On December 14, 1912, he married Marjorie Newton; the couple had two sons, Fred Jr. Lawton and George F.
He lived in Detroit until 1924 and then moved to the suburb of Berkley, where he was active in civic organisations ranging from the Boy Scouts to the Board of Education.
[8] In addition to the lyrics written for student shows, Lawton wrote about half a dozen incidental songs.
"Say—You Haven't Sacrificed at All" was written for the Third Liberty Loan drive and was performed by fifty-nine women in an "animated song sheet" in October 1918.
[9] Lawton played an important part in all of the Detroit Liberty Loan campaigns, receiving a testimonial for his work that is now among his papers at the Bentley Historical Library.