Stowell Ernest Lawton (1879-1974) & Minnie Viola Garn (1881-1938)
Peaches, Prayer, and Perseverance
Stowell Ernest Lawton was born on March 13, 1879, in Meauwataka, Wexford County, Michigan, the son of Lyman Pearly Lawton and Sarah Ann Smith. By the time of the 1880 census, Stowell was just a year old, living with his parents in Colfax Township, Wexford County. His upbringing was rooted in rural Michigan life, and as he grew, he often found himself boarding or working for neighboring families, including the Samuel Cassity family in Colfax Township in 1900.
It was in Custer, Mason County, Michigan, that Stowell met Minnie Viola Garn, whose family had also migrated from Indiana to Michigan. Minnie was born on January 1, 1881, in Culver, Marshall Township, Stark County, Indiana (her obituary later said Knox). When she was just a young girl in 1885, her family moved to Meauwataka, Michigan, and by 1891 they had settled in Eden Township, Mason County. By 1900, Minnie was living with her father in Eden Township and working hard to support the family.
On November 29, 1902, Stowell and Minnie were married in Custer, Mason County. Before setting up a household of their own, the couple worked as cooks in a logging camp in northern Michigan—a demanding but adventurous start to their married life. Eventually, they bought a farm east of Manton, near Cora and Aaron, where they raised their family and lived for decades. Their first child died at birth, a loss that weighed heavily on them both.
Their first surviving child, Floyd Earl Lawton, was born on July 23, 1906. A daughter, Leah Helen, followed on June 13, 1909, in Manton, Missaukee County. By the 1910 census, Stowell and Minnie were living in Caldwell Township, Missaukee County, with their two young children. More children soon joined the household: Evelyn Belle (b. May 18, 1912), Verne LeVoy (b. April 10, 1914), Grace Velma (b. July 26, 1920), and Lois Viola (b. August 19, 1923). Lois’s life was tragically short; she died at just 1 year and 8 months from acute peritonitis.
Faith was central to their home. Minnie was a devoted member of the Free Methodist Church in Caldwell Township, while Stowell was remembered by his children as a strict man who ran his home with order and discipline. Morning Bible reading and prayer were routine, though some children later reflected that the faith of their youth was often preached with sternness and fear. Minnie, in contrast, was described as kind and loving, a mother who filled the home with warmth. She worked tirelessly to provide for her family, always preparing food for winter. She canned fruits, made peach butter, and pickled peaches—a family recipe treasured for generations.
Life on the farm was simple but never easy. Their children remembered receiving peaches shipped by train from Grandpa Lyman Lawton in Custer, a special treat that brightened long winters. There were also deep impressions of their parents’ personalities: Stowell could be short-tempered, with little patience, but he was also hardworking and caring in his own way. Minnie, though plagued by diabetes and health issues, remained a gentle presence in her children’s lives until her death.
On October 1, 1938, Minnie died suddenly of a heart attack at their farm in Caldwell Township. She was buried in Caldwell Cemetery in Manton, Missaukee County. Her passing was deeply felt, especially by her younger children, who remembered her as almost a stranger because of distance and poverty, yet spoke of her with love and respect.
Stowell lived nearly four decades longer without his beloved Minnie. By 1940, Floyd’s family was living with him in Caldwell Township. Later, he moved to Muskegon, Michigan, where he worked as a fireman at the county tuberculosis sanitarium. City directories from 1951 and 1954 still listed him in Muskegon.
Stowell lived to the age of 95, passing away on April 28, 1974, in Muskegon from arteriosclerotic heart disease with congestive heart failure, also suffering from pulmonary emphysema. He was laid to rest beside Minnie in Caldwell Cemetery, Manton, Missaukee County, Michigan.
Their children remembered them as opposites in temperament—Papa strict, Mama tender—but together they built a life of faith, hard work, and perseverance. Their legacy lived on not only in their children and grandchildren but also in the stories, recipes, and memories that continued to be shared generations later.
Detailed Timeline
Stowell Ernest Lawton
Birth: 13 MAR 1879 Meauwataka, Wexford Co, Michigan
1880 Census: Colfax Twp, Wexford Co, Michigan.
Note: Living with parents, Lyman and Sarah Lawton.
1900 Census: 14 JUN 1900
Place: Colfax Twp, Wexford Co, Michigan, USA
Note: Was boarding with the Samuel Cassity family.
Marriage: 29 NOV 1902 Custer, Mason County, Michigan
Note: After Stowell and Minnie were married and before they established their own home, they worked as cooks in a logging camp in Northern Michigan. They bought a farm east of Manton near Cora and Aaron where they lived until after Minnie’s death in 1938. Their first child died at birth.
Birth of Son: 23 JUL 1906
Name: Floyd Earl Lawton
Birth of Daughter: 13 JUN 1909
Name: Leah Helen Lawton
Place: Manton, Caldwell Twp, Missaukee Co, Michigan
1910 Census: 25 APR 1910
Place: Caldwell Twp, Missaukee Co, Michigan
Note: Wife, Minnie, and two children are living in household.
Birth of Daughter: 18 MAY 1912
Name: Evelyn Belle Lawton
Place: Missaukee Co, Michigan
Birth of Son: 10 APR 1914
Name: Verne LeVoy Lawton
WWI Draft Card: 1917
1920 Census: Caldwell Twp, Missaukee County, MI
Note: Wife, Minnie, and four children are also in household.
Birth of Daughter: 26 JUL 1920
Name: Grace Velma Lawton
Place: Manton, Missaukee Co, Michigan
Birth of Daughter: 19 AUG 1923
Name: Lois Viola Lawton
Place: Missaukee Co, Michigan
Note: Pic is of Lois and Grace. Lois died at age 1 year 8 months from acute peritonitis.
1930 Census: 08 APR 1930
Place: Caldwell Twp, Missaukee Co, Michigan
Note: Wife, Minnie, and four children are living in household.
1940 Census: 06 APR 1940
Place: Caldwell Twp, Missaukee Co, Michigan
Note: Floyd’s family is living with him
WWII Draft Card
Pic of Siblings (Lloyd Lawton, Lula Lawton McGhan, Ethel Lawton Larr, and Stowell Lawton)
1950 Census: 05 MAY 1950
Place: Muskegon, Michigan
Note: Stowell is living in the county tuberculosis sanitarium as a fireman.
1951 City Directory: Muskegon, Michigan
Note: Fireman
1954 City Directory: Muskegon, Michigan
Death: 28 APR 1974 Muskegon, Michigan
Note: Died from arteriosclerotic heart disease with terminal congestive heart failure. Also suffered from pulmonary emphysema.
Burial: Caldwell Cemetery, Missaukee Co, Michigan
Click here to see parents: Lyman Pearly Lawton and Sarah Ann Smith
Note: My mother met my father at Custer, Michigan where both the Lawton family and the Garn family had moved. The Garn family had moved to Meauwataka some years before the Lawtons. – Leah Lawton Shue – April 16, 1982
Grandpa Lyman used to send the family peaches on the train from Custer to Manton. The kids loved that. Minnie was always looking out for food for winter and she did a lot of canning. She made peach butter and pickled peaches. The pickled peaches recipe stayed in our family as we all relished them so much.
I remember Grandpa and Grandma visiting us in Michigan when I was about 6 or 7 years old. That’s the only time I remember seeing Grandma as she died when I was 9. Grandma had diabetes and major problems with her feet. Grandpa was a lay minister and he would always ask if I was saved. I didn’t know what he was talking about – so I’d shy away from him. In those days, the teachings were a scare tactic. If we weren’t good we would go to hell and burn forever. We went to church on Sundays, Sunday nights, and Thursdays and we had prayer meetings on Tuesdays. Leah was a convert at age 8 or 9. I still was very puzzled about it all. When I was in high school, one of my friends told me that God was a good God so I learned a different way.
Papa was very strict. We had no freedoms except for church related functions and school. Mama went along with it as much as she could. They had prayer service every morning where we read the Bible and Mama, Papa, and Leah prayed. The rest of us refrained. No one ever talked to us about the real love of God – just the ‘thou shalt nots’.
When I was in high school, I went with some of my friends to their young people meetings which I enjoyed. I’ve been a
United Methodist for over 45 years and I have a deep faith and love of God. I’m so thankful that I learned to be part of a church family. Free Methodists NOW are great people. In fact, I feel at home and very comfortable with different beliefs – the important part is to believe.
Grandpa came to visit us one summer after Grandma died. He built a big kitchen for us. I was only 12 when he died. He was a good man – a kind man.
My father had a temper that he didn’t control very well. I don’t know where that part of his personality came from. He was short on patience, too. He was determined that Leah and Charley weren’t going to get married – but they did – at our home. Virgil and I eloped. Papa didn’t try to control the boys, especially Floyd. Verne and Ruth got married at a parsonage. Grace wanted a church wedding, so I sat Papa down and talked to him. I told him that they were going to get married and wanted a church wedding at the Methodist church, where they could have music, and that she wanted him to give her away. But we wanted to be sure that he would control his behavior – he did! He was so handsome. Charley even got a tie on him – his first one. The wedding was lovely.
After I got married and had a family I could talk to him and let him know my views and feelings and I think he listened (too late).
I really didn’t know anything about Grandma’s temperament. I understand she was kind and loving. She was almost a stranger to me because we lived 80 miles apart and we were too poor for anything more than necessary travel. Once I was young and now I’m old, looking forward to 87 in May. I love people – most people, anyway. Virgil always said I picked my friends. I do. I have no time for whiners. – Evelyn Lawton Nye – Jan 4, 1999
Minnie Viola Garn
Birth: 01 JAN 1881 Culver, Marshall Twp., Stark Co, IN
Note: 1900 Census says born in Culver, Marshall Co, Indiana. Obit says born in Knox.
Moved to: 1885
Place: Meauwataka, Michigan
Moved to: 1891
Place: Eden Twp, Mason County, MI
1900 Census: 19 JUN 1900
Place: Eden Twp, Mason Co, Michigan, USA
Note: Living with her father.
Death: 01 OCT 1938 Caldwell Twp, Missaukee Co, Michigan, USA
Note: Died of a Heart Attack.
Obituary: 01 OCT 1938
Place: Manton, Missaukee Co, Michigan
Burial: Caldwell Cemetery, Manton, Missaukee Co, Michigan
Click here to see parents: Martin Garn and Sarah Jane Hawkins
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