Lawton, Byron 1865-1908 & Alice French Family

LAWTON, FRENCH, MUDGE

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/30/2023 at 04:40:50

Lawton, Byron 1865-1908 & Alice French Family

This story was taken from pages 426-427 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). Author unknown. The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes and obits were added.

In 1888 Byron Lawton came to Sioux Co., Ia. from Galena in Jo Davies Co., Il. where he was born Oct. 29, 1865 to Eliza (Blake) and John Lawton. He farmed in the Ireton vicinity for two years. In Jan. of 1890 he went to Manchester, Ia. and married Alice French who was born Apr. 6, 1865. They came to the vicinity of Hudson (which was known as Eden), S.D. where they lived for two years and one child was born, a daughter, Maude. Later they moved to Ash Grove Stock Farm in Washington Twp., Sioux Co. west of Ireton, specializing in Shorthorn and Durham cattle along with Poland China hogs. They built all of the buildings there, set out trees, and put in water works.

Three more children were born on this farm: Floyde in 1883; Olive in 1885; and Stanley in 1887. The four children attended country school and later high school in Hawarden.

Floyde spent two years in WWI and later married Evelyn Andersen of Hawarden. They had one daughter Marian. Floyde died in Hawarden in 1928.

Olive taught school a number of years in the country and in the Ireton Public School. She married Wm. Lean of Ireton and had two children, Helen and Norman. Later they moved to Calif. where she taught school and Mr. Lean was a U.S. mail carrier. He had served in WWI and took an active part in the Legion for years. Olive passed away in Apr. 1977.

Stanley married Bernadine Rouwen of Hawarden in 1920 and farmed in that vicinity for a number of years. They had three sons who now live in La Habra, Calif.—Dr. Thomas; Atty. Phillip, and Dr. Joseph. Stanley passed away after a lingering illness in Oct. 1966.

Maude married Irvin Cooper of Huron, S.D. they had two children, Alice of Alcester, S.D. and Byron who died in 1977. Byron Lawton was one of the first farmers to own an automobile, a “Reo”. He belonged to the Hawarden Presbyterian Church, and was very active as a member and an officer in the Odd Fellows Lodge. He passed away after a short illness of pneumonia on Mar. 8, 1908. Mrs. Lawton died in Aug. 1942 in Bellflower, Calif. at the home of her daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Lean.

RESEARCH NOTES: Family report from ancestry.com public member trees submitted by other than this submitter.

Byron Lawton was born 29 Octobre 1866 Carroll County IL and died 2 March 1909 Sioux County IA His parents were John Joseph Lawton 1837-1921 and Eliza Jane Lawton 1840-1926 . He married Alice Amelia French 1890.

Alice Amelia French was born 6 April 1865 Jones County Iowa and died 17 August 1942 Bellflower CA. Her parents were Jesse Clark French 1832-1905 and Laura Evelin Mudge 1837-1920. Byron and Alice were the parents of four children.

CHILDREN
1. Maude Lawton born 21 Sep 1890 Hudson SD died 9 Nov 1991 Alcester SD married 29 Dec 1910 to Irwin Furness Cooper born 17 Sep 1885 Faulkton SD died 17 Aug 1947 Los Angeles CA they had two children – Alice Lawton Cooper 1813-2008 and Byron Irwin Cooper 1823-1977.

2. Floyd Ernest Lawton born 12 Mar 1893 die 20 May 1929 Hawarden IA
Source: Hawarden Independent (5-23-1929)
Born: March 12, 1893 Died: May 20, 1929 FLOYD LAWTON DIES SUDDENLY---WORLD WAR VETERAN ANSWERS SUDDEN SUMMONS--WAS 36 YEARS OLD AND A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THIS COMMUNITY---LEAVES WIDOW AND ONE DAUGHTER Floyd E. Lawton, World War veteran and lifelong resident of this community, died very suddenly at the Hawarden Hospital at 9:35 o’clock Monday morning following an attack of acute gastritis. Although apparently robust he had not been in good health for the past five years and only on Saturday preceding his death had made applications for admission to a government hospital for treatment. He suffered chill Sunday night and about 8:30 Monday morning went into the pantry lunch room to get a cup of coffee and remarked to others that he was sick. He evidently was feeling very badly and shortly after reaching the lunch room he accosted Sam Blair in the Bourret Motor Company’s garage and asked him to take him to the doctor. At the foot of the stairway leading to Doctor Dixon’s office Mr. Blair left him to go ahead and ascertain if the doctor was in. Dr. Dixon was out on a call and when Mr. Blair returned Floyd was sitting on the steps. Mr. Blair realized that he was very ill and assisted him into the car and took him to the hospital. A physician could not be located at once and he was made as comfortable as possible on a couch pending the arrival of a doctor but he died within about half an hour after reaching the hospital, just before Dr. Dixon arrived. Mrs. Lawton and their 7-year old daughter, Marian, were in Kansas visiting at the home of her sister and were summoned home immediately arriving here Tuesday afternoon. Funeral services are being held this afternoon at the Associated Church, with Reverend A.M. McIntosch of Sioux City formerly of Hawarden pastor, in charge. Interment will be in Grace hill Cemetery. Full military honors are being accorded with Two Oaks Post of the American Legion in charge. Floyd Ernest Lawton was the oldest son of Byron and Alice (French) Lawton. He was born on a farm southeast of Hawarden March 12, 1893, so was but little more than 36 years of age. He attended the rural schools and the public schools in Hawarden and united with the Presbyterian Church in Hawarden in 1911. At the age of 18 he was obliged to give up school work in order to assist his widowed mother with the management of the farm. Shortly after the United States entered the World War he enlisted in the 163rd Cavalry at Sioux Falls, being among the first Hawarden young men to enlist. He was later transferred to the 144th Machine Gun Battalion, going from Sioux Falls to Camp Deming, New Mexico. He went to France in October, 1918, and returned in April, 1919, receiving an honorable discharge from the army that same spring. On June 30, 1921, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Evelyn Brisbin in this city. To this union one daughter, Marian Louise, was born. For a number of years he was engaged in farming and dairying. Besides the widow and daughter he is survived by his mother, Mrs. Alice Lawton of Ireton, one brother, Stanley Lawton of Hawarden and two sisters, Mrs. Maude Cooper of Hawarden and Mrs. Olive Lean of Ireton. To the members of his family the sympathy of the entire community goes out in their sudden bereavement.

3. Olive Eveline Lawton born 20 Jul 1895 Hawarden IA died 29 Apr 1978 Bellflower CA Husband William Mckinley Lean 1896-1988. Two children
Source: Hawarden Independent (8-3-1978)
Born: 1895 Died: 1978 Mrs. William Lean, formerly Olive Lawton, of Bellflower, California was buried last week in Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Ireton. Mrs. Lean passed away in April and her body was cremated at that time. Last week Mr. Lean, accompanied by a daughter and granddaughter, brought her remains to Ireton to be buried. She is survived by her husband, William, a daughter and a son. She was 86 years old and a former teacher at Ireton. The Lean’s lived in Ireton after they were married and later moved to California. Mr. Lean was a mail carrier in Ireton and after they moved to California he continued as a mail carrier and Mrs. Lean continued to teach out there. While here last week Mr. Lean and daughter and granddaughter visited with Mr. and Mrs. Glen Hansen on Hawarden.

4.Stanley Byron Lawton born 15 Jun 1897 Hawarden IA died 22 Oct 1966 Long Beach CA From the Hawarden Independent of March 11, 1909
Sudden death of Byron Lawton. The news of the death of Byron
Lawton Monday morning at his home five miles southeast of this city, came as a great shock to his many friends ia Hawarden. He was taken sick with pneumonia just one week previous, and strong and rugged as he was, it quickly carried him to his grave. The funeral was held in the Presbyterian church in this city yesterday afternoon and was attended by one of the largest assemblages of sorrowing friends and relatives of
any funeral that has been held here for a long time, thus testifying to the esteem in which he was held in this community. Rev. Ambler preached a very able and impressive funeral sermon, after which Deputy Grand Master Wheeler of the Ireton lodge and Caplain Frank Stockton of the Hawarden lodge took charge of the services on behalf the lndependent Order of Odd Fellows, of which the deceased was an ardent and honored member. The remains were then interred in Grace Hill cemetery,
Byron Lawton was born in Carroll county, IL., Oct. 29, 1865, and died at his home in Washington township March 8, 1909, at the age of 48 years, 4 months and 10 days.
He came to Sioux county in the spring of 1886 and engaged in farming in Center township. In January 1890 he was married to Miss Alice French of Manchester, Iowa. To this happy union were born four children, Myrtle Maude, Ernest Floyd, Oliver Evelyn and Byron Stanley.
After residing near Hudson, Iowa, for one year, he with his family, moved to Hanover, IL., where they remained one year. He returned to Iowa in 1892 and settled on what was then a prairie farm in Washington township, five miles southeast of Hawarden where he lived until the time of his death.
He was an enthusiastic worker in fraternal orders, being a member of Ireton Lodge No. 502, I. O. O. F., and also a member of Hawarden Camp No. 1567, M. W.A. He believed in the wide brotherhood of man and was an ardent worker among his fellows. About ten years ago he united
with the Presbyterian church of Hawarden to which he remained a faithful member until the time of his death. A few months ago he was elected by the church to serve as a trustee. He leaves a wife and four children together with an aged father and mother, four sisters and one brother to mourn his departure, He was a loving husband, a kind father and an honorable citizen, was a man of sterling character,of strict integrity and manly bearing. He will be sadly missed by the church, The lodge and the community.

OBITUARY OF BYRON LAWTON 1865-1909
From the Hawarden Independent of March 11, 1909
Sudden death of Byron Lawton.
The news of the death of Byron Lawton Monday morning at his home five miles southeast of this city, came as a great shock to his many friends in Hawarden. He was taken sick with pneumonia just one week previous, and strong and rugged as he was, it quickly carried him to his grave. The funeral was held in the Presbyterian church in this city yesterday afternoon and was attended by one of the largest assemblages of sorrowing friends and relatives of any funeral that has been held here for a long time, thus testifying to the esteem in which he was held in this community.
Rev. Ambler preached a very able and impressive funeral sermon, after which Deputy Grand Master Wheeler of the Ireton lodge and Chaplain Frank Stockton of the Hawarden lodge took charge of the services on behalf the lndependent Order of Odd Fellows, of which the deceased was an ardent and honored member. The remains were then interred in Grace Hill cemetery,
Byron Lawton was born in Carroll county, IL., Oct. 29, 1865, and died at his home in Washington township March 8, 1909, at the age of 48 years, 4 months and 10 days.
He came to Sioux county in the spring ot 1886 and engaged in farming in Center township.
In January 1890 he was married to Miss Alice French of Manchester, Iowa To this happy union were born four children, Myrtle Maude, Ernest Floyd, Oliver Evelyn and Byron Stanley.
After residing near Hudson, Iowa, for one year, he with his family, moved to Hanover, IL., where they remained one year. He returned to Iowa in 1892 and settled on what was then a prairie farm in Washington township, five miles southeast of Hawarden where he lived until the time of his death. He was an enthusiastic worker in fraternal orders, being a member of Ireton Lodge No. 502, I. O. O. F., and also a member of Hawarden Camp No. 1567, M. W.A. He believed in the wide brotherhood of man and was an ardent worker among his fellows. About ten years ago he united with the Presbyterian church of Hawarden to which he remained a faithful member until the time of his death. A few months ago he was elected by the church to serve as a trustee.
He leaves a wife and four children together with an aged father and mother, four sisters and one brother to mourn his departure, He was a loving husband, a kind father and an honorable citizen, was a man of sterling character, of strict integrity and manly bearing. He will be sadly missed by the church, The lodge and the community..

OBITUARY OF ALICE LAWTON 1865-1942
From the Hawarden Independent of Aug 20,1942
Death Claims Mrs. Alice Lawton
Friends and neighbors were greatly shocked Monday when word came of the death of Mrs. Alice Lawton who passed away in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Wm. Lean, in Bellflower, Calif. It was just two weeks since she left Ireton, accompanied by her daughters on the trip West, where she was to make her home.
Mrs. Lawton had not been in good health for some time and of late failed rapidly. Heart trouble and complications caused her death. Mrs. Lawton led an active life in her home, in her garden; in church and community. She lived alone for many years. Her husband passed away many years ago. She came to Ireton after her husband's death and lived here more than 20 years.
So ends the life of another, who saw pioneer hardships, labor and sorrow, yet in it all had that Christian hope and fortitude until the last. Her life will be only a memory but the good deeds will live on.