Reuben Barton, who died in Weston, April 2, was of sturdy New England birth, having been born in Massachusetts in 1812. He early removed to Ohio, and later to Illinois, where he was married, and where his two sons who survive him were born.

About the year 1854 he came to his county and established his home on a farm in what is now known as Hazel Dell Township, not far from Crescent City, and where he continued to reside until about eight years ago, when he removed to the village of Weston, in the same township, he remaining there until his decease.

His many sterling qualities were soon recognized by his neighbors and he was at an early day elected a justice of the peace, and continued to hold this place up to a few months of the close of his life. He also held other places of trust and was on all hands regarded as a man of strict integrity and a large measure of intelligence. He took quite an active interest in public affairs and possessed a most inquiring mind which led him to look into the reason and philosophy of things around him.

His third wife died early last autumn and his health being poor, he left on December last for the residence of his son, Nathan H. Barton, in San Bernadino, CA, with whom he spent about three months most pleasantly, returning home March 27, apparently greatly improved in health. The cold storm of the next few days, however, brought on a return of old time maladies, and his condition was at once pronounced a dangerous one by Dr. Swanson his attending physician.

His son, Reuben A. Barton, of Spring View, Nebraska was hastily summoned to his bedside, but only arrived in time to be barely recognized by his aged and dying parent.