Isaac Richard Lawton was born November 3, 1829, in Cattaraugus Co., NY, and died
April 26, 1903, in Forest Twp., Richland Co., WI, at about age 73. He was the son of
Isaac Isaiah Lawton, Jr. of Cattaraugus Co., NY, and Jane Green of Unknown.
Melissa Southworth was born May 29, 1831, in Cattaraugus Co., NY, and died
December 8, 1929, at her home in
Forest Twp., Richland Co., WI, at age 98. She was the daughter of Edward Southworth
of New York and Huldah Stearns of New York.
Dick and Melissa were married September
22, 1855, in Waukesha Co., WI.
Dick and Melissa had three children:
- Wallace Alonzo Lawton:
Born September 26, 1858, in Forest Twp., Richland Co., WI; Died April 10, 1926, in
Richland Center, Richland Co., WI (age 67). Married (1) January 1, 1880 in Richland
Co., WI, to Elizabeth Beth Reed: Born July 28, 1858, in Orion Twp., Richland
Co., WI; Died November 29, 1911, in Orion Twp., Richland Co., WI (age 53).
Married (2) May 26, 1914, in Richland Center, Richland Co., WI, to Edna
Pearl Blake: Born September 5, 1876, in Orion Twp., Richland Co., WI; Died
August 10, 1973, at a nursing home in Richland Center, Richland Co., WI (age
96).
- James Walden Lawton: Born August 27, 1860, in Forest Twp., Richland Co.,
WI; Died December 20, 1936, at his farm home in Forest Twp., Richland Co.,
WI (age
76). Married June 7, 1883, in Wisconsin to
Sarah Elizabeth
Saubert: Born November 13, 1864, in Liberty Twp., Vernon Co., WI; Died May
1, 1918, at her farm home
in Forest Twp., Richland Co., WI (age 53).
- Caroline Mae "Carrie" Lawton: Born May 29, 1864, in Forest Twp., Richland Co., WI;
Died March 6, 1941, in Forest Twp., Richland Co., WI (age 76). Married
November 7, 1884, in Forest Twp., Richland Co., WI, to Thaddeus Henry "Thad"
Huffman: Born February 14, 1861, in Perry Twp., Licking Co., OH; Died
November 21, 1930, in Rockbridge Twp., Richland, WI (age 69).
TIMELINE
Isaac Richard Lawton was born November 3,
1829, in Cattaraugus Co., NY.
Melissa Southworth was born May 29, 1831, in
Cattaraugus Co., NY.
Dick and Melissa were married 22 Sep 1855, in Waukesha Co., WI.
The Capital Times,
Madison, WI, Thursday, December 19, 1929
Oldest Resident of
Vernon Co. Dead
Mrs. Melissa Lawton,
99, Succumbs At Home Near Viroqua
VIROQUA, Wis. - Mrs.
Melissa Lawton, oldest resident of Vernon county, died at her home near this
city, in her ninety-ninth year. She is survived by her son, Waldon Lawton, with
whom she lived, and a daughter.
The 1900 U. S.
Census taken on June 19, 1900, shows James W. Lawton (age 39) born August 1862 in Wisconsin
to New York-born parents is a Farmer owning his own farm free of a mortgage and
is living
in Forest Twp., Richland Co., WI. Living with him is his wife of 17 years,
Sarah E. Lawton (age 35) born November 1864 in Wisconsin to German-born
parents, with both of the children born to her still alive. Also living
there are his two unmarried sons, both born in Wisconsin to Wisconsin-born parents:
Alvie R. Lawton (age 16) born May 1884, who Helps on the Farm; and Jay W. Lawton (age
9) born March 1891. Also living there are his parents: Isaac R. Lawton (age 70)
born November 1829 in New York to New York and New Hampshire-born parents; and
his wife of 44 years, Melissa A. Lawton (age 69) born May 1831 in New York to
New York and Massachusetts-born parents, with 3 of the 5 children born to her
still alive. A Cook and a Civil Engineer also live in the household.
The Capital Times,
Madison, WI, Saturday, March 8, 1941
RICHLAND CENTER, Wis.
- Mrs. Mae Huffman, 76, town of Rockbridge, died Thursday at the home of her
nephew, Ex-Assemblyman Ray Lawton, town of Forest, on the same farm on which she
was born and married. Accompanied by her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs.
R. W. Huffman, Rockbridge, Mrs. Huffman went to the Lawton home to visit
Thursday and later became ill. Mrs. Huffman was the widow of Thaddius Huffman
and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lawton, Richland county pioneers.
Survivors, besides R.. W. Huffman,, is another son, Roy, Gillingham.
Isaac, Melissa, Wallace, and James are
buried in Lawton Cemetery, Forest Twp., Richland Co., WI. Also buried
there are numerous other members of the Lawton clan. Carrie Mae (Lawton) Huffman
is buried in Rockbridge Cemetery, Rockbridge Twp., Richland Co., WI.
Back row: Wallace Lawton, Walden
Lawton, Mae Lawton. Front row: Isaac Richard "Dick" Lawton, Melissa Lawton.
Isaac R Lawton was born in 1829 in Cattaraugus Co., NY,
where he lived until 1845, when he moved to Waukesha Co., Wis., and remained two
years, then to Jefferson county where he lived until 1850. He then went to
northern Minnesota and worked in the pineries of that region about four years,
then removed to Vernon county where he remained one year. He came from there to
the town of Forest, and entered 200 acres of land on section 6. He now owns 160
acres. Mr. Lawton was married Sept. 25, 1855, to Malissa Southworth, who was
born in 1831, in Cattaraugus Co., NY. They have three children --- Wallace A,
James W and May. Wallace is now married to Lizzie Reed and they have two
children. James married Sarah Saubert. Mr. Lawton was a member of the 46th
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving as corporal of company H. He enlisted in
1865 and was discharged the same year.
The Wisconsin
State Journal, Madison, WI, Tuesday, December 22, 1936
J. W. Lawton, Former Solon's Father, Succumbs
RC - James Walton Lawton, 76, father of former
assemblyman, Ray Lawton, and one of the most prominent and successful farmers in
Richland county, died Sunday at his farm home in the town of Forest. He was born
on the farm where he died. The large farm, partly in Vernon county, was
considered one of the finest in the Kickapoo valley. Surviving are two sons, Ray
and Jay Lawton, and several grandchildren. Funeral services were to be held
today with burial in the Lawton cemetery on the farm.
The La Crosse
Tribune And Leader-Press, La Crosse, WI, Saturday, May 4, 1918
PIONEER WOMEN OF VIROQUA PASS AWAY
Mrs.
Sarah Lawton and Mrs. Smith Are Called
VIROQUA,
Wis. - Mrs. Sarah Lawton, wife of Waldron Lawton, passed away at her home near
La Farge, Wednesday. Mrs. Lawton who was Sarah Saubert before her marriage, was
the wife of Waldron Lawton, one of the most prominent and well known farmers in
Vernon county. Mrs. Lawton suffered a stroke of paralysis, which left her blind
and deaf and she lived but a few hours. She is survived by the husband and two
sons, Raymond and Jay Lawton, and by several grand-children. Burial was made on
Friday at the Lawton cemetery near the old farm home.
From:
Richland County Wisconsin, Published by The Richland County Historical
Society, 1986
ISAAC I. AND JANE (GREEN)
LAWTON
Isaac I. Lawton was born July 25, 1794, in Cattaraugus
County, New York. In 1821 he was serving as Captain in the navy and was in
service on the shores of Lake Erie. He married Jane Green, and their home was
near the City of Olean in Cattaraugus
County.
After the war he entered the
lumber business. Sometimes in the mid-1840's the family migrated to Wisconsin.
There were thirteen children in the family, ten boys and three girls. At least
six or seven of them were young enough to be at home with their parents.
They came by way of the Great
Lakes to Milwaukee. For a time they settled in Waukesha County. Later, Isaac and
some of the older boys came on to Western Wisconsin, looking for a place to
build a home. One of the boys was Isaac Richard, known as Dick.
When Isaac came to the
Kickapoo Valley, he knew that was where he wanted to live. There were forests
for lumber and swift-flowing water to raft it down to the city by way of the
Kickapoo, Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. Isaac filed a claim on 160 acres at
the junction of what is now Richland and Vernon Counties.
Meanwhile, Dick was working
in the lumber camps in Minnesota. After about three years he went back to
Waukesha County and married Melissa Southworth. She, also, had come to Wisconsin
from New York state. After the wedding on September 22, 1855, they went back to
the Kickapoo, and Dick filed a claim on 160 acres just south of his father's
land. Dick's sister, Elizabeth, had married Abel Cushman, and they lived in
Kickapoo Center where Abel was operating a sawmill. He sawed the lumber for
Dick's two-room cabin, and in April of 1856 the couple moved in. Dick served in
the Civil War.
Children of Dick and Melissa
were Wallace A., James Walden and May. Wallace A. was my father. He was born on
September 26, 1858, on the farm near Viola. He graduated from Richland Center
High School in 1879. On January 1, 1880, he married Lizzie Beth Reed, whose home
was in Orion Township, a mile south of Twin Bluffs. To them were born five
children: Burke R., Georgia M., Leslie I., Helen A. and Dorothy M.
After their marriage Wallace
went to Chicago to the Brown and Holland Business College. After finishing the
course, he was hired by the Winona Wagon Works of Winona, Minnesota. He was
there for eleven years, then moved to Orion Township and farmed from 1894 to
1912. At that time he became county clerk of Richland County and served for six
years. Lizzie died in November 1911, and the family moved to Richland Center in
1913. In 1914 Wallace married Pearl Blake (see Blake-Ambrose-Lawton history).
Burke (1880-1965) was a
minister and spent seven years in Korea as a missionary. He married Olive Hardy.
George (1883-1951) married Harry Ghastin and lived in Sextonville; they had two
children: Harold (deceased) and Ruth (Tony) Mickle. Leslie (1885-1948) married
Sadie Parker. They lived in Richland Center. Their children are Donald, Beth Mae
and Wilfred. Helen married Homer Breeden in 1917. He died in 1972. Dorothy
married Dave Nelson and lives in Racine. They had six children and many
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Dave died in 1963. Submitted by Helen
Breeden
Taken from History of Crawford and Richland
Counties, Wisconsin - Union Publishing Company - Springfield, IL - 1884
Isaac R Lawton was born in 1829 in
Cattaraugus Co., NY, where he lived until 1845, when he moved to Waukesha Co.,
Wis., and remained two years, then to Jefferson county where he lived until
1850. He then went to northern Minnesota and worked in the pineries of that
region about four years, then removed to Vernon county where he remained one
year. He came from there to the town of Forest, and entered 200 acres of land
on section 6. He now owns 160 acres. Mr. Lawton was married Sept. 25, 1855, to
Malissa Southworth, who was born in 1831, in Cattaraugus Co., NY. They have
three children --- Wallace A, James W and May. Wallace is now married to
Lizzie Reed and they have two children. James married Sarah Saubert. Mr.
Lawton was a member of the 46th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving as
corporal of company H. He enlisted in 1865 and was discharged the same year.
1906 Miner's History of Richland County
WALLACE A. LAWTON is a worthy
representative of one of the well known pioneer families of Richland county
and is now the owner of a well improved farm in Orion township. He was born on
the parental homestead, near Viola, Forest township, this county, Sept. 26,
1858, and is a son of Richard and Melissa (Southworth) Lawton, both natives of
the state of New York, where the former was born in 1829 and the latter May
31, 1831. Of their three children the subject of this sketch is the eldest;
James Walden resides on the old homestead in Forest township; and Carrie May
is the wife of Thaddeus Huffman, residing near Rock Bridge, this county.
Richard Lawton was sixteen years of age at the time of accompanying his parent
on their removal to Wisconsin, about 1845, and the family first settled near
Waukesha, where he was reared to manhood, there remaining until about 1855,
when he came to Richland county, and passed the greater portion of the first
year at Kickapoo Center, after which he located on a tract of wild land north
of Viola, Forest township, where he developed the farm which ever afterward
continued his home, his death occurring in April, 1903. His widow still
remains on the homestead and is held in the same high regard in the community
as was her honored husband, who endured his full quota of the trials and
vicissitudes which fall to the lot of the pioneer. Wallace A. Lawton passed
his boyhood days on the farm, early beginning to aid in its work and securing
his rudimentary education in the district school, after which he completed a
course and was graduated in the high school at Richland Center. He
supplemented this discipline by a thorough course in the Brown and Holland
Business College in the city of Chicago, in 1883, becoming an expert
stenographer. After leaving this institution he was employed as a stenographer
about eleven years, principally in the office of the Winona Wagon Works, at
Winona, Minn., and he then returned to his native county and purchased his
present farm of 113 acres, in the town of Orion, the place having substantial
improvements and being under effective cultivation. Mr. Lawton devotes his
attention more particularly to the raising of poultry and fruit, but utilizes
his land to good advantage in the propagation of the various products best
suited to the soil and climate. He has achieved success through his personal
efforts and is a progressive and able business man. That he commands the
esteem and confidence of the community is evident from the fact that he has
held various local offices of trust, having served seven terms as township
clerk and eight years as treasurer of his school district, showing at all
times a lively concern in all that touches the general welfare of his native
county. He is a Republican in his political allegiance and both he and his
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. On Jan. 1, 1880, was
solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lawton and Miss Elizabeth B. Reed, who was born
and reared in this township, being a daughter of George W. and Sarah
(McCulloch) Reed, honored pioneers of Orion. Mr. and Mrs. Lawton have five
children: Burke R. is a student at Lawrence University, Appleton, this state;
Georgia M. is the wife of Harry Ghastin and they reside on the home farm of
her father, having two children,-Harold Leslie and Ruth Mildred; Leslie I.,
third child of Mr. and Mrs. Lawton, is attending a college at Berrien Springs,
Michigan; and Alice Helen and Dorothy M. are the younger members of the
attractive home circle.
JAMES W. LAWTON is known as one of
the leading farmers and stock-growers of his native town of Forest and is the
owner of the fine homestead farm which was the place of his nativity, his
birth having occurred Aug. 27, 1860. He is a scion of one of the honored
pioneer families of Richland county, being a son of Isaac R. and Melissa (Southworth)
Lawton, both native of Cattaraugus county, N. Y., where the former was born in
1829 and the latter in 1831. Isaac R. Lawton came to Wisconsin in an early
day, with his parents and Jennie (Green) Lawton, who first located in Waukesha
county, whence they came to Richland county in the early fifties, locating in
Forest township, on the farm now owned by the subject of this review. Here
they passed the remainder of their lives, both having been laid to rest on the
old homestead. They maternal grandparents were Edward and Huldah (Stearns)
Southworth, both of whom were native of the state of New York, where the
latter died, Mr. Southworth having been a resident of McHenry county, Ill., at
the time of his death. Isaac R. Lawton came to Richland county in 1855, in
which year his marriage was solemnized, and Mar. 10, 1856, he located on a
tract of 160 acres of land, in the town of Forest, and here he continued
actively engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his active
career, his death occurring April 26, 1903. His wife still survives, as do
three of their four children. In politics Isaac R. Lawton was a stanch
Republican and he served a number of years as justice of the peace. He was
affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the
Republic, and his proclivities in church matters were liberal. In 1864 he
enlisted in the Forty-sixth Wisconsin volunteer infantry, with which he served
about five months, when he received his honorable discharge, on account of
physical disability. Seven of his brothers were likewise soldiers in the Civil
War, and all of them survived the great internecine conflict, the greater
number having been in service during the entire course of the war. The subject
of this sketch was reared to manhood under the sturdy discipline of the
homestead farm and is indebted to the public schools of the locality and
period for his early educational training. He has never severed his allegiance
to the vocation to which he was reared, and is now the owner of a finely
improved landed estate of 200 acres, devoted to diversified agriculture and to
the raising of high-grade live stock, including Holstein cattle. He also makes
a specialty of raising fine poultry and is a successful apiarist. His
political influences and franchise are exercised in support of the principles
and policies of the Republican party, and he has been called upon to serve in
various public offices of local trust and responsibility. He has been
treasurer and constable of his township and represented the same on the county
board of supervisors, having been chairman of the town board for one term. He
is affiliated with the Lafarge Camp, No. 5168, Modern Woodmen of America, and
with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his wife are liberal in
their religious thought and are prominent in the social life of the community.
In 1883 Mr. Lawton was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Saubert, who was
born in Vernon county, this state, Nov. 13, 1864, being a daughter of Carl and
Christina (Glassel) Saubert, who took up their residence in that county in
1855. Mr. Saubert became a successful farmer and continued to reside in Vernon
county until his death, in 1895, at the age of eighty-three years. His widow
is now eighty-two years of age. Of their seven children five are living. Mr.
and Mrs. Lawton have two sons: Alva Ray, who was born May 30, 1884, completed
the curriculum of the public schools and was thereafter graduated in the
agricultural department of the University of Wisconsin, being now a successful
farmer in his home township. June 15, 1906, he was united in marriage to Vesta
Greenwood, a native of Sauk county, Wis., daughter of Robert and Evaline
(Miller) Greenwood, honored pioneers of Wisconsin. Jay W., who was born Mar.
7, 1891, is a member of the class of 1907 in the high school at Lafarge.
From:
Richland County Wisconsin, Published by The Richland County Historical
Society, 1986
BLAKE-AMBROSE-LAWTON
The date:
July 22, 1864. Private Simon S. Blake, 34, 25th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry,
lies critically wounded outside Atlanta (Decatur, Georgia). Fortunately for this
writer, "the ladies from the plantation mansion brought him food and water until
he was taken from the battlefield to the field hospital". That was followed by
Harvey General, Madison, and a medical discharge. He missed General Sherman's
"March to the Sea".
At 17 Simon
had tried to enlist for the Mexican War, but his parents would not consent. Born
October 29, 1829, in Pennsylvania, he moved to Richland County in 1854. He
married Mary Magdalena Ambrose (born April 30, 1836, in Pennsylvania.) on
January 18, 1855, in the Town of Orion. He clerked at a store in the village,
taught school at Pleasant Hill (Town of Eagle), then moved to 120 acres on Oak
Ridge. Besides farming, Simon held several town offices and helped establish the
church on Oak Ridge. After retirement they lived on South Church Street,
Richland Center, at the site of the present Lincoln School playground. They are
buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Simon having died March 5, 1904, followed by Mary
on May 10, 1909. Their youngest child, Pearl, lived with them at the time of
their deaths.
Pearl married
Wallace A. Lawton May 26, 1914; they had a son, Wallace Raymond, born September
29,1917. (Helen Breeden will submit the Lawton side of this family's story - see
No 211.)
Pearl had six
sisters and three brothers. Of the latter, only Sylvester reached adulthood; he
married Ida Halsey in 1881. The sisters were Ida (William) Abbey, Viola (Eddy)
Mason, Estelle (married Elbion Ewing and Joseph Davis), Salome (Luzerne) Pugh,
Cora (Wallace) Pratt, Belle (Charles) Lovell. Before marriage Pearl taught at
rural schools, did bookkeeping and clerking in Richland Center businesses, and
attended the Chicago Training School. After marriage she served on the school
board and participated in church and civic activities. She died August 10, 1973,
three weeks before her ninety-seventh birthday.
Raymond
graduated from RCHS in 1934, was in the Civilian Conservation Corps as a company
clerk in 1935, did office work 1936-1942, Signal Corps and Air Force 1942-1946.
He married Ruth Ida Marquardt May 18, 1946. Her parents, Julius and Hertha (Oft)
Marquardt, had moved to Milwaukee from Germany in the mid 1920's. Ruth worked
for Dun & Bradstreet before her marriage. Raymond worked at Saffell's Music &
Electronics (thirteen years), Martens Manufacturing (one year), and was elected
city clerk in 1960. He was re-elected each even-numbered year through 1986. Ruth
has been a deputy clerk for twenty years.
There are
five children and six grandchildren in this family: Sandra is employed by
Richland County at the Veterans Service Office and Commission on Aging. Dale is
a drivers' license examiner in Madison and a U.S. Navy reserve officer; he
married Jean Snorek, and their children are Patrick, Kelly, Ryan and Kimberly.
Dennis is a hydrogeologist in Nebraska; he married Rebecca Miller, and their
children are Amelia and Abigail. Kent is a landscaper in Richland Center. Kevin
is a geophysicist in Texas; he married Mary K. Davis.
Submitted by
Raymond Lawton
Thompson's Sextonville Cemetery
Buena Vista Township, Richland County, Wisconsin USA
(Updated to June 22, 2001)
Surnames A-L
SURNAME
Given Name MAIDEN-OTHER Report: WEB-1
================================================================================
LAWTON,
E. Pearl BLAKE 1876 1973 09-05-1876 08-10-1973
2nd wife of Wallace Alonzo Lawton. Married in 1914. Daughter of Simon S.
&
Mary M. (Ambrose) Blake.
LAWTON, Leslie I. 1885 1948
Married Sadie M. Parker in 1921. Son of Wallace Alonzo & Lizzie B. (Reed)
Lawton.
LAWTON, Lizzie B. REED 1858 1911 07-28-1858 11-29-1911
1st wife of Wallace Alonzo Lawton. Married January 1, 1880. Daughter of
George & Sarah (McGulloch) Reed.
LAWTON, Sadie M. PARKER 1895 1932
Married Leslie I. Lawton in 1921.
LAWTON, Wallace Alonzo 1859 1926 09-26-1859 04-10-1926
Married Lizzie B. Reed on January 1, 1880. Married E. Pearl Blake in
1914.
REED, A.J.
1867 1869 12-12-1867 03-09-1869
Son of George W. & Sarah E. (McCulloch) Reed.
REED, Alice V. HACKETT 1855 1920
Married George Riley Reed on July 12, 1874.
REED, Almina BAILEY 1831 1851 06-28-1831 07-18-1851
1st wife of George W. Reed.
REED, Earl A. 1890 1920 05-21-1890 03-02-1920
Son of Fred D. & Kitty Nora (Gwin) Reed.
REED, Emma LASSE 1865 1908 01-12-1908
Married William A. Reed on April 8, 1885.
REED, Fred Dudley 1863 1933 08-25-1863 06-02-1933
Married Kitty Nora Gwin on March 13, 1889. Son of George W. & Sarah E.
(McCullock) Reed.
REED, George Riley 1851 1916
Married Alice V. Hackett on July 12, 1874.
REED, George W. 1825 1912 07-07-1825 12-03-1912
Married Almina Bailey. Married Sarah E. McCulloch.
REED, Kitty Nora GWIN 1870 1920 06-28-1870 04-07-1920
Married Fred Dudley Reed on March 13, 1889. Daughter of David J. & Martha
(Reagles) Gwin.
REED, Sarah E. MCCULLOCH 1827 1910 12-15-1827 12-17-1910
2nd wife of George W. Reed.
Thompson's Lawton Cemetery
Forest Township, Richland County, Wisconsin USA
(Updated
to November 30, 2002)
SURNAME
Given Name MAIDEN-OTHER Report: WEB-1 Draft
================================================================================
BACOM, Clara 1811 1870 12-26-1870
Wife of Oel Bacom. Aged not listed!
BALCOM, Bradley P. 1816 1900
BALCOM, Charlotte
1817 1905
Wife of Bradley P. Balcom.
BUCHANAN, Lucy M. 1847 1871 01-06-1847 03-16-1871
Wife of Daniel M. Buchanan. Aged 24Ys 2Ms 10Ds
CULVERSON, Nancy 1808 1872 05-03-1872
Wife of Levi Culverson. Aged 64 years.
FAY, Edward 1789 1871
Co C 2nd Wis Cav - Civil War
GREEN, Mary Jane W. LAWTON 1824 1906
Wife of Samuel W. Green. Aged illegible!
Daughter of Isaac Lawton.
HICKOX, Cora M. 1870 1871 12-11-1871
Daughter of Charles W. & Julia Hickox. Aged 1 year.
HICKOX, Sarah M. 1820
Wife of Watson S. Hickox. Illegible!
HICKOX, Watson S. 1814 1872 03-05-1814 02-16-1872
Aged 57Ys 11Ms 11Ds
HICKOX, William S. 1844 1872 06-05-1844 09-21-1872
Cpl Co G 35th Wis Inf Regt - Civil War Aged 28Ys 3Ms 16Ds
Son of Watson S. & Sarah M. Hickox.
HUBBELL, Jessie 1819 1893 10-05-1819 08-09-1893
Husband of Mary M. Hubbell.
LAWTON, Eleanor Hope 1912 1912 10-17-1912 10-17-1912
Infant daughter of Alrie Ray & Vesta Bell (Greenwood) Lawton.
LAWTON, George W. 1840 1870 06-19-1840 09-14-1870
Pvt Co H 5th Wis Inf Regt - Civil War
Married Mary Ellis on July 22, 1866.
LAWTON, Isaac I. 1794 1869 08-09-1869
Cpl - War of 1812 Aged 75 years.
Married Jane "Jennie" Green.
LAWTON, Isaac Richard 1829 1903 11-03-1829 04-28-1903
Cpl Co H 46th Wis Inf Regt - Civil War
Married Melissa A. Southworth.
Son of Isaac I. & Jane "Jennie" (Green) Lawton.
LAWTON, James Walden 1860 1936
Married Sarah Elizabeth Sanbent on June 7, 1883.
LAWTON, Jane "Jennie" GREEN 1800 1870 06-20-1800 05-01-1870
Wife of Isaac I. Lawton. Aged 69Ys 10Ms 11Ds
LAWTON, Jay 1872 08-15-1872
Son of George W. & Mary (Ellis) Lawton. Aged _____.
LAWTON, Mary ELLIS
Married George W. Lawton on July 22, 1866. Illegible!
LAWTON, Melissa A. SOUTHWORTH 1831 1929 05-29-1831
12-08-1929
Wife of Isaac Richard Lawton.
LAWTON, Sarah Elizabeth SANBENT 1864 1918 11-13-1864 05-01-1918
Married James Walden Lawton on June 7, 1883.
LAWTON, Virginia E. 1845 1867 12-20-1845 06-16-1867
1st wife of Diamond A. Lawton. Aged 21Ys 5Ms 27Ds
LAWTON, William H. 1869 1870 03-16-1869 07-21-1870
Son of Diamond A. & 2nd wife M. Lawton. Aged 1Ys 4Ms 5Ds
PHILLIPS, Albert 1934
Married Lillian Brunson on March 12, 1887.
PHILLIPS, Lillian BRUNSON 1928
Married Albert Phillips on March 12, 1887.
TAYLOR, Alfred G. 1863 1865 09-08-1863 07-11-1865
Son of George & Emma Taylor. Aged 1Ys 10Ms 3Ds
================================================================================
Maiden Name Cross - Reference
MAIDEN/Other marriages Given Name Burial Surname
====================== ======================== ==============
BRUNSON Lillian Phillips
ELLIS Mary Lawton
GREEN Jane "Jennie" Lawton
LAWTON Mary Jane W. Green
SANBENT Sarah Elizabeth Lawton
SOUTHWORTH Melissa A. Lawton
====================== ======================== ==============
Thompson's Cemetery Guide
Cemetery location map by Dennis Cook
Email
Corrections/Additions to:
dthompso@mwt.net
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Copyright and Ownership: Individuals and groups can use these volumes freely
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author
Tales
The Tombstones Tell - The Republican Observer - December 17, 1959
The Lawton Cemetery
A
burial ground, now unused, is what is known as the Lawton cemetery in the town
of Forest. It is located just at the edge of Vernon county, across the highway
from the Tunnelville school house on state highway 131 between Viola and La
Farge. We doubt that another burial will ever be made in this hillside
cemetery. The last burial, according to the markers, was made in 1936, when
James W. Lawton was laid to rest. Another later day burial was in 1909. The
hillside is quite steep and it must have been a task to make burials there.
On
the top of the hill close by, burials were made many, many years ago long
before the coming of the white man to the Kickapoo Valley. In fact hundreds of
years ago the Mound Builders, ~who preceded the Indians, buried their dead and
erected mounds here. When the Kickapoo railroad was being built between Viola
and La Farge it was necessary to pierce a hill on the Lawton farm and build a
tunnel through limestone rocks. On the hill was located a sacred burial
ground. The mounds were dug into the mementos buried hundreds of years ago
with the dead, were carried away and in some instances even bones were taken.
This was back in 1896. These mounds are called “Indian” mounds though they
were made by a race known as “Mound Builders” and their mounds are found in
many places in Richland County, especially along the Wisconsin river in the
towns of Orion, Eagle and Richwood.
The farm, upon which the cemetery of which we write is on, is a pioneer farm
now owned by Ray Lawton and his son Harold. The farm has been in the Lawton
family since 1853, Isaac Lawton being the first owner. He and his wife Jennie,
came to Richland county in 1855 from Waukesha county and took up their home in
Forest township and here they spent the remainder of their lives and both were
laid to rest in the little hillside cemetery on the farm.
Isaac R. Lawton, a son, also came to Forest Township in 1855. He was married
in 1856 to Malissa Southworth. He served in the Civil War as did a number of
his brothers. One of their sons, James W. Lawton, was born on the farm in
August, 1860. He was raised upon the farm and attended the country school. In
1883 he married Sarah E. Saubert, who was born in Vernon county in 1864. Both
are now at rest in the little cemetery. Mr. Lawton died in 1936 and his wife
preceded him in death, having passed away in 1918, according to the marker.
One of their sons was Ray, who was born in 1884 and became owner of this
excellent farm. Ray is very much alive and now resides in Arizona, and the old
homestead farm ownership is shared by his son Harold. Ray married Vesta
Greenwood of Sauk County, the wedding taking place on June 15, 1906. She too
is still among the living. Ray served as assemblyman from this county at one
time, serving to the satisfaction of
But what of the sacred spot on the hillside where members of the Lawton clan
with others sleep away the years?
One of the markers is for Watson S. Hickox, who died in 1872 at the age of 57.
A flag waves here indicating that he was a Civil War veteran. On the same lot
is a marker for his son, William, who also died in 1872. There is a marker for
Lucy Buchanan, wife of Daniel Buchanan.
Close by is buried an infant daughter of D.H. and L. Hanson, whose span of
life was short as her birth and death are given as 1909. Another youngster to
be buried here is Alfred G. Taylor who passed on July 11, 1865, at the age of
one year, 10 months and three days. His parents were J.H. and E. Taylor. A
little verse for him is carved upon the stone and reads:
“Sleep on Alfred and take thy rest,
God took thee home when He thought best.”
Another marker is for Mary J. Green, who was born in 1824 and died in 1907.
Another is for George W. Lawton who died in 1870 at the age of 30. He was a
member of Co. H, 5th Wis. regiment in the Civil War. He gave Vernon County as
his residence when he enlisted June 20, 1861.
A
marker for Isaac and Jennie Lawton catches the rays of an afternoon sun. She
died in May, 1870, at the age of 69, and he passed on in August, 1869, at the
age of 75. Upon the marker it says:
“No pain nor grief nor anxious fear,
Can harm the peaceful sleepers here.”
There are a number of sunken spots in this burying ground indicating that a
burial had been made there. Time and the elements have made some markers
unreadable. One for instance is for a lady who died August 16, 1867. Her given
name was Virginia but her maiden name c8uld not be made out.
On
the marker for William Lawton, who died in 1870 at the age of one year, is
this:
“The fairest bud that flowery nature knows,
Oft here unfolds, but withers ere it blows.”
Bradley P. Balcom and his wife Charlotte, have a marker. He was born, the
stone says, in 1816 and died in 1900. His wife was born in 1817 and passed
down the long road in 1905.
On
a monument, which stands in this cemetery, is this: “Lawton, veteran 1861 -
1865,” and on the headstones one is marked “Mother” and the other “Father.”
Thus it is and thus it always will be. Hundreds of years have passed, since
the day the Mound Builders laid their dead to rest upon the brow of the hill
adjoining the cemetery. Then came the pioneers to this rich land and here too
they died and some of them found rest upon the hillside.
A
flag, the Stars and Stripes, floats from a pole in the school yard across the
highway, and boys and girls, bless their hearts, there learn their lessons. It
was recess time and no doubt but that the youngsters, and the teacher also,
were wondering what those strangers were doing up on the hillside.
It
was thought some weeks back that these articles had been finished but they
seem to have not come to an end and will continue to be published whenever
something of interest comes to our notice.
S.
W. Fogo
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