Bio: John B. Newton, Caddo Parish La Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** JOHN B. NEWTON is police juror of Ward 3, Caddo Parish, La., but was born in Robertson County, Tenn., in 1833 (February 1), being a son of Robert and Rhoda (Byrns) Newton, their native birthplace being York District, S. C. They were both taken to Tennessee by their parents when children, where the father died when the subject of this sketch was a very small boy, his age being about forty-eight years. He had been a farmer and whisky distiller, and was one of the men who helped to make the famous Robertson County whisky, it being noted for its purity. He was the owner of two establishments. He was highly educated, was a soldier in the War of 1812, being present at the battle of New Orleans, and was also in one of the early Indian wars. He was a Whig, politically, and held different official positions. After his death his widow moved with her family to Fayette County, West Tenn., and there remained until 1844, when they went to Harrison County, Tex., and in 1857 to Hopkins County, where she died in 1864, at the age of seventy-one years, having been a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. She had been married twice, her first husband being Isaac Henley, a native of South Carolina, who died in Tennessee. Mr. Newton's father was also married twice, but the name of his first wife is unknown to the subject of this sketch. His second union resulted in the birth of three children: Ann E. (widow of George White, now residing in Delta County, Tex), Robert J. (who was in the Third Texas Cavalry, and died at Saltillo, Miss.), and John B. (who attended the schools of Fayette County, Tenn., and McKenzie College, in Red River County, Tex.). Upon the eve of graduating he turned his attention to teaching school at Marshall, and was assistant principal, occupying the chair of mathematics. During this time he was engaged in studying law, but the opening of the war caused him to give up his studies, and in May, 1861, he went to Dallas and joined the Third Texas Cavalry, being a member of Company A. The first battle in which he participated was Oak Hill, but from that time until the close of the war he was in a number of battles and skirmishes, among which may be mentioned Hominy Creek, Elk Horn, Corinth, Iuka, Second Corinth, Franklin, Big Black, Jackson and Holly Springs, where he was promoted to captain and put on the staff of Gen. J. W. Whitfield and Gen. Ross, serving in this capacity until the close of the war. Although he was not wounded during his service he had several horses shot from under him. He was a true and tried soldier, and made a faithful and efficient officer. At the close of the war his command did not surrender, but simply disbanded and returned home. He almost immediately went to Washington County, Tex., and for one year farmed on the Brazos, but in 1867 he came to Caddo Parish, La., and located on the plantation where he now resides. In 1865 he was married to Miss Mattie E. Hood, who was born in Texas and died in Waco seven months after their marriage. In 1868 he took for his second wife Miss Sarah L. A. Bickham, a daughter of B. R. Bickham. She was born in this parish in 1850, and is the mother of eight children, all of whom are living: Robert, Maude, John and May (twins), Alf, Wilkes, Wave and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Newton are Methodists, and from a youth up he has taken an active part in church matters, and has been steward and secretary. He is a Mason and Democrat, and has served as magistrate two years, and the last two years as police juror. His son, Robert, recently married Miss Sudie Compton, a daughter of Dr. Compton, of this parish.