Levi Laxton

Levi Laxton (1843 – January 27, 1864) was a Union soldier from Scott County who died in the Civil War.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

In his book, Dusty Bits of the Forgotten Past, historian H. Clay Smith names Lefish Laxton as a private in Co. G, 2nd Tennessee Infantry who died at a hospital near Clinton, Tenn. during the Civil War. The name is also included in Paul Roy’s Scott County in the Civil War, which cites Smith’s book.

This appears to have been a reference to Levi Laxton. Born in 1843, Levi was the son of Thomas Laxton (1795-1862) and Elizabeth Goad (1800-1881).

Thomas Laxton was a War of 1812 veteran and the first Laxton to move to present-day Scott County, settling on Buffalo Creek. Elizabeth Goad was a cousin to Abraham Goad, the Revolutionary War veteran who moved to New River after the war.

Levi’s brothers included Alfred Laxton (1821-1892), John Jackson Laxton (1830-1918), Nancy Laxton (1837-1896), and Thomas Laxton Jr. (1840-1923).

Civil War

Levi Laxton enlisted in the Union army and was assigned to Co. G, 2nd Tennessee Infantry. He enlisted on May 27, 1863 at Cuba, Ky., located in the western part of the state.

Laxton fell ill with smallpox and died at a hospital near Clinton, Tenn. on Jan. 7, 1864. It is not clear where he was buried.