Note: The headstone reads that Mr. Casey passed away in 1897. However, an obituary was found from the Lake County Independent March 11, 1898.


Edward Stearns Eckerson Casey

Death came suddenly to the above named in the Union Depot at Chicago last Monday night, March 7, while about to board the train for Libertyville. Without warning he was stricken down with paralysis and died in a short time. The remains were brought to Libertyville Tuesday evening and interred in the Lakeside cemetery Thursday afternoon. Services were held in the Union church, Rev. G. D. Heuver officiating. Mr. Heuver’s text was “I go unto my Father,” and he said in part: It is at a Christian’s funeral I officiate today. Mr. Casey had his failings; who has not? That it was the dominant purpose of his life to do the Father’s will I am sure no person here present will dare to doubt. He was born in the village of Lanesborough, Mass. November 20, 1823. From this place the family moved to Fowlerville, N. Y. in 1826, where the deceased at the age of sixteen years identified himself with the Congregational church. October 3, 1854 it was his privilege to marry Miss Deborah Peterson and for many years they traveled life’s pathway together. Their union was blessed with a family of five children, one of whom died at an early age. Immediately after their marriage they settled at Adrain, Mich. Here they resided until 1864 and it was here that their children were born. Mr. Casey descended from one of the oldest families in the United States. The first Casey moved from England to Newport, R. I., as early as 1658 and in all the significant events that transpired on our soil some member of the family participated. It was distinctly a military family, one of its most distinguished members being a cousin of the deceased, General Thos. Casey, whom President Carnot of the French Republic made an officer of the Legion of Honor. In the fall of 1864 Mr. Casey and his family moved to his late residence two miles north of Libertyville, where they have since made their home. In the death of Mr. Casey the community lose an honored and respected citizen and the church a firm and benevolent supporter.