LAWTON, J. B., St. Charles then Iberia Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
Source: Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical
Section
                                                                     



**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 

J. B. LAWTON, NEW IBERIA.--J. B. Lawton, editor and publisher of the New
Iberia Enterprise, is a native of St. Charles parish, born in 1860.  He
was reared in St. James parish, and at an early age became an apprentice
in the printing office of Le Louisianais, a weekly paper published by J.
Gentil, prominent as a journalist and poet.  The paper was printed in
the French language.  Mr. Gentil was a contributor to most of the French
dailies of New Orleans and New York.  He is still engaged in editorial
work.  J. B. Lawton remained in this printing office for a period of
seven years, when he removed to St. John parish, and engaged with the
Meschac‚b‚, where he remained for three years.  He was subsequently
engaged, for a brief period, in the composing rooms of the New Orleans
Times and States.

After severing his connection with these papers he came to New Iberia,
and took charge of the local department of the Louisiana Sugar Bowl, in
which he was engaged for four years.  At the expiration of this time, he
established the New Iberia Enterprise, which he conducted as a semi-
weekly for about two years, since which time he has given the people an
enlarged twelve-page weekly.  The paper is in politics Democratic, and
is especially devoted to the interest of the Attakapas parishes.  This
paper has accomplished much in the origin and promotion of enterprises
for public good, and has received quite a liberal support from the
people.

Mr. Lawton is the son of William H. and Mathilde (Delhommer) Lawton, the
former a native of Fall River, Massachusetts, the latter of St. Charles
parish, Louisiana.  Mr. William H. Lawton came South early in life, and
was subsequently manager of a large sugar plantation in St. Charles
parish.  He was in active service during the whole of the war, and, at
its close, served a term in the State Senate. He was twice married, our
subject's mother being his second wife.  He died in 1884.  His wife
still survives him.

J. B. Lawton is united in marriage with Miss Laura Cestia, of New
Iberia.  They are the parents of three children,  Cestia,  Rita and  J.
B., Jr. 

Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical Section,
pp. 117-118.  Edited by William Henry Perrin.  Published in 1891, by The
Gulf Publishing Company.