The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-08-05
J. WALTER LURTON.
By Gilfillan Scott.

Pensacola has lost a friend
Death has removed one of Pensa =
cola's most respected and most be-
loved citizens. whom the business
world and the musical world will miss
for many a year.
Everyone knew J. w. Lurton and
j. w. Lurton knew and remembered
everyone.
He has been missed on the streets
during his long illness; for he was a
popular man, and couldn't walk a
block without being held in converse :
ton by one friend or another.
Born at Louisville, Kentucky on De-
cember 18th. 1916. Mr.. Lurton was in
ms slxty-ninth year, and looked at
least ten years younger. In his youth
he studied for the law, at the same
time having q strong inclination to
make music his profession. Circum-
stances, however, prompted him to &C
cept an opening in his home city with
Company in 1867, which was the
common cement of his long and sue
cessful railroad career.
At the beginning of the Civil War
he had enrolled in the the Union army
as drummer. and served two years
under General Buell.. He saw consid-
cradle active service, the battle of
Shiloh being the most important bat
tie In which he Participated
Settling down finally to the BUSH
noted until in 1890 he was appoint
ed division freight and passenger
agent at Pensa cola.
In his business dealings Mr. Lurton
was shrewd, cautious exact and re-
liable; his early training for the law
being quite evident in his methodical
and mastery handling of detail Ac-
customed to dealing with difficulties
and .intricacies he became recognized
as a man of sound Judgment and dis
erection, and was sought by many for
advice in time of trouble.
Mr.. Lurtons all round character
istics were such that he would have
succeeded in anything he undertook
He dealt with one thing al a time and
was by turns the expert railroad
man. the expert lawyer and the expert
musician.
To witness ~ w" Gas he was famil-
iarly called by musical chums) con-
trolling big chorus and plotting it
through the maze and tangle and
storm and stress Of a ma ssive fuCue
was to recognize instantly, and with
out question the master mind Of the
was king and commander, and he had
but to hold up his finger for every
musician to flock to his standard.
Throughout his twenty-four years
residence In Pensacola he consistently
and quite as a matter Of course held
II -
this entirely without self assertion.
Everyone wished it so and it was SO.
His musical taste was instinctlvely
classical. Nothing but the best would
satisfy him; and herein was the I'M
DERIVING secret of the respect accorded
him IS a musician.
All Of his musical work was in the
cause Of religion and charity. Time
after time the churches or the opera
house were crowded to OVERLOOKING
p t,e,f1 c%i ,,oI.
gathered wherever and whenever Mr.
Lurton was announced as the musical
promoter.
Among such larger undertakings
may be mentioned performances of
the Hymn of Praise" Hear My
Prayer" 'Inflammatus Stabat Ma
ter"). "'rhe Creation" The Holy City"
Belshazzar's Feast" 1.-The Chimes Of
Normandy" THE Legend of Don Mum
TO- and Scenes and Songs of the
Confedera cy."
These were always orga nized on
large scale. with fun band and chorus.
and first class sOloistS.
1t requires COura ge and self-confi
dence to inaugurate and carry through
such ambitious performances. Mr..
Lurton was the right man in the right
place He had the ccura ge ard the
talent and Pensacola is heavily indebt-
ed to him FOR its present reputa ton
as a musical city.
He was for many years musical di-
rector Of the First Baptist Church, and
was quite a power of strength in