Grayson County TXGenWeb

The Denison News
Thursday, March 13, 1873

A Mr. J. Eaton, living near the Park, in a tent, died Monday evening, of a congestive chill. Mr. Eaton had been suffering with the dropsy over 15 years, and leaves a wife and 7 children in very destitute circumstances. Two of the children are now sick, and the mother is entirely without money, or even bread for her little ones. She says she is willing to work, but cannot, of course, leave her sick children.
Mr. T.M. Wright, assistant Deputy Sheriff, ordered a coffin from the undertaker last night, and will see that the man is decently buried. This is a case that calls for sympathy, and we trust an effort may be made at once to raise money to assist the widow and her helpless family. We have been informed that Mr. Eaton did excellent service for Texas during the Mexican war. He has resided in this county for the past 5 years.

We have a class of citizens in Denison whose hands are ever open to relieve distress. Our remarks regarding the needy condition of Mrs. Eaton, whose husband died Monday, met the eye of Mr. Warren early this morning and he and Dr. Mozley went out among the business men, and before noon had raised about $75 in provisions and money. The family are now supplied with eatables enough to last them for two months and $25 besides, in cash, on deposit with Mr. Sleeper the grocer. Messrs. Warren and Mozley delivered the donations in person, and we will wager hundred there was not a happier or more grateful person in Denison than Mrs. Eaton. This is what we term Christianity, pure and undefiled. "The Lord loves a cheerful giver."

Jesse Eaton was born February 6, 1827 in Palestine, Crawford Co., Illinois, the son of Richard Eaton and Mary Polly Robertson. The Eatons moved to Texas in 1833 along with one of Daniel Parker's Pilgrim Church caravans. Richard Eaton and one of his brothers, Stephen, had property in Robertson and LImestone counties. Jesse served in James S. Sutton's Company, 1847 - 1848 from Springfield, Texas.
He married Elizabeth J. Huffman in 1849 in Anderson Co., Texas; they lived in the Waco area for several years but were listed as living in Precinct 1, Grayson Co., Texas in 1870. Jesse and Elizabeth had nine children, two of whom died in 1864. Their children were:
William H., 1852 - 1864
Mary O., 1853 - 1906
Malinda Caroline, 1857 - ca1933
Martha J. 1859 - 1864
John Daniel, 1861 - 1942
Thomas Jefferson, 1863 - 1929
Laura Elizabeth, 1865 - 1907
Adeline, 1869 - 1930
Emeline, 1869 - 1983

In 1878 Elizabeth J. Eaton married widower Joel D. Hoy in Lampasas. Some of the children grew to adulthood and raised families in Texas while some moved to Oklahoma. - - - great-great-grandaughter Bonnie McDonald.