The Capital Times, Madison, Dane Co., 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 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.

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

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.

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

Use, Copyright and Ownership: Individuals and groups can use these volumes freely but
without use for their financial gain. The full ownership is retained by the 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