MAJ James William Newton was born 8 Mar 1838 near Greenville, Virginia. He was the eldest of the two children born to John and Amanda T. (Hutcheson) Newton. James was educated at private schools and Brownsburg Academy before completing his education at Mossy Creek Academy under head teacher Jedidiah Hotchkiss who was later a Major and famed as General Jackson's mapmaker. James married Mary Wade Eskridge sometime in 1860. The couple had two daughters, both of whom died in infancy before 1863.
With war on the horizon, James organized and became commander of a militia company known as the Augusta Grays. This unit would become E Company 5th Virginia Infantry 1st Brigade of Virginia Infantry (the Stonewall Brigade). He was promoted to Major after demonstrated gallantry at the first battle of Winchester. MAJ Newton commanded the 5th Virginia at Cedar Mountain where the unit captured the the 28th New York Volunteer Infantry regiment. He was at Kernstown but was so badly wounded there that he lost a leg and could not return to duty.
Returning to Augusta county, he clerked for others before opening his own dry goods business in 1869. He was very successful for many years but his business could not escape the effects of deflation in the 1882-1885 depression and James liquidated his business in 1884 after which he traveled in the American west until he returned in October 1885. MAJ Newton was well known in Staunton and popular and he publicaly supported prohibition as early as 1887. Well known in the movement, he joined the national committee of the Women's Christian Temperance Union and attended the national convention in Indianapolis in 1888. He was also a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars. Always willing to take on responsibility, he served as the guardian of Miss Mary Rebecca Shipley from about 1874 through to at least 1890. James was selected to "take charge" of the Virginia exhibit at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.
MAJ Newton died of a stroke on 7 Jan 1897 while fetching coal for the stove. He is buried in Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Virginia.
Nephew, COL Harry Newton Cootes, was awarded the DSM.
NOTE: This memorial was published on the 100th anniversary of his death.