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AXTON A PROMINENT BREEDER Noted Citizen of Louisville and Active in Politics Maintained Two Exceptionally Large Strings. LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 5. Woodford Fitch Axton, 63, one of Americas leading breeders of thoroughbred horses, owner of two large stables and multi-millionaire tobacco manufacturer, who died of heart disease yesterday after a months illness at his home, Wildwood, near Skylight, in Oldham county, had been ill since he returned late in February from a business trip to England. He was president of the Axton-Fisher Tobacco Company. Mr. Axton was widely known in political circles, as well as in the tobacco and thoroughbred horse industries. Several times he was mentioned as gubernatorial timber. He ran for mayor of this city in 1913. He was known for his love of mankind and was active in every charitable movement for years. He also accomplished much for labor. He was born in Ohio County, a son of Isaac H. and Lois Tracy Axton, and began his career as a grocery clerk. Early in life he entered the tobacco products field, where his advancement was rapid. A number of outstanding thoroughbreds were bred at his Wildwood Farm and he had raced two large stables for several years one in charge of Wayne Lewis and the other under D. T. Morris. The latters division, including the home-bred Hank MacTavish, which Mr. Axton had named for the Kentucky Derby, arrived at Churchill Downs from Florida today. Mr. Axton was a leader in the Community Chest, a director of the board of trade, president of the Taxpayers League of Kentucky, member of the Masonic order, the Shrine, Oddfellows, Elks, United Commercial Travelers and Travelers Protective Association. He also was a member of the First Methodist Church at Owensboro. His wife, Mrs. Cinderella D. Whittinghill Axton, died thirty-four years ago. Their only child died in in infancy. Mr. Axton is survived by three brothers E. D., R. L. and I. T. Axton all of Louisville, and three sisters Miss Annie Lois Axton and Mrs. Chester Bishop of Winchester, and Miss. Mary Axton of Louisville.
