Genealogy of John Thomas Newton

The State of Alabama, Butler County. Know all men by these present that we Benjamin Newton and Mary M. Newton (wife of the said Benjamin Newton) of the county and state aforesaid for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred dollars to us in hand paid by John Thomas Newton, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have this day bargained, sold, enfeooffed, conveyed and by these present, bargain, sell, enfeoff and convey unto the said John Thomas Newton the following described tract of parcel of land, viz: the east half of the south west quarter of section 15, township 9, range 15 containing eighty acres mores or less situated lying and being in the county of Butler and state of Alabama to have and to hold the same unto the said John Thomas Newton his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever in fee simple, and we herebycovenant with the said John Thomas Newton his heirs and assigns that we are seized in fee of the aforesaid premises and have the right to sell and convey the same and we do hereby warrant the title to the aforegranted premises and agree forever to defend the same from the lawful claims of all persons whatsoever. In testimony of all which we hereunto set our hands and seals this 28th day of July A.D. 1882.

Shirlie Newton was borned on her farther's place on 14 December 1887. Her farther had been given the land be his farther -- Benjamin Newton gave all his children 80 acres of land and a cow when they got married. Shirlie met John when they were teenagers at the Spring Hill Baptist Church. Ten of the Newton children were baptized at the Spring Hill Baptist Church. John and Shilie got married when they were 22 years old at Shirlie's parents home by a preacher from Brushy Creek. About two weeks after the wedding they went by train along with John Harris to Holt and Milton, Florida to farm the old John's Place. Maude Delanie was born 5 December 1910. They farmed this place for three years and then moved the Red Rock, a turpentine still company where John William and John Harris made spirits of turpentine from raw rosin. There John William and John Harris rode a horse checking the timber and chipping boxes (trees), and dipped turpentine. Judge Washington lived with them by then and he also chipped boxes to help pay his board. John William did this too but he also ran a commissary store for the hands. Ruby was born 22 June 1913. In 1914 they moved back to Butler County near Central Church where John William ginned cotton that fall. He also sawed logs and did many other jobs to get by. In January 1915, they bought the Home Place. This land was given to Amanda Emaline Newton (Shirlie's aunt) by her father Benjamin Newton when Amanda got married to Robert Reeves on 12 October 1884. The Reeves planted the old oak tree that still stands there. The Reeves mortgaged the land to Beeland Mercantile Company and later lost it to them. John William bought the land from the Beelands. Mack was born 13 July 1916. They moved to Clanton in 1917 and worked at making turpentine there. Dollohite was born 16 August 1918 and in 1919 they moved to Florida and stayed there two more years. In 1921 John William had to give up the turpentine work due to bad health (ulcers) and they came back to the Home Place and built a new house. Rastus was born 12 June 1923, Ray was born 26 March 1926, and Mowbra was born 2 August 1930. John William farmed or drove a lumber truck and was a night policeman in Greenville from 1927 through 1932. He died on 19 August 1962 and Shirlie died on 29 January 1970.

Two Greenville Boys Freed From Jap Prison In Manchuria. Clate Newton and Winfred Brannon, prisoners of war of the Japanese since the fall of Corregidor on May 6, 1942, have been liberated. Mrs. E.C. Brannon, who is the mother of Winfred and sister of Clate, received the news Tuesday morning from the War Department. The telegrams stated simply that these two men were on the list of those liberated at Mukden, Manchukuo, where they had been held for some time, having been taken there from the Philippines. Clate was serving with one outfit, Winfred with another, but the last letter received from either before they were captured, was dated Dec. 21, 1941, and in it Winfred stated that he and Clate were together at Fort Mills. After the Philippines fell to the Japs, neither was heard from for months, and then the War Department reported them as prisoners of war. In September, 1943, cards were received from both Pfc. Newton and Pvt. Brannon. In June, 1944, Winfred gave a brief message over a Jap propaganda radio broadcast, and in July, 1944, a second card came from Winfred, and he stated that Clate is "O.K. " At that time, he was at Hoten Prisoner of War Camp, Manchukuo. The Ware Department stated Tuesday that the fa mily would be informed as soon as further details about the two Greenville men are available. Friends all over Butler County are delighted to know that Clate and Winfred are safe and withstood the trials of prison camp life in Japan and Manchukuo.

Clate Newton, 71, a resident of 803 Government St., Greenville, died Sunday January 29, 1978. He was a Deacon of Spring Hill Baptist Church. Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 31 from Dunklin-Herdon Chapel with the Rev. Elmo Thompson and William Koetle. Burial will be in the Magnolia Cemetery. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Myrtle Till Newton, Greenville; two sisters, Mrs. Fannie Cooper, Mrs. Glennie Jernigan, Greenville; one brother Ben Newton, Thomaston, Georgia.