Eaton, George W

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

my great-grandparents

George William EATON was born Sep 1870 in Elgin, Kane, IL, to Festus and Huldah EATON. He first appeared in 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.

Several George EATONs

The 1880 US Census had 34 George EATONs in IL. Only 5 had the middle initial W. I keep track of some of them because they keep coming up in searches, and I have to sort them out every time.

The George EATON of interest is the father of Dora (EATON) GAPINSKI. Based on records they share, he was born about 1871 in IL. They lived in Plato, Kane, IL in 1910 and Hanover, Cook, IL in 1920. George's wife, and Dora's mother, was Margaret "Maggie" May (STURGES) EATON. They were married 30 Nov 1892 in Kane County. This George was a dairy farmer, born in Sep 1870, who spent his entire life in Kane County, and the panhandle of Cook County, as far as I can tell. He died on 11 Oct 1928 in Hanover, Cook, IL. 

There was a George W. EATON in Paw Paw Township, DeKalb County, the same area where the STURGES family lived. This George was born about 1851 in MI, and his wife’s first name was Franc. He was a farmer, and had a well drilling business. He made the news in 1888, when he was struck by lightning, and survived, but then died in 1894. Not the right George EATON.

One George Henry EATON lived in Decatur, Macon County, IL. He was born about 1869, and married Maggie BULLARD. He worked as a printer, for a publication called The Review. Again, very close, but not the right George EATON.

In the 1900 Census we have two EATON households, consecutive. This census says that Festus EATON's mother was born in MA, not NY. 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.

George and Maggie had been married 8 years in 1900, so they were married about 1892. Maggie was born in Illinois, but her father was born in England, and her mother in Ireland. Maggie has had 2 children, both still living, obviously Walter and Ella. George is a farmer, and he rents a farm, probably from his father.

The EATON farm can be seen in Section 27, Plato Township, in the 1892 and 1904 plat maps. The farm is in two 40-acre sections. In the 1892 plat map, the north half is under the name Hulda EATON, and the south half is under F.M. EATON. In the 1904 plat map, they are both under F.M. EATON.

Now George's parents were both born in New York, and Maggie's parents' birthplaces are reversed from what they were in 1900. George and Maggie have been married 18 years in 1910, which agrees with the 1900 census. It's the first marriage for both. Maggie has had 4 children, all still living. George has a mortgage on his dairy farm. Walter is not attending school, but is a Home Farmer. Helen must be Ella.

In 1920 the EATON family has 3 more children. George's parents were born in Pennsylvania/Ireland instead of New York/New York or New York/Ohio. Maggie's parents are back to England/Ireland instead of Ireland/England. George is still the owner and operator of a dairy farm, but not the same one, as it is in Cook County. They have one worker living with the family. Willie is 9, but should be 12, as he was 2 in 1910. Unless there was a Willie who was born in 1908 and died, and they used the same name again.

Since the youngest child, Leonard, was born on 26 Jan 1914 in Kane County (see below), the move from Kane County to Cook County took place between 26 Jan 1914 and 27 Jan 1920.

As mentioned above, George EATON died on 11 Oct 1928 in Hanover, Cook, IL. He still made it into the Elgin directory in 1929.

The 1929 City Directory for Elgin, IL has George EATON, his wife Maggie EATON, daughter Bessie B. EATON, and son William G. EATON. They are living on Rural Route 5. This may be in Cook County. George was a farmer, and William was a truck driver.

In 1930 Maggie and her eldest son Walter have a farm on Ottendorf Road, Hanover Township, Cook County. Maggie is the manager of the farm, valued at $6,000, which she owns. Walter is a machine operator, in the excavation business. Walter is a veteran.

Several city directories are available for Elgin, IL and the surrounding area, in 1929 to 1943. I believe the EATONs remained at their farm on Ottendorf Road during this time period, but they were close enough to Elgin to be included in the directories.

In the 1931 Elgin Directory, Maggie M. EATON lives with her son, Walter EATON, in Rural Route 1. I don't know if they have moved, or if the routes have been renamed since 1929. Maggie has a grain farm, 4 miles east of Elgin, rented from Ranstead S. LEHMANN. Walter is a truck driver for Walter MCLEAN, Elgin. Also in Rural Route 1 is Leonard EATON, a farm hand for Walter HEINE.

The 1933 Elgin Directory still has Leonard EATON in Rural Route 1, but Maggie and Walter are missing. Oddly, there is a Walter EATON, with wife Maggie, living in the city of Elgin, at 34 Daniels Ave. Maybe they have moved to the city, and have been mistaken for husband and wife? 

In the 1935 Elgin Directory this seems to be corrected. Maggie EATON, at 34 Daniels Ave, is the widow of George, and Walter EATON lives at the same address. Walter is now a "lab city" which I suppose means he worked for the city, as a laborer.

In 1939 Maggie (widow of George) and sons Leonard and Walter are back in Rural Route 1, located 3 1/4 miles east of Elgin. Leonard is an employee of E J & E, and Walter works for the city of Elgin.

The 1940 directory has the same information as 1939, except that Maggie's late husband is called George W, and the location is 3 miles east of Elgin, rented by McGlaughlin, of Chicago.

The 1940 Census has Maggie with her sons Walter and Leonard, at a rented house (not a farm) on Rohrson Road, Hanover Township. All 3 had lived in rural Kane County in 1935 (but not on a farm), which is strange since at least Maggie and Walter were already in Cook County by 1930. Maggie is widowed, which makes sense, as George had died in 1928, and both Walter and Leonard are single. Walter is employed as a Farm Laborer, and Leonard as a Section Hand on a Steam Railroad.

The 1941 Elgin Directory has the family at 444 1/2 St Charles Street, Elgin. The 1/2 indicates the rear of the house. Maggie is now the widow of George E (clearly a mistake), and 3 of her sons are living with her. Leonard and Walter are employees of Carl Arndt, of Rural Route 1, and William EATON is a laborer.

In 1943 Maggie M. EATON and her 3 sons are still at 444 1/2 St Charles Street, Elgin. Leonard J. EATON is in US Service. (He enlisted in the US Army on 25 Jul 1942. See below.) Walter EATON and William G. EATON are truck drivers.

The gravestone for Maggie (STURGES) EATON, in Plato Center Cemetery, Plato Center, Kane, Cook, IL says she was born 17 Oct 1870 and died 25 Jun 1947. The death record has the same dates.

Maggie was born in Virgil, Illinois. This probably means the village of Virgil, in Virgil Township, Kane County, IL. So she was born and died in Kane County, but also spent many years in Hanover Township, Cook County. Maggie (STURGES) EATON's parents will be covered on a separate page.

Descendants of George and Maggie

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
......1. Walter EATON b: 03 Nov 1894 in Burlington, Kane, IL, d: 28 Mar 1951 in Elgin, Kane, IL, age 56
......2. Ella Rose "Alice" EATON b: 01 Jul 1899 in Plato Center, Kane, IL, d: 22 Dec 1979 in Elgin, Kane, IL, age 80
...... + Conrad MEYER b: 17 Apr 1890 in DeKalb, IL, m: 07 Dec 1920 in Kane, IL, d: Jan 1973 in Kane, IL, age 82
...... + Albert Bert SEWARD b: 24 Dec 1891 in Burlington, Kane, IL, m: 1935 in Woodstock, IL, d: 03 Aug 1958 in Burlington, Kane, IL, age 66
......3. Dora M. EATON b: 05 Feb 1905 in IL, d: Jul 1970 in Cook, IL, age 65
...... + Fred Albert GAPINSKI b: 01 Jan 1903 in Hampshire, Kane, IL, m: 1926, d: 30 May 1988 in Chicago, Cook, IL, age 85
......4. William George EATON b: 28 Jun 1907 in Plato, Kane, IL, d: 21 Jan 1983 in IL
......  + Gladys May BANNISTER b: 1914 in Nebraska, m: 13 Nov 1930 in Elgin, Kane, IL, d: 1985
......5. Bessie Blanche EATON b: 16 Jun 1910 in Plato Center, Kane, IL, d: 24 Dec 1926 in Elgin, Kane, IL, age 16
......6. Leonard James EATON b: 26 Jan 1914 in Plato Center, Kane, IL, d: 28 Jan 2000, age 86

George and Maggie only had 10 grandchildren. Of their 6 children, Dora had 7 and William had 3. The sections below cover each of the children and their families.

1. Walter EATON (1894-1951)

We see on his gravestone in Plato Center Cemetery, Plato Center, Kane, IL that Walter EATON was born on 3 Nov 1894 in Burlington Township, Kane, IL and died 28 Mar 1951 in Elgin, Kane, IL. He never married or had any offspring. Walter was a veteran, probably in WWI, but all I've found is his draft card, from 5 Jun 1917. He claimed his parents, 2 brothers and 2 sisters as dependents, as he was 22 and his bothers and sisters were under 18.

Walter EATON lived with his mother until he was 52, when she died, in 1947. They lived on a dairy farm, 3 or 4 miles east of Elgin, IL, and moved between the farm and the city of Elgin a few times in the 1930s. They settled at 444 1/2 St Charles Street, Elgin in 1941, and Walter and his 2 brothers still lived at this address in 1948. As mentioned above, Walter was a truck driver in 1929 and 1931, and worked for the city of Elgin in 1935 and 1939. The 1930 US Census says he was a machine operator, in the excavation business, and the 1940 US Census says he was a farm laborer. In 1941 he and his brother Leonard were employed by Carl Arndt, and in 1943 he was again a truck driver. In 1948 he worked for Mason & Lawrence. The 1950 US Census has him as a lodger at the Western House, at 19 N. at 19 N. State St, Elgin. He was a slaughterer at a rendering company, never married. He died 28 Mar 1951, outliving his mother by less than 4 years.

2. Ella Rose "Alice" EATON (1899-1979)

Ella Rose EATON was born on 1 Jul 1899 in Plato Center, Kane, IL, and died 22 Dec 1979 at St. Joseph's Hospital, in Elgin. We have these dates and her middle name from the Social Security form. She married (1) Conrad MEYER on 7 Dec 1920 in Kane County. He was 30, she was 21.

In 1930, Conrad and Ella are owners of a small home at 511 Park Avenue in Sycamore, valued at $1,000. Conrad is a truck driver for a factory, and a veteran. Ella works in the magnet department at a wire factory. They have no children.

Conrad MEYER appears in the 1933 Elgin, IL City Directory, with no mention of a wife.

Ella married (2) Albert "Bert" SEWARD in Woodstock, IL in 1935. Albert was born 24 Dec 1891 and died 4 Aug 1958, as inscribed on his gravestone in Plato Center Cemetery, Plato Center, Kane, IL. His WWI draft card, dated 5 Jun 1917, reveals that he was tall and slender, with brown hair and brown eyes, and had lost his right arm.

In 1940 Bert and Ella own a farm valued at $1,500 in Plato Township, where they live with his 2 brothers. The 3 brothers are 13 years apart: Ira (62), Burt (49) and Peter (36). All 6 lived in the same place in 1935. (There is obviously a mistake, because Peter's son Jerry, age 2 in 1940, could not have completed 5th grade, or lived there in 1935. Maybe he should be 12 instead of 2.) 

The same family group still lived on a farm in Plato Township, in 1950.

From the biography, Bert was the son of Arnold SEWARD and Emma (JOHNSON) SEWARD. In fact, Bert and Ella were first cousins, once removed. See the Levi SEWARD page.

3. Dora M. EATON (1905-1970) and Fred Albert GAPINSKI (1903-1988)

The obituary of Dora M. EATON gives a lot of information that I haven't found elsewhere. This was posted by Michelle on Findagrave.

Dora EATON married Fred A. GAPINSKI. They were my biological grandparents. Their family is covered in the Fred GAPINSKI page.

4. William George EATON (1907-1983)

William married Gladys May BANNISTER, from Nebraska, on 13 Nov 1930 in Elgin. In the 1940 Census, Gladys EATON and 3 children were living at 4842 S. Ada Street, Chicago, in an apartment rented for $11/month. Gladys was separated from her husband, and was not working, but had some other source of income. The family lived in the same place in 1935. Gladys later remarried.

We also find a William EATON as a laborer on a dairy farm on Plank Road, Plato Township. This may be the right one, since William has experience working on a dairy farm, although he is listed as Single. He is marked "Unable to Work," and is not seeking work. The entry under "Employed for Pay" has been erased.

I'm not certain that the records above are for the right William EATON. However, it is clear from the Elgin City Directory (above) that he lived with his mother and brothers in 1941 and 1943, at 444 1/2 St Charles Street, Elgin, IL. William was a laborer in 1941 and a truck driver in 1943. After his mother's death, he lived with his brothers, at the same address, and in 1948 he was a factory worker at W R Meadows. 

In 1953 there was a Wm C EATON living at 100 Division St, Elgin. I would say that this is the wrong William EATON, except that he also worked at W R Meadows. In 1954, William EATON living at 100 Division St was employed by Kinney Electric. 

1 Gladys May BANNISTER b: 1914 in Nebraska, d: 1985

+ 4. William George EATON b: 28 Jun 1907 in Plato, Kane, IL, m: 13 Nov 1930 in Elgin, Kane, IL, d: 21 Jan 1983 in IL
......i. Dorothy May EATON b: 07 Sep 1932 in Chicago, Cook, IL, d: 04 Jul 1989 in Burbank, Cook, IL
...... + Adam Joseph SKUPIEN b: 21 Jun 1931 in MI, m: 26 Apr 1952, d: 17 Apr 1988 in Chicago, Cook, IL
......ii. Betty Jane EATON b: 19 May 1934 in Chicago, Cook, IL, d: 12 Oct 2012 in Sun City, Riverside, CA
...... + Edward Fred SCHUMAN b: 27 Feb 1930 in Cook, IL, m: 10 Jan 1953 in Chicago, Cook, IL, d: 14 May 2005 in Baldwin Park, Los Angeles, CA
...... + Urban Torres RODRIGUEZ b: 07 Jul 1917, m: 06 Jun 1976 in Baldwin Park, Los Angeles, CA, d: 03 Dec 2009 in Riverside, CA
......iii Harold John "Dukie" EATON b: 22 Jan 1936 in Chicago, Cook, IL, d: 13 Jul 1978 in IL

+ Peter RUBAN b: 07 Jul 1921, m: 09 May 1953 in IL, d: Sep 1968 in IL

5. Bessie Blanche EATON (1910-1926)

Bessie Blanche EATON was reported to be 8 years old in the 1920 Census, above. However, she was actually 10, and in fact she was born just 6 weeks after the 1910 Census was taken. She was born on 16 Jun 1910, in Plato Center, Kane, IL, and died 24 Dec 1926, in Elgin, Kane, IL, at the age of 16. I don't know the cause of death.

6. Leonard James EATON (1914-2000)

Leonard James EATON was born 26 Jan 1914 in Plato Center, Kane, IL, and died 28 Jan 2000. 

The city directories for Elgin, IL described above have Leonard working as a farmhand, in the vicinity of his mother's farm, 3 to 4 miles east of Elgin. In 1939 he was an employee of E J & E. The 1940 US Census, above, has Leonard living with his mother and brother Walter, in Hanover, Cook County, IL, which is the location of the farm. Leonard is a Section Hand on a Steam Railroad. In 1941 he has moved to the city, along with his mother and brother. They live at 444 1/2 St Charles Street, Elgin. Leonard and Walter are employees of Carl ARNDT, of Rural Route 1. 

Leonard enlisted in the US Army on 25 Jul 1942, and served until 14 Nov 1946, over 4 years. 

In 1948, after the death of their mother, the brothers Walter, William and Leonard were still living at 444 1/2 St Charles Street, Elgin. Leonard was employed at Cook Publishing Company. In 1951 there was a Leonard EATON, who was a fireman at Cook Publishing Company. He had a wife named Annie, and lived at the Kiwanis Trailer Camp. In 1959, Leonard J. EATON is still employed at Cook Publishing Company, in maintenance. In 1960 Leonard and Annie are living at the same address, but no employer is mentioned.

I have not found any record of marriage or children. Leonard served in the US Army in WWII. He lived in New Smyrna Beach, FL in 1981.

Sources

History of Kane County, Ill, Vol 1, 1908

History of Kane County, Ill, Vol 2

Past and Present of Kane County, Illinois, 1878

The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, 1898

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

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

Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, 1904

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

Illinois Digital Map Library from USGenWeb

Kane County ILGenWeb

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Elgin, Kane County, Illinois 1897

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Elgin, Kane County, Illinois 1913

Last updated 5 Mar 2023by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.