My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT J. LAWTON, who was known throughout the Cumberland Valley as a grain merchant, died at his home July 21, 1880. He was born near Orrstown, Franklin county, and for a number of years was engaged in mercantile business in that borough. For twenty-five years he was engaged in business in Shippensburg as a grain merchant, for some time, in partnership with his father-in-law, Hon. Henry Ruby, dealing in both grain and produce. Later the firm became Lawton & Stewart, the latter member being George H. Stewart. They were the largest grain shippers in the Valley, and the result of their ventures was most gratifying.

At the time of his death Mr. Lawton was a director in the First National Bank of Shippensburg. He was very progressive and public-spirited, and from time to time held offices of honor and trust in the community, for a long time being an active and efficient member of the school board. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and took a keen interest in the welfare of the Sunday-school. Genial and pleasant in disposition, Mr. Lawton was a welcome addition to any social gathering. He was kind and charitable to the poor and needy, who in his death lost a valued friend. His honor was without stain, and in every walk of life, in business or in society or at home, he was the same simple, straightforward man, true to every trust.

On Dec. 18, 1855, Mr. Lawton wedded Elouisa Ruby, daughter of Hon. Henry Ruby, and their marriage was blessed by a daughter, Alice Jane, who died in 1884; she was the wife of William Adams, of Shippensburg.

We append herewith the eulogy of one who knew Robert J. Lawton well, and which appeared in a local paper at the time of his death:

Robert J. Lawton, the trusted business man, the honored citizen, the true friend, the devoted husband and father, the consistent Christian, has passed away. As you truly said in your last issue, this community was never more profoundly stirred than when it was announced that Mr. Lawton was dead. A pall of sadness seemed to fall upon the town, and I saw many shedding tears who rarely do such a thing. No man in all this region was more universally respected and beloved than was Mr. Lawton. He was the friend of everybody and everybody’s friend. The principal facts and dates of his business career have already been made public. It is my desire, therefore, simply to pay a slight tribute to the worth of one who was “a man among a thousand.”

As a business man Mr. Lawton was “the soul of honor.” His word was as good as his bond. Whatever he said might be depended on. He never tried to take the advantage of anyone. The firm of Lawton & Stewart was the most widely known of any firm in the Cumberland Valley, and did the largest business. Farmers came from far and near to sell and buy. Many letters of sympathy and regret were received by the family and Mr. Lawton’s partner, from business houses in Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, etc. Mr. Lawton was thus widely known and everywhere esteemed as a man of the strictest integrity in business. Besides this he was a gentleman in the highest sense of that word. He was courteous, affable and kind. No matter how badly he may have felt (and there is little doubt now that he often did feel badly, his disease being of longer standing than anyone thought) he was always the same. He had a smile and pleasant word for everyone. It was a pleasure to meet him on the street, for his cheery face and active step did one good. I can hardly realize that I shall never see him again as he briskly walked from his house to his place of business. As a citizen he was interested in the welfare of the town in which he lived. He never stood in the way of public progress. At the time of his death he was bank director, school director and president of the Gas Light Company of this place. He was a warm and steadfast friend. He was faithful at all times. You could trust him implicitly. In the social circles his company was always sought. He was exceedingly kind to the poor. What he did he did unostentatiously not to be seen of men. What he did in this way will not be known, in many instances, until the judgment of the last day. In his quiet, unassuming way he went about continually doing good. His home life, too, was just as beautiful as his life before the world. He was not the affable gentleman away from home and the churl at home as so many men are. Wife and daughter had never a more loving, devoted and indulgent husband and father than was he. While his home was filled with every temporal comfort which one could desire, yet he was preeminently its light and joy. His evenings were always spent at home, so far as possible. His constant thought was for the comfort and happiness of his wife and daughter. Self was forgotten in his care and love for them. But after all the chief charm of Mr. Lawton’s character was in his deep-toned piety. Mr. Lawton was pre-eminently a Christian. No one who knew him intimately could for a moment doubt this fact. After his conversion a great change came over him. While outwardly he was the same honest, upright man he had been before, yet, from this on there was a new spirit within him: he was actuated in all he did with new motives and desires. His one aim was to glorify his Divine Master. He was a true type of the business man, in that he was “diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” He was honest, not merely because it was the best policy, but because it was right in itself and well-pleasing to God. Like his Saviour in whom he trusted and whom he followed, he “did all things to please Him.”

There was not one shred of self righteousness about Mr. Lawton, although he might have pointed to his moral life, and trusted in that, as so many do, yet his whole trust was in a Saviour crucified. He felt that his righteousness was but filthy rags. He was as humble, unassuming and as teachable in his Christian life as a little child. It seems to me he came up as nearly to the standard set by Christ, as any man I ever knew: “Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” He was converted and had become as a little child. The character of the man is well illustrated by a little poem which was found in his pocket after his death, and which he had carried for years until it was almost worn out with use. He would often read it to his wife and say that it expressed his feelings. It is based on a declaration and invitation of Christ:
“I am the door;” “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” It is as follows:

The mistakes of my life are many,
The sins of my heart are more.
And I scarce can see for weeping,
But I come to the open door.

I am lowest of those who love Him,
I am weakest of those who pray.
But I’m comling as He has bidden,
And He will not say me “nay.”

My mistakes His love will cover,
My sins He will wash away.
And the feet that shrink and falter,
Shall walk through the gates of day.

If I turn not from His whisper,
If I let not go His hand,
I shall see Him in His beauty
The King in the far-off land.

The mistakes of my life are many,
And my soul is sick with sin.
And I scarce can see for weeping,
But the Lord will let me in.

Think of a man like Robert J. Lawton saying, “I am lowest of those that love Him; and weakest of them that pray,” yet this man! Who can doubt that

Those feet which shrank and faltered
Have walked through the gates of day?

Another favorite hymn of Mr. Lawton was Bliss’ Last Hymn. This expressed the same filial, childlike, trustful spirit. He was ever anxious to learn more of Christ. His Bible was his constant companion. He was never absent, unless sick or away from home, from church, the prayer-meeting and the Bible class. He literally adorned his profession by a godly walk and conversation. His business partner told me that in the many years they were associated together, he had never heard an impure or improper word pass his lips. This is remarkable testimony. He was pure in heart. Every one who came in contact with him was impressed with his goodness. It seemed as though he was too pure for earth. He “walked with God,” and he was not, for God took him. He was a man of prayer. His wife told me he rarely, if ever, left his house at noon to go to his place of business, without retiring to his room and spending a short time in prayer. Thus regularly, three times a day, morning, noon and night, like Daniel of old, he prayed to his God. This was the man whose loss every one mourns. He will be missed in the community, in the business circles, in the church, by his partner in business who loved him as a brother, and especially in his home. But no one can doubt that our loss is his eternal gain. He is today in the Paradise of God, one of the blood-bought and blood-washed throng. He bears that new name which none but they who receive it know. He rejoices in the presence of Christ, and his body awaits the resurrection of the just.

I have thus written fully of Mr. Lawton, not for the sake of praising him, for I know that he would deprecate such a thing, but because I feel that such a life as his should be held up for an example. Such lives are very rare in this world. If one sinner destroys much good, the value of one holy, consecrated life, in inestimable. “The righteous shall be held in everlasting remembrance.” We have a rich legacy in his memory.