Eaton, Festus M

Festus Morgan EATON (1829 - 1909) and Huldah Ann SEWARD (1837 - 1925)

my gg-grandparents

Festus Morgan EATON was born in May 1829, in Broome County, NY, son of James EATON and Sarah LEE, and died in 1909, Plato Center, Kane County, IL. He married Huldah Ann SEWARD on 12 Jul 1862 in Kane County. Huldah was born in May 1837, in OH, daughter of Levi SEWARD and Harriet SPENCER, and died 12 Jul 1862 in Kane County. Festus was 33 and Huldah was 25 when they married. They had 5 children, in Kane County.

EATONs, LEEs and SEWARDs in Broome County, NY

James and Sarah EATON had 8 children in 1850, all born in NY. The family was in Union, Broome, NY in 1820 and Chenango, Broome, NY in 1830 and 1840, then Maine, Broome, NY in 1850, so it's safe to say that Festus was born in Broome County, 1829.

Sarah (LEE) EATON was a daughter of Nathaniel LEE and Sarah FRENCH, both born in MA, and settled in Chenango, Broome, NY by 1820. Nathaniel's grandfather, Nathaniel LEE III, was one of the earliest settlers in Chenango, in 1788. Nathaniel and Sarah had 3 known children: Sarah (1803), Parley (1806) and Harriet (1813). Harriet married Chandley Lambert SEWARD, possibly related to Levi SEWARD, but I haven't found the connection.

Levi and Harriet SEWARD also lived in Broome County. They had 9 children, the youngest born in IL. The family was in Chenango Township in 1810, 1820, 1830 and 1840. Later census records indicate that Huldah was born in OH in May 1837, so the family must have gone to OH briefly.

Migration to Kane County, IL

The Levi SEWARD family of 8 came from Broome County, NY, between 1845 and 1847, and settled in Plato Township, Kane County, IL. The family, with ages in 1846: Levi (53), Harriet (37), Sylvia (14), Almira (11), Huldah (9), Ruth (6), Sarah (3), Arnold (1). The youngest child, Henry, was born 15 Nov 1847 in IL. Sylvia was married on 15 Jan 1849 in Kane County. She must have been under 17.

The migration of the extended LEE family is more complicated. Nathaniel LEE, maternal grandfather of Festus EATON, died about 1845, and about 1846 his 75-year-old widow, Sarah (FRENCH) LEE, moved to Kane County, IL, along with her 3 grown children and their families. They didn't all travel at the same time. "Sarah Lee died in Illinois, aged over eighty years." [MQB, p. 105] Sarah was still in Chenango when the 1850 US Census was taken (see the Nathaniel LEE page).

Parley LEE, brother of Sarah (LEE) EATON, brought his family of 10 to Plato, Kane, IL between 1846 and 1848. Ages in 1846: Parley (40), Mariah (44), Mortimer (14), Orenius (13), Louisa (11), Oscar (7), Lasette (6), Diantha (4), Finette (2), Ovestus (infant).

Harriet (LEE) SEWARD, sister of Sarah (LEE) EATON, also came to Kane County in 1851, with her husband and 3 youngest children. Ages in 1851: Chandler (44), Harriet (37), Nathaniel (16), Sabron (14), William Wallace (6). Harriet's mother, Sarah (FRENCH) LEE traveled with this group, making a party of 6. The oldest, Mary Jane, was married in 1848, and brought her family of 5 to Kane County, IL in 1856.

Sarah (LEE) EATON (56) and James EATON (50) moved to Plato Township about 1853. They must have needed more than one wagon, as 6 of their 8 children, 1 daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren made a party of 11.

1. Elvira (30) had married in 1847, and had 2 daughters, and stayed in Castle Creek, Broome, NY.

2. Edwin (27) had a wife and son, and stayed in Castle Creek.

3. Edmund (25) came to IL with his wife Susan (22) and sons James (3) and Freeman (infant). They had 3 more sons in IL. Edmund was killed at Appomattox in 1865.

4. Festus (24) was single, and went with his parents to IL. See below.

5. Susan (20) was single, and came to IL. In 1858 she married her 1st cousin, Mortimer LEE, son of Parley LEE, in Kane County.

6. Lucy (14) came with her parents to IL, and eventually married and lived in Grant County, WI.

7. Sarah (10) came to IL, married and stayed in Plato Center the rest of her life.

8. Samuel (8) came to IL, but later moved back to Castle Creek, Broome, NY where he spent the rest of his life.

Ironically, reversing the path of her mother, Sarah (LEE) EATON moved back to Broome County, NY after James EATON died, and she died in Castle Creek, Broome, NY at age 85.

The SEWARD, LEE and EATON families undoubtedly knew each other in Chenango.

Kane County was founded 16 Jan 1636. The west side of Kane became DeKalb County on 4 Mar 1837. The population was 6,501 in 1840, and 16,703 in 1850, and 30,062 in 1860, so the EATONs came into a rapidly growing area. However, almost all of the population was in the cities along the Fox River, on the eastern side of the county. The center and west side were sparsely populated, and unimproved land was plentiful, when the EATONs arrived in 1853.

See the James EATON page for a more detailed 1874 map of Kane County.

EATONs in Kane County, IL

This 1860 map of Kane County (a portion of the map is shown above) shows a 120-acre farm in Plato Township, Section 21 (below the L in PLATO), under the name J. EATON. Also, in Section 27 (about a mile below the T in PLATO), an 80-acre farm is under the name L. SEWARD. This is the same farm that belongs to Festus and Hulda EATON, in the 1892 and 1904 plat maps. Parley LEE had 160 acres in Section 16, just over a mile north of J. EATON.

Festus EATON married Huldah SEWARD on 12 Jul 1862, in Kane County. Huldah was born in May 1837 in Ohio, the daughter of Levi SEWARD and Harriet SPENCER. See the Levi SEWARD page.

About a year later, he registered for the draft. I have not found evidence that he served in the Civil War. By 1870, Festus and Huldah have 3 children, and they are living in Burlington Township.

The 1880 and 1900 Censuses are on the George W EATON page, but I reproduce them here for convenience.

According to the 1880 US Census, George's parents were born in New York and Ohio, and all 4 grandparents were born in New York. Festus was a farmer. The eldest daughter, Hattie, age 16, was listed as married and also at school. That is probably an error.

This census says that the father of Festus EATON's father was born in Massachusetts, not New York. The birth dates for Festus and Huldah don't agree with the 1880 census, either. Festus and Huldah have been married 46 years, which means they were married about 1854. Huldah has had 6 children, with 5 still living, in 1900. Festus is a retired farmer, and he owns his farm, free of mortgage. Festus can read but can't write, and Huldah can't read or write.

Descendants

Festus and Hulda 5 children, from about 1864 to 1874, probably all in Plato or Burlington Township.

1 Festus Morgan EATON b: May 1829 in NY, d: 1909 in Plato Center, Kane, IL, age 80
+ Huldah Ann SEWARD b: May 1837 in OH, m: 12 Jul 1862 in Kane, IL, d: Feb 1925 in Elgin, Kane, IL, age 87
......2 Harriet "Hattie" EATON b: abt. 1864 in IL, d: abt. 1901, age 37
...... + John Lyman LEE b: 8 May 1854 in NY, m: 1 Jun 1883 in Kane, IL, d: 13 Feb 1925 in Gardner, Garfield, IL, age 70
......2 Sarah Ann EATON b: 02 Mar 1866 in East Burlington, Kane, IL, d: 05 Feb 1925 in Elgin, Kane, IL, age 58
...... + Frank Marion VANA b: 11 Oct 1854 in Bohemia, m: 10 Jan 1883 in Kane, IL, d: 04 Aug 1938 in Elgin, Kane, IL, age 83
......2 Jedediah Andy EATON b: 27 Jul 1867 in IL, d: 21 Dec 1947 in San Francisco, CA, age 80
...... + Mary Ann ALGER b: 1872, m: 15 Apr 1893 in Kane, IL
...... + Sarah RATHGERBER b: Aug 1869 in IL, m: 02 Nov 1897 in Kane, IL
......2 George William EATON b: Sep 1870 in Elgin, Kane, IL, d: 11 Oct 1928 in Hanover, Cook, IL, age 58
...... + Maggie May STURGES b: 17 Oct 1870 in Batavia, Kane, IL, m: 30 Nov 1892 in Kane, IL, d: 25 Jun 1947, age 76
......2 Alvira EATON b: 28 Mar 1874 in Burlington, Kane, IL, d: 26 Aug 1938 in St Charles, Kane, IL, age 64
...... + Lewis PARQUETTE b: 10 Feb 1855 in Keeseville, NY, m: 10 Nov 1892 in Kane, IL, d: 24 Jun 1934 in Kirkland, De Kalb, IL, age 79
...... + William F. CARBAUGH b: 1866 in IA, d: aft. Sep 1938, age 72

Harriet "Hattie" EATON (1864 - bef. 1902) and Lyman John LEE (1854 - 1925)

Harriet "Hattie" EATON was born about 1864 in Illinois, probably on the EATON farm in Kane County. She married John Lyman LEE on 1 Jun 1883 in Kane County.

Lyman John LEE was born 8 May 1854 in NY, and died 13 Feb 1925 in Gardner, Garfield, IL. He had remarried, since his widow was named Celia.

Harriet's mother, husband and sister all died in Feb 1925. Harriet died between 1900 and 1902, in the Elgin Asylum for the Insane.

On 27 May 1902 Lyman, age 48, remarried to Cecelia M. SAMMON, age 24. Lyman and Cecelia had 5 more children (not shown in the list below).

1 Lyman John LEE b: 08 May 1854 in NY, d: 10 Feb 1925 in Gardner, Grundy, IL, age 68
+ Harriet "Hattie" EATON b: Abt. 1864 in IL, m: 01 Jun 1883 in Kane, IL, d: abt. 1901, age 37
......2 Frederick LEE b: 26 May 1884 in Burlington, IL, d: 06 Nov 1958 in Washington, IN, age 74
...... + Martha Amanda d: Aft. 1958
......2 Delmar LEE b: 10 Jan 1887 in Burlington, Kane, IL, d: 06 Feb 1955 in Elgin, Kane, IL, age 68
...... + Edith MCLINDSAY m: 07 Jan 1911 in Lyons, Clinton, IA
......2 Margaret "Maggie" LEE b: 12 Jan 1890 in Kingston, Dekalb, IL, d: 23 Jun 1964 in Salem, Columbiana, OH, age 74
...... + Charles SHAW b: 10 Jul 1886 in Wilkes Barre, Luzerne, PA, d: 3 Jan 1943 in Salem, Columbiana, OH, age 56
...... + Christopher Robert William SUGGETT b: 20 Jun 1900 in England, m: 06 Aug 1943 in Columbiana, OH, d: 23 Jun 1956 in Salem, Columbiana, OH, age 56
......2 Lydia "Liddie" LEE b: 2 Sep 1894 in Cherry Valley, Winnebago, IL, d: 8 Feb 1927 in Chicago, Cook, IL, age 32
...... + Charles Bernard ROSBERG b: Jul 1892 in Chicago, Cook, IL, m: 25 Oct 1913 in Chicago, Cook, IL
+ Cecelia M. SAMMON b: 06 May 1878 in Ireland, m: 27 May 1902 in Chicago, Cook, IL, d: 24 Jul 1968 in Aroma Park, Kankakee, IL, age 90

Sarah A. EATON (1866 - 1925) and Frank VANA (1859? - After 1929)

Sarah EATON was born 2 Mar 1866 in East Burlington, Kane, IL and died 5 Feb 1925 in Elgin, Kane, IL. She married Frank VANA on 10 Jan 1883, in Kane County, IL. Frank Marion VANA was born 11 Oct 1854 in Bohemia, son of Joseph and Mary VANA, and died 4 Aug 1938 in Elgin, Kane, IL.

In 1900, Frank and Sarah had been married 16 years, so they were married about 1884. Frank VANA was a naturalized citizen from Australia (later censuses say Austria), and immigrated to the US in 1885, so they must have been married outside the US. They live on a rented farm. Sarah had 4 children, all still living in 1900. Frank is a Farmer and Day Laborer, and 13-year-old Peter is a Farm Laborer.

The 1910 Census has the family in DeKalb County. They have a mortgaged home on Sixth Street, in the village of Kirkland. It says Frank is from Aust-Bohemia, not Australia. Frank and Sarah had been married 27 years, so they were married about 1883, according to this. Sarah has had 12 children, with only 3 still living in 1910. Frank immigrated in 1885, not 1884. Frank was a Laborer for a Railroad.

I have not found the family in 1920. Apparently, Frank had some mental problems.

The 1930 US Census has Frank VANA as a patient in the Elgin State Hospital. His occupation is "kitchen." This census gives his age as 71, age at first marriage 25, birthplace Bohemia, and immigration date 1873. If he was 71 in 1930, he was born about 1859, which is closer to the 1856 date from the 1910 Census that Oct 1870 from the 1900 Census.

This may be another Sarah VANA, since Sarah (EATON) VANA died on 5 Feb 1925.

Frank VANA died on 4 Aug 1938, in Elgin, and is buried at the Elgin State Hospital cemetery.

1 Sarah Ann EATON b: 02 Mar 1866 in East Burlington, Kane, IL, d: 05 Feb 1925 in Elgin, Kane, IL, age 58
... + Frank Marion VANA b: 11 Oct 1854 in Bohemia, m: 10 Jan 1883 in Kane, IL, d: 04 Aug 1938 in Elgin, Kane, IL, age 83
......2 Lily May VANA b: 31 Dec 1884 in IL, d: 25 Jan 1903 in IL; bur. Maple Cem. Kirkland, DeKalb, IL, age 18
......2 Peter Louis VANA b: 09 Feb 1887 in Elburn, Kane, IL, d: 19 Mar 1950 in Kane, IL, age 63
...... + Grace Pearl Markham BAXTER b: 28 May 1900 in Aurora, Kane, IL, d: 02 Jan 1969 in Aurora, Kane, IL, age 68
......2 Anna VANA b: Apr 1892 in IL, d: 23 Jan 1943 in Chicago, Cook, IL, age 50
......2 James VANA b: Sep 1893 in IL, d: 05 Jan 1903 in IL, age 9

Jedediah EATON (1867 - 1947) and Sarah RATHGERBER (1869 - aft 1910)

Jedediah Andy EATON was born on 27 Jul 1867, in Illinois, and died on 21 Dec 1947, in San Francisco, California, at age 80.

Jed married twice. First, he married Mary Ann ALGER, on 15 Apr 1893, in Kane County. The marriage record is of interest because it gives birth dates and middle names.

Jed EATON married Sarah RATHGERBER on 2 Nov 1897, in Kane County, IL.

Jed first appears in the 1900 Census, with a wife and child, in South Elgin Village, Elgin Township, Kane County, IL. Curiously, it says that Jed's father was born in France, when it should be New York. Jed and Sarah had been married 3 years, so they were married about 1897, which agrees with the marriage record.

George EATON, Jed's son, was born when Jed was 18, before his first marriage. I don't know who George's mother was, but she was born in Illinois. If it was Mary Ann ALGER, she was only 14 or 15 at in May 1887.

Some time between 1900 and 1910, Jed and Sarah moved to San Francisco, CA, with their son, Clarence.

This time, Jed's parents were born in New York and Ohio, as expected, and Sarah's parents were born in France. Jed and Sarah had been married 12 years, which agrees with the marriage record, since they had not reached their 13th anniversary by the time of the census. It is the first marriage for Jed, and the second for Sarah, who has had 2 children, both still living. They must be George (Mar 1887) and Clarence W.C. (1901). Jed and Sarah own a home, with a mortgage, at 1880 42nd Avenue, San Francisco. This is on the west side, in the Outer Sunset neighborhood, about a half mile from the Pacific Ocean.

In 1930 Jed EATON and his son Clarence are living at 1380 43rd Avenue, San Francisco, in a home Jed owns, worth $3,000. (This may be the same place as in the 1910 Census. It is clearly 1380 43rd Ave here, and it's harder to read in the 1910 record.) Clarence is 29, as expected, but Jed is now 82. He should be 62. Both Jed and Clarence are married, but their wives are not present. Jed was first married at age 26, and Clarence 24.

The 1940 Census has Jed EATON, widower, still at 1380 43rd Avenue, San Francisco. Jed owns the home, worth $2,000, which is lower than most of the other houses in the neighborhood, and lower than its value in 1930. Jed's residence in 1935 was Elgin, Kane, IL, so there has been some movement back and forth, between Illinois and California. Again, Jed is 20 years older than he should be. Jed's son Clarence is in the household, and was there in 1935 also. Clarence is divorced, and is now a Service Man at a Gas and Electric company, earning $1,800 in 1939.

Clarence William EATON was born 19 Aug 1901 in Illinois, and died 20 Jul 1979 in San Mateo, CA. He married Grace V. EATON on 22 Dec 1961 in San Francisco, CA. I'm not sure if she was a cousin, or unrelated.

I don't know what ever happened to Jed and Sarah's son, George EATON. He was born in Mar 1887, and was still living in 1910.

1 Jedediah Andy EATON b: 27 Jul 1867 in IL, d: 21 Dec 1947 in San Francisco, CA
......2 George EATON b: May 1887 in IL, d: Aft. 1910
+ Mary Ann ALGER b: 1872, m: 15 Apr 1893 in Kane, IL
+ Sarah RATHGERBER b: Aug 1869 in IL, m: 02 Nov 1897 in Kane, IL
......2 Clarence William EATON b: 19 Aug 1901 in IL, d: 20 Jul 1979 in San Mateo, San Mateo, CA
...... + Grace V. EATON m: 22 Dec 1961 in San Francisco, CA

George William EATON (1870 - 1928) and Maggie May STURGES (1870 - 1947)

George W. EATON and his wife Maggie May STURGES were my great-grandparents. See the George EATON page.

Alvira EATON (1872 - 1938)

Alvira EATON was born on 28 Mar 1874 in Chicken Grove, IL, and died 26 Aug 1938 in St Charles, Kane, IL at age 64. She appeared in the 1880 Census for Burlington, Kane, IL with her parents (above). Alvira married Lewis PARQUETTE on 10 Nov 1892 in Kane County. Lewis was 29 and Alvira was 19.

In the 1900 Census, Alvira and Lewis had a 6-year-old daughter, Bessie. They had been married 7 years, consistent with the marriage date. Alvira had had only one child, Bessie. Lewis was born in NY, but his parents were born in the French part of Canada. Lewis was a Farmer, with a mortgaged farm.

In the 1910 Census, Lewis owned his farm, free of mortgage. Lewis and Alvira had been married 18 years, the first marriage for each. Alvira had only had 1 child, still living.

Between 1910 and 1920, Alvira divorced Lewis and married William F. CARBOUGH/CARBAUGH. Also, Bessie PARQUETTE married Gustave A. DRAVES on 21 Feb 1912, in Kane County.

Chicken Grove, the birthplace of Alvira EATON, doesn't seem to appear on any maps. It is mentioned in an article about someone unrelated. It is "near Canada Corners, not far very from St. Charles" and St Charles is in the southern part of St Charles Township, Kane County, IL.

Like her brother Jedediah, Alvira had 2 spouses, but only 1 child.

1 Alvira EATON b: 28 Mar 1874 in Burlington, Kane, IL, d: 26 Aug 1938 in St Charles, Kane, IL
+ Lewis PARQUETTE b: 10 Feb 1855 in Keeseville, NY, m: 10 Nov 1892 in Kane, IL, d: 24 Jun 1934 in Kirkland, DeKalb, IL
......2 Bessie E. PARQUETTE b: Feb 1894 in IL, d: 1976 in Krkland, DeKalb, IL
...... + Gustave A. DRAVES b: 1887, m: 21 Feb 1912 in Kane, IL
+ William Foster CARBAUGH b: 12 Dec 1865 in IA, m: 24 Nov 1915 in Kane, IL, d: 23 Dec 1942 in Elgin, Kane, IL

Sources

[BC55] Map of Broome County, NY from 1855, in various sizes

[BRK] The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, 1898

[CPB] Commemorative portrait and biographical record of Kane and Kendall Counties, Ill, 1888

[DF] A study of share-rented dairy farms in Green County, Wis., and Kane County, Ill., by Boeger, E. A., 1918

[DK] Dead Keen Family History

[HEI] Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, 1904

[HKC] History of Kane County, Ill. (1908) by Joslyn, Vol 1 Vol 2

[IDM] Illinois Digital Map Library from USGenWeb

[ILGW] Kane County ILGenWeb

[MCC] Large 1860 Map of Kane County showing property owners by Matthes, Crane & Co,

[MHK] Military History of Kane County, Illinois, by John S. Wilcox, 1915

[MQB] A Genealogical History of the French and Allied Families, by Mary Queal Beyer, 1912

[PPK] Past and Present of Kane County, Illinois, 1878

Updated 30 Dec 2021 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.