My friend and fellow horse farmer, Jonathan Lawton, from Wellsboro Pa. Lost his fight with cancer this morning. He battled the disease for the past 3 years, but not once let it get him down.

Jonathan was a contributor to Rural Heritage, when Aunt Gail was at the helm. He was on the Porch for a long time using the moniker "JL".

He was a great man who's word was his bond. He was a very good horseman who really liked training colts. He farmed everyday, all of his life. He used horses for everything, except when on rented ground too far from home.

He could fabricate and build anything that crossed his mind. He was a lover of the old ways, especially good husbandry.

Join me in celebrating his life and legacy. He leaves behind a wife, sons and a daughter along with grandchildren.....and many friends who now have a hole in their hearts.

Sorry to hear.

That really is too bad.

I talked to Jonathan frequently on the phone. Meant to call him several times these last two months but got busy calving. Really regret not taking a moment to do that.

What I knew of him he seemed a very nice man and a deep thinker.

Sad to hear that.

Ralph, is JL the guy that took in a team and tried to help another front porcher with a goofy mare and then put a team together for him? Anyway, I used to go by JW, then there was JL and J(I think M?). Anyway, I met them as they sold the one teammate at Topeka, IN and looked for another. If I remember correctly the one was an ex puller and to hot. Anyway, sorry for rambling, but met him and talked with him a lot in person that day and electronically afterwards. Yes, we lost another great teamster and that is saying the least. He was greatly interested in helping others get a good team that could be used.

Sorry to hear that. Thanks for sharing more of his life with us.

Jonathan Shively, yes, you are correct. JM, was a friend of Jonathan too. Jim(JM) was killed a few years ago in an auto accident.

Life is short. Enriching our lives with animals and great friends, like those of you on the Porch, makes our time much more rewarding no matter the length of our days

So sorry to hear that. Prayers for his family and friends.

I suspect that at 39, I'm one of the younger Porchers. News like this always reminds me to slow down and listen to the older generation. So much knowledge there, and it mustn't get lost. I had the pleasure of a long conversation with Jim Barnett, the man that trained the horses and soldiers for Arlington Cemetery for many years. He'd grown up farming a 600 acre farm in SW Virginia with horse power. I learned more from that 1 hour chat than in any book I could read. He passed about 6 months later. How lucky I was to have gotten to talk to him.

I'm so sorry to hear of his passing. :( Another one who will be missed.

My prayers and condolences to his family and friends.

Thanks for letting us know.

Thanks Ralph, prayers going out to his family.

Ralph, thank you for the update. I had no idea on JM and JL was a very nice man. None of us are going to get out of this thing alive, we just got to make the most of it while we are here. Be safe and happy everyone.

Jonathon was always willing to share ideas. When I started fabricating stuff he was always willing to bounce ideas off of. Good man he will be missed.

I read his articles and always learned from them. I am sorry to hear of his passing, but he left his mark on the world in sharing his knowledge and a life well lived. That is a great legacy!