John Clayton Leaton 1877-1944

LEATON, FELTY, PRESTON, SHEFFIELD, HENSLEY

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 8/7/2011 at 20:03:29

John Clayton Leaton, second
son of James Monroe and Amanda
Felty Leaton, was born at Stockton,
Mo., on March 11, 1877, and
departed this life at his home in
Oelwein, Iowa, on May 3rd, 1944,
aged 67, years, 1 month and 22
days.
At the age of two and a half
years he moved with his parents
to Nevada, Mo., and after a few
years of residence in neighboring
communities, the family located
at Bentonville, Arkansas. Here
Mr. Leaton graduated from the
high school and attended the college
in which he completed a two
year course in mechanics. Then
the Spanish-American War came
and he enlisted. He was sent to
Chickamauga, Tenn. After his
discharge from the Army, he entered
the employ of Southern
Pacific Railway, but soon found a
better opportunity with the Santa
Fe Line, and went to Albuquerrque,
N. M. In 1907 he came to
Oelwein and found employment
with the Chicago Great Wetsern
Railway, which he continued to
serve as a machanist. first in the
back shop and then at the round
house, until his retirement in July 1942.
After a year he went to Minneapolis,
Minn., as a government inspector of war-
production materials at the Northern
Pump Company. At the close of March,
last, he resigned his position and returned
home to enjoy his retirement. He seemed
in the usual health until April 26th, when he
became ill with a heart-attack.
On Friday he was some better,
but by Monday became worse and
continued so to the end, which
came on Wednesday afternoon
about 3:00 o'clock.
On September 9, 1909, he was
united in marriage with Miss
Ethel A. Preston at Oelwein,
Iowa. To this union two sons
were born, but the second son
"was caught in his descending, on
his guardian angel's wing" on the
day of his birth, and "blossomed
in fragrant beauty on the bosom
of his God." Some years later
they adopted a son, who became
as their very own.
Mr. Leaton is survived by his
wife, the companion of 35 years
of fine devotion, two sons, Milton
M. Leaton of Oelwein, and
Jack Winfield Leaton, who is in
the service of his country, and
one grandson, Gerald Leaton,
Oelwein.
He is also survived by two brothers
and one sister, C. L. Leaton
of Kansas City, Mo., and C. H.
Leaton of Oelwein, and Mrs. Belle
Sheffield of Kansas City, together
with a number of nieces and nephews.
One sister, Mrs. Minnie
Hensley, preceeded him in death
in 1918.

Services were held in Grace
Methodist church on May 7th at
2:30 p. m., the pastor, the Rev.
F. C. Witzigman, officiated. The
Masonic order shared in the service
at the church and at the
grave and military honors were in
charge of the American Legion of
Oelwein and of the Spanish-American
Veterans Camp of Waterloo.
Mrs. Russell Hearne and Mrs.
Rollin Nelson sang "Be Still, My
Soul" and "Dear Lord, Remember
Me." Miss Evelyn Eck, Organist.
interment was made in the family
lot in Woodlawn cemetery.

Oelwein Daily Register - 9 May 1944