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 ZEKIEL EASTON, a carpenter by trade, is
the owner of a fine estate containing about
seventy-seven acres, located on section 18,
Hutton Township, where he resides. He was born
April 6, 1831. in Clark County, Ill., and is the son
of Daniel and Mary (York) Easton. His paternal
grandparents, Richard and Betsy Easton, were natives of Kentucky. Richard Easton was a successful farmer in his native State, and when about sixty
years of age removed to Clark County, Ill., where
he rented land, and after remaining a few years removed to Pleasant Grove Township, this county,
where his wife died. Mr. Easton subsequently
married Miss Celia Waltrip, and his death took
place about six years after his second marriage.
A family of eleven children was born by the first
marriage Jackson, Delia, Daniel, Zachariah, Nancy,
Washington, Wesley, Betsy, Harmon, Silas and
Arena. All married but Silas, and all are deceased
with the exception of Harmon and Wesley. Daniel Easton was born in Kentucky in 1807, and received a common-school education, living on the old homestead with his parents and assisting in the farm labor until his marriage with Miss Mary York. Soon after that event he left his native State and came to Crawford County, Ill., where he was engaged in farming on rented land for about six years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Clark County, and after remaining a few years, came in 1833 to Coles County and made his permanent home in Hutton Township. He bravely encountered the difficulties of pioneer life, and made a home in the wilderness for himself and his family. His death occurred at the homestead in March, 1882, at the age of seventy-five years. His widow is still living, and makes her home with her son Stephen, in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Easton were highly esteemed mem- bers of the Christian Church. They had a family of twelve children, whose record is as follows: William died at the age of twenty-six; Betsey Jane, deceased, was the wife of George Wilson, and left eight children; Isaac N. married Miss Julia Tucker; his wife died leaving five children. Ezekiel is the subject of this sketch; James O. married Miss Lucy Darling, and died leaving six children; Archie married Miss Mary Turner, and is the father of two children; Harriet is the wife of A. Winternute; Mary A. died at the age of twenty- one; John S. married Miss Rissa Johnson; Stephen resides near Stockton, with his mother; Charles married Miss Emma Pansier, and resides in Dan- ville, Ill.; Marion A. married Miss Rebecca A. Rounds. Ezekiel Easton was brought up in the early pioneer days of this county, and his education was necessarily very limited. During his boyhood he resided on the homestead and learned the carpenter’s trade, in which he has been occupied throughout the greater part of his life. In 1872 he purchased his farm as a pleasant home residence, and his sons have charge of the place, and do most of the work. His marriage to Miss Rebecca J. Orchard took place July 12, 1853. Mrs. Easton was born Jan. 3, 1834, in Hutton Township, this county, and is the daughter of William and Jane (Richardson) Orchard. Her -parents were natives of Kentucky, and removing to Illinois, were among the early settlers of Coles County. Her father was born July 26, 1801, in Kentucky, and died Dec. 4, 1870, at his home in this county. His widow, who survived him several years, was born March 31, 1804, and died Oct. 18, 1879. Mrs. Easton’s grandfather, Alexander Orchard, was a Baptist minister and had charge of a church in Madison County for forty years. His wife was Miss Sally Owens, and they had a family of five children William, Levi, James, Nancy and Josie. None of the family are now living. James served in the Mexican War; William married Jane Richardson, and a family of five children was born to them: Mary A. was the wife of Samuel Smith, and both died leaving two children; Sally, the wife of David Martin; Fannie Ann, the wife of C. R. Martin; Rebecca J., and Nancy J., who died at the age of seventeen. Mr. and Mrs. Orchard were both members of the Christian Church and endeavored to instill into the minds of their children, the pure and holy principles of that faith. Mr. and Mrs. Easton had a family of seven chil- dren, as follows: Melissa E., born May 14, 1854, was married, Jan. 27, 1876, to William Tippy; William R., born Sept. 8, 1861, married Miss Sally Neese, and his wife died, leaving one child, Mary; Rosetta, born May 14, 1866; James C., Nov. 14, 1869; Charles O., Sept. 1, 1876; Elder, June 11, 1879, and one who died in infancy. After his marriage Mr Easton was successfully engaged at his trade, in which he is still occupied. With his wife, he is a member of the Baptist Church, and in politics belongs to the Democratic party, having cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor. |
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