Messrs. w. H. & w. Burford ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 407 The course of Mr. Burford's life was largely affected by a deep religious fervor. He had strong views, and never swerved from them. It was one of his favorite sayings that " a candlemaker, of all persons in the world, though he might not be a great luminary, ought to burn with no uncertain light." It was largely in search of perfect freedom of belief that he emigrated to South Australia, and throughout his long life he consistently kept up his adherence to the comparatively small religious community with which he had identified himself. In April, 1841, he signed a memorial to Governor Gawler in the interests of religious equality. Before his arrival in this Province he had been an active Christian worker. When he was but 19 years old he joined the celebrated Rev. G. C. Smith, the sailors' niissionary, and was leader of the singing at open-air meetings in the Billingsgate Fish Market. He was an energetic worker for the Church of Christ, and was for very many years a member and liberal supporter of that denomination at Kermode Street, North Adelaide. He was an elder of the Church, and frequently occupied the pulpit. Notwithstanding the vicissitudes of the early days, Mr. Burford lived to a ripe old age. He was in his 89th year when he finished his earthly course. On October 23, 1895, he died at Clapham Park, South Australia ; and thus went one of the few- links which bound the earliest period ot .South Australian history with the present, and there was none more sincere, shrewd, and businesslike than he. Happily Mr. V. H. Burford was blessed with a son eminently capable of carrying on his business. Mr. William Burford, who, on his father's death, succeeded to the control, is as astute in business, and as earnest in philanthropy, as was the founder of the family in South Australia. Mr. Burford was born in the Province on December 11, 1845, and was educated at the then notable school of Mr. J. L. Young. Immediately after leaving school, he joined his father in the business, and quickly mastered the ramifications of that extensive concern. Under paternal guidance he made a careful study of, and gained experience in, every branch of the large undertaking, until he became quite competent to assume a responsible share in the management. The two sons undoubtedly proved reliable successors to their father in the house, and under their guidance the dimensions of the business were extended, and new ideas and appliances were inaugurated. Mr. William Burford has taken considerable interest in municipal government. He entered the Unley Council in 1884, and was returned unopposed. In 1892 he severed this connection, having removed to Glenelg as a place of residence. He was returned unopposed for the Glenelg Council in 1895. He remained in office until April, 1896, when he retired in order to take a trip round the world. After his return, in the following year (1897), he re-entered upon his municipal dutie.s. In December, 1897, he was once more returned unopposed to the Glenelg Council. For some 15 years he has been a member of committee of the South Australian Chamber of Manufactures ; and besides these public positions, Mr. Burford occupies several others. Summing up in a word the careers of the two subjects of this memoir, it is to be .said that, while Mr. Burford, senior, conferred lasting benefits on the Province of South Australia, his son has ever worthily followed in his footsteps.
