Burton, William
William Burton
William Burton
Carte de visite was found in Jefferson City, Missouri and is in very good shape for its age. There is some spotting and a bit of wear on the edges. The photograph was taken at L. Moberly photographers in Chillicothe, Missouri. On the back of the carte de visite is written “Wm. M Burten, to his brother and sister Cravens in Christ, Chillicothe, Livingston Co., MO Dec the 18th 1865” The back of the CDV also has a 3 cent green Washington stamp with the photographers cancellation “LM Dec 65”. The three cent Washington revenue stamp was issued by the government to help pay for the Civil War.
My interpretation of the inscription on the back: photo is of Wm (William) Burten (Burton); he is sending the photo to his brother and sister in Christ. I have done a search of the Livingston County records and can not find a record of a Christ township or town. I believe the Cravens would have been fellow congregation members not necessarily William’s real brother and sister. However, I did find a reference in the “Pioneer Families of Missouri, 1879, page 207” it states John Cravens married an Elizabeth Burton from Kentucky then settling in Montgomery County, Missouri. The g age of William appears to be about 60; this would place his birth about 1805. The 1860 census list a William Burton from Virginia born 1815 living in northern Lafayette County, Missouri there is also a Craven family living in Livingston County. This may be the connection for the photo, but there is not enough evidence to make a definitive decision. Hopefully there are some Burton or Craven family researchers who will recognize and claim this unique heirloom.
*Carte de visite or CDV’s measures about 2-1/2 by 4 inches Carte de Visite is French for visiting card.
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