U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sutton, John Davison (1844-1941) ------------------------------------------------------------------- THE CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4th, 1938 J. D. Sutton, Statesman And Soldier, Enters 95th Year Member of Pioneer Family Which Founded Braxton County Town Active on 94th Birthday SUTTON, Feb. 4.—John Davison Sutton, author, soldier and statesman, is observing his ninety-fourth birthday today at his home near Sutton. In spite of his age, he is still active and enjoys walking. He and members of his family have played an important role in the history of this community, from the time his grandfather first visited this section in 1798 until the present time when his son, Oley Ord Sutton, is the mayor. In 1798, John D. Sutton, at the request of his father, John Sutton, made a journey from Alexandria, Va., to look over 7,000 acres of land which the latter owned in this section. In 1810 he returned and settled where Sutton now stands. He gave an acre of land for a public square and the town was named in his honor. In 1839 the first session of circuit court for the newly organized county of Braxton was held in his home. Fought in Civil War His son, Felix Sutton, spent his life in the community, where he was a successful farmer and served as a county judge, assessor, sheriff and school superintendent. He was a member of the first constitutional convention and served in the first West Virginia legislature. John Davison Sutton was born at Flatwoods on Feb. 4, 1844. the son of Felix and Susan Skidmore Sutton. He was reared in Braxton county and took advantage of such school as was available at the time. He planned to attend a Virginia college and study law but the Civil war broke out and changed his plans. He was 17 years old when he enlisted in the 10th West Virginia infantry and saw service in many battles, mostly in the valley of Virginia. He served until the end of the conflict when he returned to his home and in 1866 was married to Mariah Virginia Morrison. They settled at the old homestead, about 4 miles from Sutton, where Mr. Sutton still resides. Was in Legislature He engaged in farming and stockraising, in which he was successful, but throughout his life has had many other interests. During the administration of President Harrison, Mr. Sutton held a position in the United States revenue department. After he had passed the age of 80 he served two terms in the state legislature and was appointed by Governor Howard Gore as a member of his staff. He was the first chairman of the Droop Mountain battlefield commission. The battlefield has since been taken over by the state park commission. Always interested in writing. Mr. Sutton is the author of an authoritative history of Braxton county which he published in 1919. This book is invaluable to the people of this community, giving the genealogies of many pioneer families and preserving much of the folklore of an early day. Mr. Sutton has begun a second volume of his history. Wrote Several Stories He is also the author of several stories which were published serially under the nom de plume of "Si Allen." Among them were "Life and Courtship in Virginia in the Forties." "A Conspiracy," "Soldiers Return." and "Sixty Years in a Dream." At his family home Mr. Sutton has an extensive library which contains many valuable old books. His most prized possession is the Sutton family Bible. The book is more than 300 years old and was brought from England to America in 1785 by John Sutton. ------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Braxton County, WV #4695 FULL-NAME: John Davisson Sutton BIRTH-PLACE: W.Va. DEATH-DATE: March 29, 1941 at age 97y-28d DEATH-PLACE: Sutton, R.F.D., Holly District, Braxton County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widowed OCCUPATION: Farmer FATHER: Felix Sutton (born in W.Va.) MOTHER: Susan Skidmore (born in W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Senility INFORMANT: J. H. Watkins (of Sutton, R.F.D.) BURIAL: Sutton Cemetery ------------------------------------------------------------------- Register of Marriages, Braxton County, WV (Page 3, Line 59) Oct 23, 1866 in Braxton Co. John D. Sutton (age 22, son of Felix & Susan Sutton) Maria V. Morrison (age 19, dau. of Jas. W. & Nancy Morrison) were married by John Rhea ------------------------------------------------------------------- There's a double tombstone in the Sutton Family Cemetery, Flatwoods, Braxton County, WV Mariah V. Sutton John D. Sutton Sept. 4, 1847 Feb. 4, 1844 Dec. 14, 1933 Mar. 29, 1941 Married Life 67 Years ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Braxton County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/braxton/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------