A one-time professor of engineering at the University of Michigan, Charles DeWitt Lawton (1835-1909) also assisted Major T. B. Brooks in the geological survey of the Marquette Iron region and the Menominee Range. He continued with his interest in the development of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and assisted his nephew, Charles E. Wright, in his field work as the Commissioner of Mineral Statistics. Eventually Lawton took over the active duties of the mining department and writing the reports that covered the mines and mineral interests of the state. Although offered the position of state geologist, he preferred to continue as Commissioner of Mineral Statistics, a purely scientific position. He held this office until 1891. In 1897 Lawton was elected regent of the University of Michigan, a position he held for eight years.

Swaby Latham Lawton, brother of Charles Latham Lawton, general manager of the Quincy & Adventure mining companies of Hancock, Michigan, was the son of Charles DeWitt Lawton. Swaby graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1896 and in 1902 entered into partnership with Charles D. Hanchette, forming the law firm of Hanchette & Lawton which eventually became one of the prominent firms in Houghton County, Michigan. Swaby Lawton became director of the Quincy Mining Company in 1938, continuing in this position until 1948.