William Marshall Burt II

     William Marshall Burt II was born on 5 September 1848 in Georgia, son of William Marshall BURT I and Amanda D. Booth. He moved with his parents from Georgia to Salem at an early age. His second cousin, William Washington Burt, was already living in Salem.¹

William Marshall Burt II appeared on a census, enumerated 26 August 1850, in the household of William Marshall BURT I and Amanda D. Booth in District 697, Troup County, Georgia. He was two years old.²

William Marshall Burt II appeared on a census, enumerated 1 June 1860, in the household of his parents William Marshall BURT I and Amanda D. Booth in Beat 4 (Salem), Russell County, Alabama. He was recorded as Marshall Burt, age 14, born Georgia.¹

According to The History of Russell County, William enlisted in the Confederate Army at an early age and was discharged in Florida after the war and walked back home to Russell County.

William Marshall Burt II appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 August 1870 in Salem, Lee County, Alabama. The household was listed as W. M. Burt, 22, farmer born in Georgia. He was living alone two households from his future wife Anna Vann and her parents.³

William married Annie Maria Vann on 21 November 1872 in Salem, Russell County, Alabama. According to the 25 Dec 1872 of the Southern Christian Advocate the wedding took place at the residence of the bride's father.⁴

In 1875 he and his wife, Annie, bought a large plantation at Hog Island, near the present town of Pittsview. They built a large home and began farming. The plantation had its own commisary, blacksmith shop and sawmill. About 1895 "Judge Burt" as he was known built a home in Pittsview for himself and "Miss Anna". The house was notable for the hand-turned columns that line the front porch and its gingerbread trim. He was a master carpenter and built a total of six houses in Pittsview and, along with his eldest son Hugh LeGrand Burt, began construction of the Villula Methodist Church around 1893. This was the original Methodist church in the area. However, when the community of Pittsboro (now Pittsview) began to grow, the Villula church was dismantled. The lumber, window-frames, columns, etc. were hauled to Pittsview by ox-drawn wagon by the Burts to use in the new church. The first service in the newly constructed church was held on August 25, 1900 with 12 members. Judge Burt served for many years as Secretary and Recording Secretary of the Quarterly Conference and Annie served as Communion Steward.

William Marshall Burt II died on 2 January 1919 in Pittsview, Russell County, Alabama, at age 70.⁵ He was buried in Pittsview Cemetery.