History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II, Part 61

Author: Davis, William W
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 882

USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 61

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B. W. Burridge started out in life on his own aeeount when a youth of fourteen years and was employed at farm labor for three years. He early real-

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ized the value of industry and peserverance as active factors in a successful business career. He and his brother-in-law purchased a ferry boat and operated the same across the Rock river for seven years. In this way they gained a start and when their capital justified the act, they purchased two hundred and sixty-seven acres of land on sections 13 and 18, Erie township, which they still own. It is upon this farm that B. W. Burridge makes his home and the property has been greatly improved by the many fine equipments which have been added. They erected a nice residence and the finest block barn in Whiteside county. The latest improved machinery has been secured to facili- tate the work of the fields and ample shelter has been provided for grain and stock. In 1897 B. W. Burridge rented the farm for a year and removed to Tennessee but on the expiration of that period returned to Whiteside county and has since resided upon the farm in Erie township. In his business he is engaged largely in fecding and shipping stock and being an excellent judge of stock is thus able to make judicious purchases and profitable sales.

On the 30th of November, 1892, occurred the marriage of Mr. Burridge and Miss Elizabeth Dix, who was born in Wales in 1868 and was brought to America by her parents when about five years of age. Her father is now a resident of Connecticut, but her mother died in 1879. Mrs. Burridge was one of a family of eleven children and by her marriage has become the mother of one daughter, Ethel, who is now a student in the high school of Erie.

Mr. Burridge votes with the republican party and, as every truc Ameri- can citizen should do, keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. His wife is a member of the Christian church of Erie and both are highly estcemed in the community where they make their home, Mr. Burridge having spent almost his entire life in Whiteside county. In his business dealings he is found reliable and trustworthy and his unwearied diligence and persistency of purpose have constituted strong clements in winning for him his present position of affluence.

JAMES MURRAY EATON.

The history of the Eaton family has become an integral chapter in the annals of Whiteside county, especially in connection with its agricultural de- velopment. A prominent and honored member of this family and therefore worthy of representation in this history is he whose name introduces this re- view, now a retired farmer and insurance man of Fulton. He was born at Willet, Cortland county, New York, October 31, 1835, his parents being John and Lucy E. (Daines) Eaton. He is of the seventh generation of the descend- ants of John Eaton, who came from England in 1635 and settled in Dedham, Massachusetts. Elijah Eaton, the grandfather, removed from Connecticut to New York prior to the French and Indian war, in which he was engaged. He was probably the first of the name to remove to the Empire state. J. M. Eaton is also a descendant in the eighth generation from George Bunker, who was the owner of "that hill of glory," called by his name a hundred years be-

J. M. EATON

LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA

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fore the battle which was one of the opening engagements of the Revolution- ary war.

The maternal grandfather, John Daines, or Dains, lived on a farm four miles cast of Marathon, Cortland county, New York, and died in the carly '30's. He was a lad during the Revolutionary war, in which his father, John Daines, served, losing his life by a eannon shot which took off both his legs. His son John was told by General Bates, a friend of his father's, that . before the father died he had the boy bound to him (a common eustom in those days) until he should become of age. Accordingly John Daines en- tered the service of General Bates, whom he found to be an exacting taskmaster and when he could endure the treatment no longer he demanded the indenture papers from the General, who then confessed that he never had any. The young man then started out to make his way in the world, which he did hon- orably and nobly. A short time prior to his demise he learned that he was heir to about one-third of the land upon which stands the city of Hartford, Connecticut, but ill health prevented him attending to the prosecution of liis elaim, so that the property passed completely from him and his children.

John Eaton, father of J. Murray Eaton, spent his carly years in eastern New York and in 1816 removed to Willet, Cortland county, cutting his way through three miles of heavy timber ere he reached his own farm, from which he had to elear the native forest growth. In the fall of 1835, accompanied by his brother-in-law, Alva Daines, he drove with a team of horses across the country to Illinois to the home of Caleb Daines, who a few years before had settled on the south side of Elkhorn Grove in what is now Carroll county. Mr. Eaton made a claim of four hundred and eighty acres for himself and two older sons and then returned home by way of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and across the country to Cortland county, New York. He had been mar- ried twiee: first to Lydia Preston, Deecmber 22, 1805, and second to Lucy L. Daines, October 25, 1829. In September, 1836, he started westward with his family, save his daughters Melinda and Clarissa, who remained in the east. After traveling for six weeks they reached the home of Caleb Daines October 31, 1836, and soon were keeping house in a little log cabin which was covered with shakes and had a puncheon floor. It was only about sixteen feet square and the first winter the family lived largely on Johnny cake. Mrs. Eaton afterward remarking that during that first winter she baked enough Johnny cake to cover not less than a quarter seetion of land.

In the fall of 1837 John Eaton built a frame house on section 30, on the east side of a little prairie grove, which for years was a landmark of that part of the country. This was the first frame house ereeted between Chieago and the Mississippi river. There the family lived, enduring the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and energetically carrying on the work of bringing the little farm of eighty aeres under a high state of cultivation and improve- ment. In those days the pioncer families had to depend almost entirely upon what they raised for supplies and yet it was a period when hospitality reigned supreme. At times, however, the food supply became very low and they had to resort to many means to get a suffieieney for the family larder. Much wild game, however, was to be seeured at certain periods of the year

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and though it was often difficult to obtain wheat flour the family used corn meal to make bread. Mr. Eaton lived upon his original farm until 1864, when he purchased a farm at the bluffs in Whiteside county, about four miles east of Fulton. To this he removed with his wife and the four younger chil- dren who were yet at home. He remained upon his Whiteside county farm for some time and then after a year spent in Fulton, went to live with his sons, James Murray and Thomas B., at Garden Plain, Illinois, where he remained until his death February 19, 1868. Mrs. Eaton continued to reside with her sons at Garden Plain and during the last five years of her life lived with her son, James Murray. She was born September 9, 1795, and died June 6, 1889, lacking but three days of being ninety-three years and six months of age. She was a woman of rare intellectuality and force of character, possess- ing the natural grace and culture of true womanhood, combined with exe- cutive ability of high order. She proved a most capable pioneer mother, for she could spin and weave cloth in most expert manner, and not only did her own housework and spinning for the members of her own household, but also found time to weave for others and thus secured means to buy schoolbooks for her children and to pay for their tuition in school. At the time of her mar- riage her husband was a widower with ten children and with the exception of the eldest all were yet at home. She won the fullest love, confidence and respect of her stepchildren, proving indeed a true mother to them.

The record of the sons and daughters of Jolin Eaton is as follows: Wil- liam, the eldest son, born June 29, 1806, in Cherry Valley, New York, came to Illinois in the fall of 1836 and settled in Carroll county on the claim which his father had secured for him. About 1846 or 1847 he sold his farm there to Barnabas Johnson and removed to Stephenson county, settling about two miles south of Freeport, where he died December 2, 1886. He first married Emeline Wilcox, by whom he had seven children-Urias, Caroline, Aden, Melissa, Nelson, Harriet and Clarissa, all of whom, together with their mother, are now deceased, save Melissa and Clarissa. For his second wife William Eaton chose Mary Polsgrove and his third wife was Mrs. Eliza Lumbeck, by whom he had a son, Levi Murray, now living at Sheridan. Illinois. His fourth wife was Mrs. Wheat, who survived him.

Elijah Eaton, the second son, was born at Cherry Valley, New York, July 21, 1808, and came with his parents to Elkhorn Grove in 1836. In the early 40's he disposed of his land there. He was a millwright by trade and built and operated a sawmill on Elkhorn creek. Subsequently he removed to Maquoketa, Iowa, where he worked at his trade until the early '50s, when he went with other parties into the woods of Clark county, Wisconsin, and about sixteen miles above the present site of Neilsville built a sawmill, which he operated until his death in 1872. About 1861 he married a widow, who survived him.

Melissa Eaton, the eldest daughter of John Eaton, was born in Otsego county, New York, November 10, 1810, came with her parents to Illinois in 1836 and in the spring of 1843 married William Lowry. A few years later they purchased a part of the claim entered by her father in 1835 and there Mrs. Lowry lived until her death in August, 1899, when nearly eighty-nine

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years of age. Her husband died in September, 1879. Their children were: Elizabeth, the wife of John Worden; Alice, who married John Hart and died in May, 1903; Lydia, the wife of John Huntly; John, who died in childhood; and Elijah E., who married Anna Wythe and is living at Fulton, Illinois.

Melinda Eaton, the second daughter of John Eaton, was born in Otsego county, New York, November 6, 1813, and never came to Illinois to reside. She lived all her married life in Willet, New York, and died January 23, 1892.

Sylvia D., third daughter of John Eaton, was born February 12, 1816, came to Illinois with her parents in 1836 and was married to Lyman Bates, of Maquoketa, Iowa, settling on a farm about a mile south of the city. They had three sons and two daughters and Mrs. Bates died in 1856.

John, the third son of John Eaton, was born in Willet, New York, May 8, 1818, never married and died at the home of his brother, James Murray, in Garden Plain, September 12, 1892.

DeWitt C., fourth son of John Eaton, was born in Willet, May 5, 1820, and was about eighteen years of age when he came to Illinois with his father. On attaining his majority he started in business life for himself and for many years rafted floats on both the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers. He was mar- ried in Wisconsin and had a daughter and two sons. He made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Shong, near North Yakima, Washington, until his death in December, 1906.

Robert T., fifth son of John Eaton, was born in Willet, May 25th, 1822, and on attaining his majority left home and settled in Jackson county, Iowa. He married Sally H. Waldo, of Lamotte, Iowa, and they had five children : Murray, Cynthia, Martella, Elijah and Clarissa L. Of thesc Cynthia and Martella died in infancy. In 1852 Robert Eaton went overland to California, attracted by the gold discoveries, but in the fall of 1855 returned and settled on wild land eight miles east of Maquoketa, Iowa, where he lived until 1878. He then removed to Riverton, Franklin county, Nebraska, where he died June 13, 1894. He enlisted in the Thirty-first Regiment of Iowa Infantry in 1862 and was in General Logan's brigade and with Sherman on the celebrat- ed march to the sea.

Clarissa L., fourth daughter of John Eaton, was born in Willet, January 30, 1825, and when her parents came west remained with her sister Melinda in New York. She married Lewis L. Philley and they removed to a farm near Mazeppa, Minnesota, where she died December 23, 1893.

Miles, sixth son of John Eaton, was born in Willet, September 17, 1827, and was nine years of age at the time of the removal of the family to Elkhorn Grove. On reaching his majority he settled on a tract of government land four miles cast of -Maquoketa, Iowa, where he now lives. The above mention- ed werc all children of the father's first marriage and those that follow were children of the second marriage:

Chloe D., fifth daughter of John Eaton, was born in Willet, New York, October 27, 1830, and was married July 4, 1857, to Albert W. Plumley. They lived most of their married life in Fulton, Illinois, where she died December 12, 1890, leaving a daughter and son; Effie E., the wife of William Spang- ler, of Rock Falls; and Frank A., of Fulton.

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Henry D., seventh son of John Eaton, was born at Willet, September 17, 1833, spent his boyhood days in Elkhorn township and came with his parents to Whiteside county. In the fall of 1862 he married Lina Monroe, of Ma- quoketa, Iowa, and of their six sons and one daughter, four sons and the daugh- ter are now living. Leaving Whiteside county in the spring of 1884, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Eaton lived for a few years in Iowa and then went to Montezuma county, Colorado, where Mr. Eaton died June 2, 1905, while his widow, a son and daughter now live in Colorado and two sons in Des Moines, Iowa.

James Murray is the eighth son and of him mention will be made later on.

Thomas Benton, the ninth son, was born in the town of Elkhorn Grove, May 20, 1839. Before he was named, Samples Journey, a prominent citizen of the county, asked the privilege of naming the baby, which was granted by his parents. Soon after Mr. Journey sent cloth for a dress for the child and pinned to it a slip on which was written "Samples Journey Eaton." The baby was accordingly so named and so called until he was about three years of age, when Mr. Journcy, becoming angered by a man, struck him a fearful blow over the head with a surveyor's staff. This incident was common talk all over the country at the time, and scarcely anyone justified Mr. Journey's action. The little boy, his namesake, hearing his elders tell of the occur- rence, his youthful mind was impressed by the fact that Mr. Journey had done wrong and one day, in his childish way, he said: "My name is not Samples Journey, it is Thomas Benton." (Thomas Benton was at that time and for years after a very prominent man, figuring in national politics.) The older brothers, thinking it cute for the little fellow to stand up so sturdily and claim his name as Tom Benton, called him that and when he became of age he chose that for his name. In December, 1865, he married Miss Lida M. Sutherland, of Fulton, Illinois, and they resided on a farm in Garden Plain until about the close of 1897, since which time they have resided at Rock Island, Illinois. Their children arc: Ashley K., of Anadarka, Oklahoma; Harry of Low Moor, Iowa; Lillian A., the wife of W. E. Burnett; Mary Belle, the wife of S. A. Montgomery, of Garden Plain; and Lucy and Alice, at home.

James Murray Eaton was the youngest of the family born in New York, his natal day being October 31, 1835. He was only a year old when his family came to Elkhorn Grove in 1836, and he has since lived in this state. His memory compasses the period of early `pioneer experiences, when the homes of the settlers were widely scattered and the intervening distances were stretches of wild, unbroken prairie with perhaps here and there a little grove of trees upon. the banks of the streams. It was not an unusual thing to see Indians in this part of the state, for the Black Hawk war had occurred only four years before the arrival of the family. Decr and lesser wild game could be had in abundance and the great majority of the early settlers lived in log cabins, while cooking was donc over the fireplace and the homes were lighted by candles. The farm machinery, too, was very crude and imperfect as com- pared with that of the present time. J. Murray Eaton pursued his early edu- cation in a log building where the present schoolhouse is now situated on the south side of the grove, west of the Methodist Episcopal church. He after-

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ward attended the Center schoolhouse in the Grove, where his schoolmates numbered many whose names have since figured prominently upon the pages of the history of this section of the state. Still later Mr. Eaton was a student in the Prairie sehool near the Eaton home in Carroll county.

On the 28th of October, 1869, occurred the marriage of James Murray Eaton and Miss Emily Greene, of Lowell, Massachusetts. Her maternal grand- father was Rufus Kimpton, who was born in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 2, 1762, and died February 17, 1822. He entered the Revolutionary- war as a drummer boy when only in his teens and was honorably diseharged at the elose of hostilities. His widow was afterward granted a pension in rec- ognition of the aid which he rendered in seeuring American independenee. He was married July 8, 1784, to Abigail Breck, who was born in Sherborn, Massachusetts, April 23, 1761, and died in Stanstead, Canada, November 21, 1847. Their children, all born at Croydon, New Hampshire, are as follows; Sarah Kimpton, the eldest, born April 3, 1785, became the wife of James Mar- tin and their children were Alvin C., James and Amanda, of Darlington, Wis- consin; Abagail Kimpton, born September 29, 1786, was the wife of Josiah Dolloff, of Stanstead, Canada; Calvin, born April 17, 1788, died in ehildhood; Rufus was born May 4, 1789. Susannah, born June 22, 1792, became the wife of Israel Blake, of Derby, Vermont. Judith, born June 14, 1794, married Ephraim Green, of Greensboro, Vermont, and their family afterward became residents of Lowell, Massachusetts. Esther, born June 27, 1796, married Josiah Gustin, of Stanstead, Canada. Alpheus was born Mareh 17, 1798. Mahala, born December 22, 1800, became the wife of Ichabod Shurtleff and died in 1871. Hannah, born April 10, 1803, married a Mr. Reumick.

Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Eaton began their domestic life on his farm in Garden Plain, Whiteside county, and for almost .a quarter of a eentury made their home there, but in March, 1893, removed to Fulton, where they now reside. Their only child lived but a short time, but they adopted two sons and a daughter in early childhood. One son, Henry, enlisted for service in. the Cuban war in Company F, First Regiment of Illinois Infantry, and died at Montauk, Long Island, two days after the regiment landed there. The other son is in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company at Galesburg, Illinois, as a fireman, and the daughter lives at home.

Mr. Eaton is a member of Fulton City Lodge, No. 189, A. F. &. A. M., with which he beeame identified in 1864. In 1867 he assisted in organizing the Masonic lodge of Albany, of which he was made master, a position which he filled continuously for eight years. He was then out of office for a short time, but afterward again filled the position for two terms of two years each and for another term of one year. He likewise affiliates with the Modern Woodmen and is now serving as elerk of the local camp. He has filled several loeal offices of public honor and trust, has been on the school board, acting as its president for cight years, the cause of education finding in him a warm and stalwart champion. He represented the town of Garden Plain on the Whiteside country board of supervisors for ten years and in every position of trust has been loyal to the confidence reposed in him. He has al- ways been interested in and closely identified with the progress and develop-

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ment of his state, in which he has now made his home for seventy-two years. Few men have more intimate knowledge of the history of this locality or have been more closely and honorably associated with its growth and upbuilding. In all his business dealings he has been found strictly reliable, has never been remiss in the duties of citizenship and has always followed high ideals con- cerning his relations with his fellowmen.

ELMER L. ALLEN.

An excellent farm of three hundred and thirty acres is owned by E. L. and G. A. Allen who since 1868 have been residents of Whiteside county and in the intervening forty years have gained a creditable reputation as pro- gressive, enterprising and thoroughly reliable agriculturists. Elmer L. Allen was born in Kankakee county, Illinois, December 8, 1860, and since 1868 has resided continuously upon the farm which is now his home, with the exception of two years spent in the '80s in South Dakota, where he took a claim which he afterward sold.

His parents were Albert B. and Anna M. (Mann) Allen, the former a native of Erie county, New York, and the latter of Ohio. They were mar- ried in Kankakce county, Illinois, and the father died August 21, 1887, at the age of sixty years, nine months and twenty-six days, while his widow still survives and now makes her home with her son Elmer. Throughout his entire life he followed the occupation of farming and his political alle- giance was given to the republican party. His family numbered eight chil- dren: Sophronia, the wife of Rasmus Rasmussen, of Henry county; Ida J., the wife of Frank J. Bessc, of Houghton, South Dakota; Sarah May, the deceased wife of B. J. Hedger; Elmer L., of this review; Kate Maude, of Ster- ling; George A., also living in Sterling; Satie A., who died October 15, 1870, at the age of two years, eleven months and one day; and Laura B., the wifc of James McCue, of Galt.

Brought to Whiteside county when in his eighth year, Elmer L. Allen was reared upon the home farm which is now his place of residence and was early trained in the work of field and meadow. He soon learned to know the best time for planting the different crops and the best methods of caring for the fields. His education was acquired in the public schools but during the periods of vacation he assisted in the task of clearing and cultivating his father's land. He remained continuously in this county until the '80s, when he went to South Dakota, where he took a claim upon which he lived until he had secured his title. He afterward sold out there and returned to Whiteside county, where he has since made his home. He has here three hundred and thirty acres of rich and productive land. This is almost the same tract which his father owned. He has, however, sold off eighty acres, of which his father was the possessor, and has purchased forty acres on section 4, Lyndon town- ship. Here he carries on general farming and the land is productive, bring- ing forth rich crops, so that his labors are attended with gratifying success.

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On the 15th of November, 1887, Mr. Allen was married to Miss Eva L. McDearmon, who was born in Lyndon township, June 22, 1862, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Russell) McDearmon. Her father was a native of Erie county, New York, born July 14, 1828, while her mother's birth occurred ill the same county, September 14, 1836. They were married March 12, 1857, and both have now passed away. The death of Mrs. MeDearmon occurred on the 16th of November, 1898, and Mr. MeDearmon died only five days later. They had long traveled life's journey together and were thus separ- ated by death for only a brief period. They had come west to Whiteside county immediately after their marriage and Mr. MeDearmon owned and conducted a drug store at Lyndon for two years. He then purchased a farm in Lyndon township and made his home thereon for a long period, being closely, aetively and honorably associated with the agricultural interests of this locality. Mr. McDearmon served his country as a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting from Lyndon township, September 2, 1862, as a member of Company B, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He went to the front but was honorably discharged December 22, 1862, owing to a serious wound sustained in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, a minie-ball striking his right foot, causing lameness which continued throughout his entire life. Unto him and his wife were born nine children: Fred R., who is now living in Lyndon township; Frank G., whose home is in Mount Pleasant township; Eva L., now Mrs. Allen; Fannie Elizabeth, who was born October 22, 1864, and died September 20, 1867; Clark W., of Rock Island county ; Ralph E., also living in Rock Island county, Illinois; Paul H., of South Dakota; Joseph H., living in Minnesota; and Mary E., the wife of C. L. Pray, of Mount Pleasant township.

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History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II, Part 61

Author: Davis, William W Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 882

Author: Davis, William W
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 882