Joseph Howe Eaton and Mary Adelia Eaton (parents of Cyrus Eaton)
Joseph Howe Eaton was the third of ten children of Stephen Eaton and Mary Desiah (Parker) Eaton, and the older brother of Charles Aubrey Eaton, who was nineteen years younger. Joseph was born on March 26, 1846 or 1849 in Pugwash, Cumberland County. He married Mary Adelia MacPherson on February 11, 1871, when he was 25 and she was 21. Mary Adelia, daughter of John Wesley MacPherson and Phebe (Ackerly) MacPherson. Joseph Howe was a prosperous man who diversified his talents, working as a farmer, the proprietor of a general store, the poster master of the town, and landowner of timber in Nova Scotia and western provinces. They moved from Pugwash River to Pugwash Junction. His son, Cyrus, was trusted to sell goods in the General Store and run the cash register, manage the post office where he voraciously read all the newspapers, and help with the farm, caring for cattle and driving the wagon to get the grains ground at the mill.
Joseph Howe and Mary Adelia were married on February 11, 1871. They had nine children between 1887 and 1895. Tragically, their first four children died at very early ages. Parker (Dec 27 to Feb 15, 1877) lived five years, Gertrude (Gertie) May, born on June 16, 1873, died a week after Parker when she 3 ½. Frank was born on April 2, 1877 and died March 1, 1880, as a three-year-old. John Wilber, born on March 19, also succumbed to diphtheria on September, 1889, while his younger brother Cyrus hovered outside the house peering into the window but not allowed to be near his contagious brother. After Cyrus was born on December 28, 1883, weeks after his grandfather Stephen died, three more daughters and a son were born: Eva Ruth Eaton (Webb), Florence Ada Eaton (Brenciaglia), Alice Gertrude (Woodworth), and finally Joseph Wilfred Eaton. Joseph Howe Eaton is buried in the Northfield, Ohio Macedonian Cemetary in a family plot.
Mary Adelia was a devout Baptist and encouraged her son, Cyrus, to follow his Uncle Charles Aubrey’s footsteps into the ministry. Both Mary Adelia and Joseph Howe were strong advocates of education, and Mary Adelia reinforced Margaret King’s teaching and encouragement to read literature, history, philosophy, and religion. The children helped with chores from an early age, were trusted with responsibility, and expected to help. Their children all had strong educations. Joseph Howe was known for being an able businessman and for caring for the welfare of the people in his community. “His home for many years was maintained with elegance and with the most unbounded hospitality.” The Eatons of Pugwash were influential in Cumberland Country. Joseph Howe moved to Toronto, Ontario later in his life, often visited his son Cyrus in Northfield, Ohio. Mary Adelia died on August 29, 1922.
Joseph Howe and Mary Adelia were married on February 11, 1871. They had nine children between 1887 and 1895. Tragically, their first four children died at very early ages. Parker (Dec 27 to Feb 15, 1877) lived five years, Gertrude (Gertie) May, born on June 16, 1873, died a week after Parker when she 3 ½. Frank was born on April 2, 1877 and died March 1, 1880, as a three-year-old. John Wilber, born on March 19, also succumbed to diphtheria on September, 1889, while his younger brother Cyrus hovered outside the house peering into the window but not allowed to be near his contagious brother. After Cyrus was born on December 28, 1883, weeks after his grandfather Stephen died, three more daughters and a son were born: Eva Ruth Eaton (Webb), Florence Ada Eaton (Brenciaglia), Alice Gertrude (Woodworth), and finally Joseph Wilfred Eaton. Joseph Howe Eaton is buried in the Northfield, Ohio Macedonian Cemetary in a family plot.
Mary Adelia was a devout Baptist and encouraged her son, Cyrus, to follow his Uncle Charles Aubrey’s footsteps into the ministry. Both Mary Adelia and Joseph Howe were strong advocates of education, and Mary Adelia reinforced Margaret King’s teaching and encouragement to read literature, history, philosophy, and religion. The children helped with chores from an early age, were trusted with responsibility, and expected to help. Their children all had strong educations. Joseph Howe was known for being an able businessman and for caring for the welfare of the people in his community. “His home for many years was maintained with elegance and with the most unbounded hospitality.” The Eatons of Pugwash were influential in Cumberland Country. Joseph Howe moved to Toronto, Ontario later in his life, often visited his son Cyrus in Northfield, Ohio. Mary Adelia died on August 29, 1922.