[1] John Thomas Axton was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 28, 1870.

He attended Salt Lake public schools.

Then, he attended Middlebury College in Vermont where he graduated with a Doctor of Divinity in 1919.

[2] Axton served as general secretary for the YMCA from 1893 to 1902.

[2] Axton was appointed a chaplain with the United States Army in 1902.