A personal interview of James Burt written by Pauline Redd Burt.

(In possession of Lila Burt VanDenBerghe) no date recorded on this document. James Burt was born 26 November 1868, Dalry, Ayershire, Scotland. [Tenth child of eleven born to William Burt and Margaret Gilmour.] He arrived in America 7 Oct 1869. [ten months old] He married Amelia Catherine Jorgensen 18 January 1893 in the Logan Temple. [Salt Lake Temple not yet completed.]Amelia was born March 15,1868 in Salt Lake City. Baptized [4 April 1877, 8 years old] following summer in a branch ditch which ran to the Jordon River, from City Creek, same water that turned the wheel of the bellows at the church blacksmith shop. At the present time it is located at North Temple and State. Canal used to run down North Temple. Boys dressed in bushes. Mothers formed a circle and girls dressed there. Saw Brigham Young buried when he [James] was a young boy. [Brigham Young died 29 August 1877. James would have been 8 years old at the time] Resided at State Street and Germania Ave. (corner by the Murray Smelter.) First job was in Barrates Furniture Store, dusting furniture at $2.00 per week. Quit there to garden at $2.50 per week. 1870 Census the family are living in Cottonwood. Lived on E and 4th Ave at an early age. All he could remember of his father was that he bought he and Pete [Peter McKeith Burt] a little red wagon and pulled them around in it. Father left. 1871 William and his older sons, William, John and Willard left for Beaver Utah to plaster Fort Cameron. Sold home to Livingston. Father rented on I and 1st Ave. Brothers - William, John, Willard, and myself (James), plus Pete [Peter McKeith] only child born in U.S., sisters Maggie[Margaret], Jean, Agnes. Three died in Scotland, [James Craig, James Gilmour, and Joseph]. Half brothers and sisters Nell [Eleanor Willden Burt], Louisa Willden Burt, Charles Willden Burt, Thomas Willden Burt, Rass [Erastus Willden Burt], Will,[William Willden Burt]. [No mention of the third wifes children]. Was living Cedar City with brother Willard . Father wanted to take James to Manti with his half brothers and sisters. Mother went to Cedar and brought him up to live with his oldest sister Maggie Hilton. (James mother went to Colorado with Colonel Douglas wife as a governess.) Dave Hilton hadnt paid his tithing so James (15 years old) was taken in to deliver meat for the tithing office to catch up the Hiltons tithing. By the end of a month or so he began earning his own money about $1.50 a day, and he paid his tithing on that. He stayed at this for about three years. During this time he became quite well acquainted with the presiding authorities of the church as well as members. It was at this time that the government was trying to put a stop to Polygamy.

President John Taylor lived in the Gardo House at that time and he [James] delivered meat daily. President Taylors sister took charge of the house and she always told the cook to be sure and give the delivery boy a stack of hotcakes. Most people were as generous. At about 18 his brother John hired him to drive his horses from place to place at $1.00 a day. His sister Maggie saved this money for him. Saved $200.00. Mother wanted to come home. James had a little money saved. [the $200.00] John borrowed it and wouldnt pay it back, but bought him some furniture for the 2 rooms that James rented for her. James and Pete kept her there until her death. [Margaret Gilmour died 29 Aug 1892 in Vancouver, Washington. Buried in Salt Lake City, Utah.]