Township on the north, east, and south, and Rutland Charter Township on the west...
. Dr. Burton started another newspaper, the Hastings Banner (which is still published today) in addition to reviving his medical practice. The Burtons had three more children: William, Ella, and Edward.
Clarence Burton grew up in Hastings, attending the local public schools there until 1869, when he followed his brother Charles to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. He began studying science, but in 1872 entered the Law Department at the University and received his degree in 1874.
On Christmas Day, 1872, while he was still attending law school, Burton married Harriet Jane Nye. The couple eventually had eight children, the first of whom, Mary Agnes, was born in Ann Arbor.
Early career and married life
On November 19, 1874, the day after his twenty-first birthday, Burton was licensed to practice law in Wayne County, MichiganWayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
. He went to work for the firm of Ward and Palmer in Detroit for a yearly salary of $100 (soon boosted to $300).
Burton and his wife, Harriet, lived in relative poverty for the first few years of Burton's career, living first in a rented three-room house on Henry Street and then buying a house at Brooklyn and Trumbull on the edge of Corktown
Corktown
Corktown can refer to:* Corktown, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a neighborhood* Corktown Historic District, Detroit, Michigan, United States...
. They had two more children during this time: Charles in 1876 and Clarence in 1878. However, Burton worked hard, and in 1881 the family moved to a more well-to-do section of the city on Brady Street. Here, two more sons were born: Fred in 1882 and Louis in 1884.
During this time, Burton joined the title abstract firm co-owned by John Ward, a partner in Ward and Palmer. Ward and his nephew, Eugene Skinner, had started the business in 1866, and by the time Burton joined the business, the abstract records had been collected. Burton devoted himself to the business, and Ward and Skinner gave him much of the responsibility for running it. Skinner, however, had never really warmed to this business, and in 1881 he sold his share of the title company to Burton. Two years later, Burton was admitted as partner in Ward and Skinner, and he later bought all of John Ward's interest in the business.
In 1886, Burton moved again to Brainard Street, where his next son Frank was born. In 1890, a sixth son, Ralph, was added, and a few year later, a second daughter, Harriet.
Burton Abstract Co.
In 1891, Burton organized the Burton Abstract Company from Ward and Skinner. The new company failed to show a profit for the first few years, but grew in size and importance as Detroit grew, and eventually turned a handsome profit. In 1893 the company moved its quarters to Griswold Street, then moved again in 1914 and 1919. In 1924, Burton Abstract moved one more time to a newly constructed building of their own.In April 1915, Burton organized the Burton Investment Co, for the purpose of erecting 100 modestly priced homes in Detroit.
Personal tragedy
On February 6, 1896, Burton's wife Harriet died, leaving Burton as the sole parent to eight children. He lost himself in his work, but eventually met Lina O. (Shoemaker) Grant. The two were married on Christmas Day, 1897. However, in 1898, Lina died as the result of an operation, leaving Burton alone once more. In the spring of 1900, Burton married his third wife, his cousin Anna (Monroe) Knox. She had four children from a previous marriage, and, in 1901, bore another daughter, Elizabeth.Book collection and historical work
Burton had always been interested in collecting books. He had begun in 1874 by collecting historical works pertaining to his interests, tracing down as many works as possible on that subject. He eventually began concentrating on American historical documents, and finally on Michigan and Detroit. In particular, he was interested in Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. Burton spent years searching for and bidding on old books and manuscripts. Those that he could not buy he copied, either longhand or with a camera.By the 1890s, Burton had amassed a considerable collection of historical documents. He had a special fireproof addition built onto his Brainard Street house to hold his library. Burton revered his collection, but he welcomed scholars, or even casual researchers, to use his library, even going so far as to advertise its availability in the City Directory.
In 1895, he turned his attention to writing histories, beginning with A Sketch of the Life of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, Founder of Detroit, which was published that year. A Chapter in the History Of Cleveland followed soon after, and one of his most famous works, In the Footsteps of Cadillac, was published a few years later in 1899.
Burton continued to collect books and manuscripts throughout his life, slowing down in the mid-aughts when original material became scarce. Later, he concentrated more on writing, producing works that included The Building of Detroit in 1912, Barnabas Campau and his descendants in 1916, the five-volume The City of Detroit in 1922,
Public service
Throughout his life, Burton held positions of public trust, occasionally flirting with elected office. In 1896, he was appointed the Detroit School Inspector, a job he held for 17 years, resigning in 1913 when his other duties and interests became too great. In 1897, he prepared to run for city alderman, but withdrew from the race. In 1903, he was announced as the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
The Board of Regents of the University of Michigan is the legal corporation that controls the University of Michigan, comprising the campuses at Ann Arbor, Flint, and Dearborn. The Board of Regents was created by the Organic Act of March 18, 1837 that established the modern University of Michigan...
, but lost the general election. In 1922 he ran for Congress, but was defeated by Vincent M. Brennan
Vincent M. Brennan
Vincent Morrison Brennan was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Brennan was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan and moved with his parents to Detroit in 1895. He graduated from SS...
.
In 1907, he spent copious time involved with the 1907 State Constitutional Convention, and in 1913 sat on the Detroit Charter Commission. In 1908, Burton was elected City Historiographer for Detroit, a position he held until his death in 1932. In 1913, as a result of his keen interest in local history, Burton was elected to the Michigan Historical Commission, a membership he also held until his death.
Burton Historical Collection
In 1915, Burton built a new house on Boston Boulevard in Boston-Edison which boasted fireproof steel and concrete construction. At the same time, Burton gave his book collection to the Detroit Public LibraryDetroit Public Library
The Detroit Public Library is the second largest library system in Michigan by volumes held , and is the 20th largest library system in the United States. It is composed of a Main Library on Woodward Avenue, which houses DPL administration offices, and twenty-three branch locations across the city...
, along with the deed to his Brainard Street residence. In September 1915, the Burton Historical Collection, located on Brainard Street, was opened to the public. The collection donated by Burton included 30,000 volumes, 40,000 pamphlets and 500,000 unpublished papers; more material was added to the collection in subsequent years. In 1921, the collection was moved to the main library.