Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1900-02-02

County Com lnlssi 0ner Geo. III. NC |
Lain, who Was q Scheolmate Of
the Dsnd Here Belefe the Civil
war.
To the Editor of the Record.
In my recollections of the dead gen.
eral, my misconception Of his age
stands out prominently. He was
younger than l supposed. I first saw
him in the autumn of 1860. We were
fellow-students in the old Methodist |
college at Fort Wayne, Indiana. He
had then apparently arrived at matu-
rity. He was much taller than the av-
erage man, we'll proportioned, and
with 4 dark brown mlstache, although
he was less than 18 years old.
It was a presidential year. Abraham
Lincoln was one OF the candidates,
and of course politics was noisily dis
cussed by the boys; but, in keeping
with his quiet habits, Lawton did not
indulge in much political talk, though
as strong partisan as any Of us. In
politics he was republican; but I don't
think he ever cast a vote.
He was a close, careful student, al
lowing nothing to pass unquestioned
that he did not thoroughly understand.
was in the same classes, and remem-
Der him as methodical rather than
brilliant.
On Saturdays the boys would some
times gather on the commons near the
college and indulge in a game of ball
not base ball, but "town ball" Law
ton played with zest and enjoyment.
The Office of umpire not being at that
time created, many loud but friendly
disputes would occur among the play
ers, each one taking sides according to
his interests. When called on for an
opinion Lawton would give it and it
would be accepted from What motive
don't possibly that the opin-
| ion was not given until called for, but
probably because we knew it was
right.
His father and uncle were mill
wrights. The uncle owned and occu-
pied farm not far from my fathers.
When not at school the boy worked
with them. Several mills at or near
Fort Wayne were built Or remodeled
by them.
Gen. Lawton claimed Fort Wayne
as his home. When the president Sc.
lected him for promotion he asked to
be credited to Indiana; but the proud
commonwealth did not know the then
obscure soldier, and turned from him
and demanded that the honor should
fall upon a famous militia officer OF its
own. What became of the lnilitiamar
/ / do not know; but it is certain thai
| he Is not on ssFame's eternal camping
ground" 1t was lpdicEous tonote how
after Ell Caney, Indiana made haste tt
claim her soldier.
j Gen. Lawton enlisted on the 18th
day of April, 1S61-three days after
Lincoln's first cali for volunteers in
a company raised by Capt. Seegur a
Fort Wayne. The company became ;
part of the 9th Indiana, doing service
in West Virginia. 1t was a three
months regiment, and was mustered
out in July. Lawton then enlisted ii
a company recruited by o. d. Hurd
which became company "a" of th,
Both Regiment of Indiana Volunteers
Hurd being captain and Lawton first
lieutenant. The regiment got into it
share Of the difficulty beginning al
Shiloh and ending at Nashville. Law
ton earned his medal of honor near At
lanta, under Gen. Sherman, "for gal
liant and meritorious service.' Afte
four years the regiment came bacI
seasoned veterans, with Lawton, age
%, the colonel commanding.
Lawton then commenced the stud
Of law in the Office of Ninde s. Taylor
of Fort Wayne, and by their advic
entered Harvard law school. But b
did not remain there long, accepting
commission in the regular service
where he remained until his death
serving as volunteer and regular abou
50 years, and holding rank as private
corporal, lieutenant, captain, lieute1
,, ant.colonel, colonel, brigadier genera
: and major general.
s Respectfully, GEO. III. Nolan.
4 Winchester. N. D., Jan. 20, 1900.
!. ItExpleacd.
The other day Farmer Whalcn cam
to town. AS the weather was cole
: George had, before he left home, pu
: sandstone in the oven and, aftt
heating it, had placed it in the wago
!. for a foot-warmer. When he reache
. i fnu,n l,o ,,,% <1,o c+on, l., ~,