Sutton, Walter Lee, 1863-1947.

Businessman, planter, cotton merchant.

From the description of Papers, 1811-1947 (bulk 1883-1939). (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 122615873

From the description of Papers, 1811-1947 (bulk 1883-1939). (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 22300060

Walter Lee Sutton was born in 1863 in Wilkes County, Georgia. In 1886, he married Harriet (Hattie) Louise Wynn, also from Wilkes County, and they had ten children, two of whom died at an early age.

Sutton attended school in Danburg, Ga., and in the early 1880s went to business college in Atlanta. Before he ran his own business he worked in the general merchandising business Sutton and Anderson, which was run by his father and uncle, and delivered the Atlanta Constitution to families in the area. From about 1888 to 1907, he was a partner with his brother-in-law, Thomas V. Heard, in the general merchandising business, Heard and Sutton, in Danburg. When this firm was dissolved about 1907, Sutton maintained the firm which continued as a general merchandising business under the name W. L. Sutton Company. Sutton was also a planter, cotton merchant, director of the National Banks of Wilkes, and a director of Pope Manufacturing Company of Washington, Ga.

In addition, Sutton was a member of the Danburg Baptist Church, where he served on the Board of Deacons and as Superintendent of the Sunday school. He donated land for the consolidated school built in Danburg in the early 1920s, served as a trustee of the school, and chairman of the Board of Education of Wilkes County. He was active in the Democratic Party, member of the Woodmen of the World, and the Wilkes County Farmers Club. Sutton died in 1947.

Information relating to the Anderson, Danforth, Sutton, and Wynn families is in an information folder filed at the beginning of the collection.

Sutton Family

(Moses Sutton m. Sarah Rhodes) >> John A. Sutton

(Edward R. Anderson m. Julia A. McLendon) >> Martha U. Anderson

John A. Sutton - m. 1862 - Martha U. Anderson >> Walter L. Sutton 1863-1947

Walter L. Sutton m. Harriet (Hattie) Louise Wynn in 1886.

Wynn Family

(John L. Wynn m. Minirea A. Thornton) >> Samuel K. Wynn

(Samuel Danforth m. *Harriet Brown) >> Emma Almira Danforth

Samuel K. Wynn - m. 1864 - Emma Almira Danforth >> Harriet Louise Wynn, 1867-1923

(*Harriet Brown had a sister Almira Brown Reab.)

From the guide to the Walter Lee Sutton Papers, 1811-1947, (Duke University. David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library)