Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1922-03-24
JOHN CALVIN PAXTON


j. A. McMurray, i. D. was recently
published in the Presbyterian of the
South and The Christian Observer.
John Calvin Paxton was born March
23rd, 1917, at Rivervale the Paxton
homestead, III Rockbridge Co., Va, the
fourth son of William and Sarah Burks
Paxton AT the early age ofseventeen
he was called out to repel raid, after
which he Joined the Rockbridge Re
serves, was made First Sergeant of /
Company |, participating in Valley /,
C ampaign and some fighting around .
Richmond At the end OF the War he !
returned home to his broken hearted !
father and mother, who had lost their /
TWO oldest sons killed in battle the |
third son. prisoner, returned broken |
in health and spirit.
Like the rest of the young men of |
| the South, he came out OF the army
with an unbounded admiration for
General Robert E. Lee, but, unlike |
most OF his comrades, he had the rare
privilege Of living in Lexington, Va. |
during those days, after the war, when
General Lee, as president OF Washing
ton College, was exhibiting in his quiet
way that matchless personal character
which outshines even his military glory
In response to one of the numerous
offers from large financial interests,
| General Lee said; 81 have a self imposed
task which | must accomplish. | have
led the young men Of the South in
battle: have seen many Of them die
on the field: shall devote my remain
inc energies to training young men TO
do their duty in life" In point of fact
saws Gamaliel Bradford, recent bio
orapher, che was creating or re-creat-
inc, a great nation. His patience, his
courage, his attitude towards the past,
: his attitude towards the future, his per
feet forgiveness, his large magnanimlty,
above all, his hope, were reflected in
the eager hearts about him and from
: them spread wide over the bruised and
beaten South" This influence which
was moldng a nation character was
felt at close range by young Paxton,
who was a clerk in Lexington book
store into which General Lee often
came. He used to speak OF the deep
impression made upon him in those
y, days by the noble bearing OF TINS
y great man. In his later years especially
in the peaceful repose Of death, many
y of Mr.. Paxton's friends notjceda strill-
ing resemblance TO General Lee, and
no compliment ever pleased him Il re
than the mention Of This fact, but to the
present writer there was q still more
' striking resemblance in some traits Of
personal character especially his mo-
desty, his tender-hearted sympathy, his
> uncompromisiug principle, and the
-. chndlike simplicity OF his faith IN God.
Tha influence OF General Lee is thus
= clearly uaceaUle, but there was another
:. influence which lay deeper at the roots
OF his being, and was more effective
in shaping his life. 1t was the long
" line OF Scotch-Irish Presbyterians from
whom he was descended, every genera
ton OF them represented iii the elder
F ship of the Church He had a very
high estimate of the honor and dignity
OF this office, and was greatly pleased
when he was counted worthy to attend
, to it, and to continue in his own person
the unbroken succession Of Paxtons
who were ruling elders. It was an
Honor thathe bore most wsrthily, being
Ipunctual and faithful in all the duties
of the office, and deeply interested in
the work OF the whole church.
Ii there was ever any truth in the
9 slur that is sometimes cast upon the
Scotch-Irish. that they keep the sab
bath day and everything else they can
lay their hands on, Mr.. Paxton happily
0 missed this part Of his Scotch-Irish in
lheritance He did keep the sabbath
0 day most carefully, but with every
thing else he was exceedingly gen
erous, entering far more than most
men into the JOY of liberal giving. lie
Lgave intelligently, thoughtfuIIy I'M
ostentatously, bearing fruit in every
good work, at home and abroad, and
the LORD prospered him, that he might
f have whereof TO give.
Practically all of his business career
was spent in the manufacture Of lime
first at Indian Rock Botetourt county
iwhere he lived for sixteen years, then
for about twenty years in Shenandoah
county, with his residence in Wood
stock, the county seat. While most of
his life was thus spent away from his
native county, his heart always turned
back to old Rock bridge as Home.
| On February 10, 1883 he was married
to Miss Rebecca Couch Robinson, of
Richmond, a member of distinguished
Virginia family. She survives him
with three children: Mrs. Stuart A
| Howard, Of Detroit, Mich, Mrs Philip
WILLIAMS and MIR. William Paxton, of
Woodstock, Va, There are two sur
fviving brothers and two sisters: Charles
| H. Paxton, of Old Sweet So i~zs, ". |
Iva, R, Grigsby Ps..va, OF Glasgow |
IVA, Mrs Ivan PHI Leesburg. "
land Miss NJ. Y. Pa, H. Of Washington,
I'D. c.
| At Woodstock on February oath, 1922
he fell asleep in Jesus, calm in his |
faith and satisfied to 60 looking for
ward to joyful reunion with his little
argaret, who had preceded him to the |