By Monica Wooton

Then…

Over 110 years ago on December 19, 1899, Major General Henry Ware Lawton was felled at the aged of 56 in the Philippine-American War. He had a distinguished career in the Civil War, the Apache War (where he is credited with the capture of Geronimo in a dramatic skirmish of cat and mouse), the Spanish American War; and was the only US General officer killed in the Philippine-American War.

His military career was put on hold when he attended and graduated from Harvard Law School. He was married and it is said his wife Mary Craig, followed him on all his tours of duty. His career was described as brilliant. He was known as an officer who inspired troops with his leadership style, fought side by side with them and incorporated and taught them many tactics he had learned from the Indians (of whom earned great respect from Lawton) in the Apache War. He served as Military Governor in Cuba after it fell; and, took his role to rebuild seriously.

During his illustrious career it is reported that he was not well liked by his last commander Major General Elwell Otis; and Otis was outspoken about his feelings for Lawton. Many came to classify it as simple jealousy. Ironically, Major General Otis played a controversial part in the establishment of our fort in Magnolia; but, he was dismissed from his role when there was a contentious debate over the placement of the installation. The installation was opened February 8, 1890; and, was named Fort Lawton two months after Lawton was killed in action fighting with his troops.

The day of his death, papers were being filed on the order of President McKinley to make Lawton a Brigadier General in the regular army.

A field at Fort Lawton is hidden beneath the mass of soldiers waiting to be processed during the Korean War. Photo by Roy Scully. The Seattle Times, page 7. May 4, 1952

Now…

Magnolia, to this day, has many things named after Major General Henry Ware Lawton: Lawton Elementary, Lawton Park and Ravine, and the Lawton Wood neighborhood. In the 1970’s, after Fort Lawton was to become a city park the Friends of Lawton Park lost their battle to keep the name Lawton. The new Park, under the guidance of Judge Donald Voorhees and the Seattle City Council had the Fort renamed to Discovery Park after the ship Captain Vancouver sailed on in his discovery and naming mission of the Puget Sound. It is further reported, that Judge Voorhees loved the double entendre of the word “discovery” for the Park because it would be a park of historic proportions like the Ship; but, also of “discovery” for every child and adult who entered it and discovered the open space, the natural habitat and wildlife that would reside there in the years to come. And, so it is.

Sources for this article include: Magnolia: Memories & Milestones: Discovery Park a People’s Park, by Bob Kildall; Henry Ware Lawton/Fort Lawton, Wikipedia. www.militarymuseum.org/lawton.html