Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 982.
 
BURTON BROS.

     manufacturers of brick, Salem, Oregon, are the proprietors of one of the
most important industries of this city.
     In 1875 Alvin A. Burton, a member of the firm, came to Salem as foreman of
the brick manufactory at the State penitentiary, this institution having the
contract for the brick to be used in the construction of the State Asylum
for the Insane. He filled this position for five years, and under his direction
an enormous amount of work was accomplished.  Luman Burton came to Salem in
1878, and occupied a position similar to that of his brother at the State
penitentiary. Edwin and Percy Burton emigrated to the State more recently, but
assisted in the organization of the firm of Burton Bros.
     They have twelve acres of ground where their yards are located, and are
making arrangements to open a second yard in Portland, Oregon. Each of the four
brothers is a practical workman, having been trained to the business by their
father, who was master of the craft. They manufacture about 2,500,000 of brick
annually, and have furnished the material for many of the fine blocks built in
Salem. They are all men of energy and superior business ability, and have placed
their business among the leading establishments of the city.
    They are natives of Rochester, New York, and removed to Illinois in 1856.
Luman and Edwin belong to the A. O. U. W. and the G. A. R.; both were soldiers
in the late civil war, and served until the close of the war; they saw much hard
fighting, and Luman was wounded at the battle of Shiloh by a gunshot, which
carried away a splinter of bone from his left leg. He was a youth of sixteen
years when he enlisted, and was a drummer-boy while in camp; but when there was
a battle he carried a gun and fought with his company. Too much cannot be said
in praise of the men who jeopardized their lives that the nation might be saved,
and the great republic of the United States might be preserved.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.