John M. and Nancy (Benn) Eaton

Of Clarion County, PA; Lee County, IA; and Benton County, MO

A Bible belonging to John Eaton's daughter, Emma Lieuella Eaton, has an entry that John M. Eaton was born 12 February 1822, and that he married Nancy Benn on 15 October 1846 in Clarion County Pennsylvania. The birthplace of John M. Eaton is uncertain. Although his daughter's Bible referred to both John and Nancy as being "of Clarion County Pennsylvania," it appears doubtful that he was born in Clarion County.

The 1860 census lists his birthplace as Pennsylvania; the 1870 census shows Virginia. Since it seems that John would have been the one to give the information, it should have been consistent. There are any number of possibilities as to why the information is not consistent, including an error on the part of the enumerator. On the 1900 census, a son and daughter both reported their father, John, as having been born in Ohio. In 1910, another son reported his father was born in Penn. Information in John M. Eaton's obituary states he was born in Ohio. It is noted that everyone in the household of Aaron Eaton (John's father) was reported to have been born in Pennsylvania, so perhaps that is the correct state of birth for John. However, John M. Eaton's "Certificate of Disability" issued by the Army of the United States on February 12, 1864, lists his birthplace as Virginia.

It should also be noted that, on the 1870 census, John M. Eaton reported his mother to have been of foreign birth.

Nancy Benn

There is no apparent reason to doubt that the maiden name of John M. Eaton's wife was Benn, or that she was born in Penn. Census records consistently reflect that she reported her state of birth as Pennsylvania. At the time of the 1856 Iowa State Census, John and Nancy Eaton were living in Lee County Iowa and reported having lived in Iowa two years. Their household included a George Benn.. Nancy Eaton's death certificate shows her father's names as "Sam'l BENN." Information was given by G. H. (George Henry) Eaton, who was obviously uncertain as to most of the information required. We have copies of the will of a George BENN filed in Clarion County PA, but no "hard" evidence to identify him as the father of Nancy Benn. There is a good deal of circumstantial evidence.

1856 Iowa State Census, Lee County, Charleston Township

*(I have read that census takers often made notes while in the home, and then transcribed those notes to the official census return forms at a later time or date. It appears this enumerator's notes must have been very cold, and that he was so uncertain of the six-year-old's name, he did not enter either male or female. The six-year-old would have been the second Eaton child, George Henry.)

At the time of the 1860 Federal Census, John and Nancy Eaton were still in Lee County Iowa, but in Des Moines Township; they are enumerated there on pag 508:

*(This should be Eleazer Alvin Eaton, forst born of John and Nancy.)

On 23 September 1868, John M. Eaton and wife, Nancy, purchased 80 acres in Section 20, Twp 43, Range 21, from E. S. GRAHAM. (Benton County Missouri Index to Deeds: Book U, pgs 242/272)

The following is from the 1870 Federal Census, Benton Co, Missouri, Williams Twp, Cole Camp: Pg 335 - Enumeration Date - 19 August 1870

From the 1876 Missouri State Census, Township 43, Range 22 (?):

EATON, John 45+, Nancy 45+, Charles 18/21, Grafton 10/18, Samuel 10/18, William 10/18, Louella 10/18, Aaron -10

The following information was taken from the family record in the old Bible. It shows two sons, John Westly and Levi Eaton, born between George H. and Charles L. Neither John Westly nor Levi are mentioned in any other source. Inquiries have been made in both Pennsylvania and Iowa but no record of either birth or death has been found. The 1856 census record indicates that John and Nancy had been in Iowa since 1854. Therefore, John Westly Eaton must have been born in Pennsylvania, unless he was born at some stopover between Pennsylvania and Iowa. Levi, born 27 Jun 1854, could have been born in Iowa, Pennsylvania, or somewhere in between. There is probably no way of determining place of birth or death of either child. If they died and were buried in Lee County Iowa, they do not appear on cemetery records; graves could, of course, be unmarked, or markers destroyed in the 140 years which have passed since their deaths.

The list of children born to John and Nancy Eaton as it appears in the old family Bible:

Eleazer Alvin Eaton - born 9 Sep 1848
George Henry Eaton - born 3 Aug 1850
John Westly Eaton - born 9 Jul 1852
Levi Eaton - born 27 Jun 1854
Charles Lewis Eaton - born 7 Sep 1856
Grafton Tanquary Eaton - born 9 Sep 1858
Samuel N. Eaton - born 17 Oct 1861
William Sherman Eaton - born 20 Feb 1864
Emma Lieuella Eaton - born 24 May 1866
Aaron Leander Eaton - born 25 Jan 1869

John M. Eaton served in the 2nd Missouri State Militia Cavalry in 1863/64

Cole Camp Courier, 16 Apr 1903, Pg 1:
"John Eaton Dead - Word comes to us that John Eaton, living seven miles west of this city, died last Monday. Stomach trouble was the cause of death. He was past 81 years of age. The remains were laid to rest in the Mt. Olivert cemetery at 2 o'clock, Wednesday."

Cole Camp Courier, 23 Apr 1903, Pg 1:
"John M. EATON - John M. Eaton, who died Monday evening, April 13th, as mentioned in the lsat issue of the Courier, was born in Ohio, Feb. 12th, 1822, beign aged 81 years, 2 months, and 1 day at the time of his death. He was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Benn of Clarion County, Pa., Oct. 15th, 1846. To the union were born seven sons and one daughter, viz: Eleazer, Charles, Grafton, Samuel, William, Aaron and Louella, all of whom survive him together with the widow. The deceda'ed united with Mt. Olivert church about twenty-five years ago and remained a faithful member until the time of his death. The remains were laid to rest in Mt. Olivet cemetery."

I do not know the name of the paper in which the following obituary was published or the date of publication.

"The passing away of Grandmother Eaton takes from our midst the oldest lady of the community. She was born September 14, 1826; died July 3rd, 1919, aged 92 years, 9 months, and 18 days. She was married October 15, 1846, to John M. Eaton. To this union ten children were born. Two sons died in infancy and Charles, of Middletown, Cal. died about 3 years ago. She leaves to mourn seven children, twenty-eight grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends. The living children are: E. A. of Arkansas City, Kansas; G. H. of Lincoln, Mo., G. T. and S. N. of Lequire, Okla., W. S. of Wagoner, Okla., A. L. of Tulsa, Okla., and Mrs. S. H. Williams of Lincoln, Mo. with whom she had made her home since the death of her husband sixteen years ago. Altho being deprived of her eyesight for fifteen years, she was always bright and cheerful, giving a glad word and loving smile to the many who loved to be in her presence. She was converted in her youth and united with the Presbyterian church in which faith she lived an upright Christian life and died in the triumph of a living life. The funeral services were held from the Mt. Olivet Church July 4th. Rev. Angle conducted the services and paid a beautiful tribute to the memory of the deceased. At the close of the services she was laid to rest beside her husband in the Mt. Olivet cemetery to await the call of the Master. In the presence of such a sorrow, how cold are words, and how doubly deep would be the grief over the grave did not the rainbow of Christian hopes span the dark gulf between time and eternity. We can only remind the bereaved that she is not dead - she is asleep - resting after a long and well spent life here. Tho she be dead to us in the flesh, yet she liveth to us in her works, and we may say in the language of the voice from heaven, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, that they rest from their labors and their works do follow them."
- Myrtle England

"Card of Thanks"

"We desire to thank our friends and neighbors for the kindness shown us thru the sickness and death of our beloved mother and great grandmother, also for the flowers and beautiful singing and music. Signed: Mr. and Mrs. S. H. WILLIAMS and family; G. H. Eaton, W. S. Eaton, E. A. Eaton"

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