NEWTON, Mary Sophia nee CHURCH
Mrs. Eben Newton – – married 2 May 1826 in Canfield, Trumbull (now Mahoning) Co. OH
Daughter of Ensign and Jerusha Wright Church
B. 20 Feb 1807 in Canfield, Trumbull (now Mahoning) Co. OH
D. 19 Nov 1887 in Madison, Dane Co. WI at 80y 8m 27d
Burial – 23 Nov 1887 in Canfield Village Cemetery Section E Row 2, Canfield, Mahoning Co. OH

Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 2 Dec 1887
"Death of Mrs. Mary S. Newton"
"The death of Mrs. Mary S. Newton, in Madison, Wis., on Nov. 19, 1887, has cast a gloom of sorrow over our entire community. Mrs. Newton was the daughter of Ensign and Jerusha Church. She was born in Canfield, Feb. 20, 1807. She was married to Hon. Eben Newton in May, 1826. They lived most happily together in the well known family mansion in Canfield for nearly 60 years. Her only own sister died young. Mrs. Newton's mother was, after the death of her first husband, married to Eli T. Boughton of Canfield. The children of the later marriage were Charles Boughton, Horace Boughton, (who died in the South about 1842), Charlotte, now Mrs. Buckland, of Fremont, O., and Jerusha, wife of Dr. Stilwell, also of Fremont. These were always regarded with deep affection as members of the same household and family. Mrs. Newton was the mother of four children, all of whom are living. These are Mrs. Lois O. Mears, of Madison, Wis.; Mrs. Thalia Brown and Mrs. Hannah K. Van Hyning, both residing in Canfield, and Ensign Newton, of New York.
Mrs. Newton was a woman of rare excellence of character. She possessed superior natural endowments and a good education. These advantages, added to a constant sprightliness of disposition, kindness of heart and wide knowledge of the world, made her a most agreeable companion and friend. She accompanied Judge Newton to Europe in 1851, and traveled extensively through various parts of our own country. She made a trip to California in company with her husband a few weeks before his death. Mrs. Newton was a consistent and active member of the Presbyterian Church in Canfield for more than 45 years. Her heart, hand and purse, were ever ready for every good work. Hundreds bless her memory; and while Earth mourns, Heaven rejoices over a Saint who rests from her labors and whose works do follow her.
D."

Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 25 Nov 1887
"Mrs. Mary Newton, widow of the late Judge Eben Newton, died at the home of her daughter in Madison, Wis., on Saturday last, aged 81 years. She leaves a son and three daughters, E. C. Newton of New York, Mrs. Mears of Madison, and Mrs. Richard Brown, and Mrs. Hannah VanHyning of Canfield. The remains were brought here on Tuesday. Funeral services held in the Presbyterian Church Wednesday afternoon were largely attended. The interment was made in the village cemetery."

NEWTON, Eben (Judge)
Husband of Mary Sophia nee CHURCH – m. 2 May 1826 in Canfield, Trumbull (now Mahoning) Co. OH
Son of Isaac and Rebecca Minot Newton
B. 16 Oct 1795 in Goshen, Litchfield Co. CT
D. 6 Nov 1885 in Canfield, Mahoning Co. OH at 90y 21d
Burial – Nov 1885 in Canfield Village Cemetery Section E Row 2, Canfield, Mahoning Co. OH
Find A Grave Memorial # 6853320

Judge Eben Newton
Funeral Oration Delivered by Dr. Wm Dickson
"Know ye and that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?-1st Sam. 3:38.
This is King David's language relative to the death of Abner, commander-in-chief of the armies of Israel. I know of no words more appropriately descriptive of the dead in our presence to-day. Eben Newton was born in Goshen, Connecticut, Oct. 16, 1795. His grandfather, a large landholder of Goshen had three sons, Enoch, Samuel and Isaac. On the decease of Mr. Newton, the homestead was inherited by the son Isaac, the father of Judge Newton. His mother's name was Minot. She was nearly related to the Sherman family of Connecticut. Mr. Newton's family consisted of his children, five sons and five daughters. The father of Judge Newton was for many years an invalid and died in 1812. Having suffered serious financial embarrassment during his long illness, Mr. Newton left his family to somewhat reduced circumstances. The whole burden of the education of the family fell upon the mother, who nobly discharged her difficult duty. Mrs. Newton occupied a small farm of about 50 acres. All the children were actively engaged in various ways in accruing a livelihood; and while some of the family died young, others retrieved their fortunes, and finally became wealthy. Isaac, the oldest brother, engaged excessively in farming. Eben was employed as a boy in various ways by this brother, running on errands, carrying food and water to the men at work in the fields and such other work as a child could do. As soon as he was old enough, his mother struggled hard to secure the means to send him to school, but his school work was consistently interrupted, as it often happened that he could spend no more than two or three days of each week at school. Progress in study could and be very satisfactory under such circumstances, and Mr. Newton says in his autobiographical sketch that, although popular with the teachers and pupils, he was generally at the foot of the class. The men employed on his brother's farm were usually rough and uncultivated. Although he consistently mingled with them, he never contracted any of their bad habits. By the time he was 10 or 12 years old his brother frequently sent on business errands, sometimes 50 or 60 miles from home. He was very fond of traveling and greatly enjoyed these trips. There can be no doubt that the keen business habits thus early acquired had much to do with his future successful career. He says that even at that early period he formed the resolution that if ever able he would cross the ocean. When off on these business trips he sometimes, if time permitted attended the sessions of Court at Litchfield and took great delight in learning the legal acumen and forensic eloquence of such eminent lawyers as Truman Smith, Jabex Huntington and Phineas Miner. It is more than probable that his future success as a lawyer is to be attributed in some measure to the inspiring example of such eminent men. Mr. Newton as a school boy was not very fond of play or games of any kind, but was very observant of all that was said and done. In 1812 his brother James fitted him out and sent him to Sharon for a term of three months at the Academy conducted by Mr. Parker. He was not far enough advanced to the common branches to make the farm very profitable to him. In the spring of the following year he was employed by Mr. Beach of Goshen, for 6 to 8 months, at $8 a month. Mr. Newton describes him as being a very kind and good man. While in his employ he diligently used all his earnings and spare moments in study. He engaged a school for the following winter and taught some time before being examined. When the examination took place he failed. The school authorities offered to continue him in the school, notwithstanding the failure, but he declined, secured another school, soon sustained a satisfactory examination and taught a term in the entire satisfaction of all parties. He had a number of advanced scholars in the school and found it necessary to study hard in order to do the work satisfactorily. He had made some money and dutifully gave a share of it to his mother, reserving just enough of it to bear his expenses to Ohio, whither he had already determined to remove. He engaged passage with a man named Humphrey, who was going to Ohio with a load of axes. They came by the way of Buffalo, and reached that town just after it had been burned by the British. Waiting for the disappearance of the ice in the lake they secured a boat which proved to be leaky and un-use-worthy, and after many delays and much danger, they reached Conneaut in 1814. From Conneaut Mr. Newton walked to Hudson, a distance of 50 miles, in one day. When he arrived he had less than $1 left. His sister Eunice, who had resided for some time at Hudson, had died 2 or 3 months before his arrival. His brother James had removed to Hudson some time before and engaged him a part of the time in the store, but not being needed all the time, he did what ever odd jobs he could secure. During the next winter he taught school for 4 or 5 months, still economizing time by diligent study in the evenings. He shared his still slender means with his youngest sister, who had lately married in Hudson; and he secured the same school for the following winter. His brother James having removed to Charleston, Mr. Newton soon followed and was employed part of the time on the farm. Soon after he purchased a tract of land lying about midway between Charleston and Ravenna, and while teaching school during the following winter, spent Saturdays and whatever other spare time he could command, in chopping on his farm. Having spent the following summer as before, in the employment of his brother, he secured a school for the winter of 1817, in Newton Falls, and one year afterwards he taught in Ravenna, then a small village; and about a year afterwards he taught in Leavittsburg. He had in the meantime paid for his claim and cleared a considerable part of it. In the spring of 1820 Mr. Newton began to study the law, having had this profession before his mind since boyhood. His plan was opposed by friends and even ridiculed as chimerical by some, but he pressed resolutely on. He entered the office of Mr. Lyman, a lawyer of Ravenna, but after a while, to quote his own words, "I was too awkward and knew so little about books, that I stopped for awhile." Mr. Newton had not heard from his mother for five years, and about the time now mentioned he determined to return to Connecticut and bring her to Ohio. The little farm had been sold for a few hundred dollars. Mrs. Newton had gone to Woodbury to live with her half sister and when her son arrived – such were the changes which time had wrought-she failed to recognize him. When informed of his place she willingly acquiesced. He bought a cheap second-hand wagon and a cheap horse; covered the wagon in primitive style, packed such of the household goods as could be carried along and set out. The journey was long, difficult and laborious, but safely made. The determined and ambitious young man resumed the study of law in the office of Mr. Lyman at Ravenna. What a picture of industry and perseverance we have bore. Still obliged to teach in order to sustain himself; for months, after the arduous duties of each day he was accustomed to burn the midnight lamp in the study of his profession, and went weekly to Ravenna to recite. Two successive terms he spent at Shalersville, in the way now indicated. For two years he plodded on, then sold his farm and returned to Connecticut and spent six months in the office of Mr. North. On his way back in the autumn of the same year, he stopped at Pittsburgh, and was on the point of setting out to locate in one of the Southern States; but, admonished by a limited purse he changed his plans and went to Richfield where he secured a school, still prosecuting his legal studies as time permitted. He returned to Ravenna in the early spring and entered the law office of Jonathan Sloan. Mr. Sloan was a gentleman of genial habits and treated Mr. Newton kindly. He was a bachelor, fond of company and good living. Another student a Mr. Tracy, was in the office at the same time. He was a man of good family, lately from Connecticut. All kinds of the best liquors, in accordance with the fashions of the time, were kept in the office and the students were told to help themselves freely. Often a gay company of lawyers assembled and held high carnival. In the midst of all these temperance Mr. Newton preserved strictly temperance habits, and in relating the fact, he adds that nearly all these gay but talented and brilliant young men came to a premature death. He was now master of his profession and success soon crowned his well directed labor. About the time now mentioned Mr. Sloan and Mr. Whittlesey were in consultation in relation to the proper form of bringing an action against a man by the name of Lathrop, who had improperly, they claimed, ordered a levy upon goods. When they had agreed upon what they regarded as the proper form, Mr. Newton, who was on terms of perfect intimacy with Mr. Sloan but almost a stranger to Mr. Whittlesey, suggested that in a certain volume of Durnford and East, and on such a page they would find a case directly in point. They changed their plan and brought suit in accordance with the authority, and gained their case. A few days afterwards he received a letter from Mr. Whittlesey, proposing a partnership on equal terms. In consequences of this proposal, he came to Canfield on the 4th of July following. Here he remained until August, at which time the sessions of the Supreme Court took place. He followed the Circuit for 15 years. The partnership continued about twenty years.
In 1835-'36 he was nominated for President Judge, but being absent in Washington Judge Humphreys was chosen by a majority of one. Mr. Newton was married on the 2nd of May, 1826. The bride was Miss Mary S. Church, and for almost sixty years they have lived together in the enjoyment of a measure of conjugal felicity saver excelled. Their family consists of one son and three daughters – Mr. Ensign Newton of Jersey City, Mrs. Lois Mears of Madison, Wis.; Mrs. Thalia Brown and Mrs. H. K. VanHyning, of Canfield. In 1841 Mr. Newton was elected State Senator, and in 1843, he was elected to Congress. He had for many years acted as counsel for Mr. Simeon Jennings, and on the occasion of the death of Mr. Jennings, was appointed as the administrator of his estate-a very large one. This business came into his hands when he was 70 years old. He was a man of great nerve and wonderful endurance. In 1844, Dr. Ackley, at Akron, removed a tumor of great size from his neck. He made several trips to Europe, the first in 1851, when he visited the World's Fair in London. Subsequently he visited several of the capitals of Europe, Rome, Venice, Naples and other celebrated European cities, and spent his 80th birthday in the city of Milan. He expressed the belief that he could travel around the world without a passport, and said not long since that if he were ten years younger, he would try it. A man who could make a round journey of perhaps 6,000 miles when 90 years of age, was not easily discouraged. He was a talented man. One of merely mediocre abilities could not do the work which he accomplished as a lawyer, a statesman and a man of business. He commanded a wide influence in our State and National assemblies. He was a man of great generosity and benevolence; he was the patron and friend of liberal education. Better than all, he was a good man. If his place was ever vacant at the prayer meeting, his pew vacant in church, his seat at the communion table, it was because increasing infirmities kept him away. "Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?"
Farewell, brother beloved, farewell. Sweet be thy sleep until the morning of the Resurrection shall bring thee to thy full reward. An aged partner mourns thy absence. Children, amid their tears, rise up and call thee blessed. We shall see thy form-once so busy and active-no more in these halls and these streets. Thy record is made, thy work done. Sleep sweetly, sleep. But may thy better part sleep not. Happy soul, angels great thee. Thou has gone to hold celestial converse with kindred spirits above. Sweet be thy rest in the bosom of Eternal Blessedness until thou shalt hear, before the great White Thrown, the welcome "Well done."

Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 4 Dec 1885
The Late Judge Eben Newton
"Meeting of the Mahoning Bar-Resolutions of Respect, &c
In response to a call for a meeting of the Mahoning county bar, to listen to the report of the committee appointed to draft resolutions of respect to the late Judge Newton, quite a number of members assembled in the court house at Youngstown, on the evening of Nov. 24th. General Sanderson called the meeting to order, after which Judge J. R. Johnston presented the report of this committee, with the following remarks:
Mr. President: - In presenting to this Association the result of the deliberations of your Committee, in the form of the resolutions which we have prepared, I desire to say, that in the death of Judge Newton, this Bar has lost a good lawyer, society a good citizen and the world a good man. At his death, at the ripe age of 90 years, he left behind him a record such as is seldom seen, a record marred by few vices and adorned by many virtues.
It was my good fortune to have known him and to have enjoyed his friendship for 20 years. During a portion of that time I occupied his office, and by reason of this, had an opportunity of becoming as intimate with him as the disparity of our ages would permit, and thus knowing him I cheerfully bear testimony to his uniform kindness and courtesy, not only towards myself but towards all with whom he came in contact. It was apparently a rule of his life to give offense to no one. This however, did not prevent his clinging with tensity to his views or vigorously opposing the views of others, when he thought they were wrong. In all matters, when once convinced he was right, he was positive and determined, yet always charitable enough to accord to others the right to their opinions no matter how adverse to his views such opinions might be. No matter in what position placed, his conduct was always pure, plain and unpretentious.
His life was simple;
In him the elements were so mixed
That nature could stand up
And say to all the world –
‘There was a man.'
My knowledge of him as a lawyer is so limited that I do not feel warranted in commenting upon his professional career. But from what I hear from those associated with him, I should say that he was not only a profound and able lawyer, but was an industrious and honest one. In fact his industry during his whole life was a distinguishing characteristic of the man. His diligence and industry enabled him to accomplish much more than others who were even more gifted than he, and in consequences of this, was always ready with his cases, and his honesty not only brought him large clientage but gave him a standing in the courts that it would have been impossible for him otherwise to have obtained. Nor was this last named trust confined to his professional career, but it governed his conduct in both public and private life. It was and is remarkable, that during his long and busy life, not even a breath of suspicion was ever aimed at his honesty of purpose or purity of life. His kindness toward young men was particularly noticeable, and there are many now busily engaged in the active duties of life who have been aided by his suggestions and advice, and often in a more substantial manner.
His gentlemanly deportment and courteous manner were particularly noticeable. He was truly a gentleman of the old school, with kind words emanating from a kind heart, he shed an aroma of pleasure wherever he went. No matter how much annoyed by circumstances or distressed by ill-health, he always preserved his cheerful demeanor and endeavored to make it pleasant for those by whom he was surrounded. No matter what were the circumstances or his condition.
He bore without abuse,
That grand old name of ‘gentlemen"
Take it all in all, his life was a successful one, and the community is the gainer thereby. "Take it all in all, we shall not soon look upon his like again." Let us then emulate his virtues, cherish his memory, and profit by the example he has so faithfully set.
I now submit, Mr. President, for such action as the Association may deem proper, the resolutions prepared by your Committee, in expression of their views, and trust that they may meet with approval:
Whereas, The Master Spirit of the Universe in His unsearching wisdom, has removed from our midst the Hon. Eben Newton, we, his professional brethren in the long, active and useful life just closed, recognize genius, talent and sagacity of the highest order. As a husband and father he was always amiable, kind, patient and forbearing, as a neighbor, affable, courteous, obliging, and exercised that friendship which always inspires confidence; as a citizen, honorable, upright, loyal, energetic, patriotic and public spirited; as a attorney he was admitted to the bar at Warren, O., in August, 1823, and soon formed a co-partnership with the Hon. E. Whittlesey, which business relation continued for the period of 20 years. Their business extended over the whole of the Western Reserve and into other parts of the State. During this period Mr. Whittlesey was for 15 years an honored member of Congress, and such was the energy, skill and ability of Mr. Newton, that the business of the firm did not materially suffer on account of the absence of its senior member.
Mr. Newton was a great friend of aspiring youth, and from the office of Whittlesey & Newton more than thirty persons were admitted to the bar. Among the most promising and highly honorable and successful were Hon. R. F. Wade, Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, Edward Wade and Ralph P. Buckland. Mr. Newton was ever true to his client, a reader of human nature, seldom if ever surpassed, severe, yet courteous in his treatment of witnesses. He presented such tact and shrewdness that he scarcely ever failed to detect falsehood, and establish the truth. – Dignified in addressing a court, and manly in his treatment of opposing counsel, shrewd in selecting jurors, able in discussion, eloquent in argument, and was gifted with untiring energy. As a jurist, learned, skillful, cautious and conscientious, possessed of such broad and liberal views of the law and men, that equity prevailed in his rulings, and righteous were his decrees.
In the fall of 1840 he was elected State Senator, and during his term of office was elected presiding Judge of the Third Judicial District, and filled this office with marked ability until 1846, when he resigned the Judgeship and returned to the practice of law.
As a legislator and statesman, an admirer of constitutional liberty, zealous in the cause he espoused, honest in his convictions, and true to his conscience, with pleasure and with pride we refer to his brilliant career in Congress-having been elected in 1850 - as an historical monument in his superiority and greatness in all places and under all circumstances, he was ever eminent, honest and faithful, so that the number of his true friends was the whole number of his acquaintances. He well deserved the title of honorable and honest man. In view of the many great and good qualities of his character, be it:
Resolved, That we ever cherish his memory and imitate his virtues.
Resolved, That we extend to his widow and children our fraternal sympathy in this the hour of their sadness and irreparable loss.
Resolved, That we pray the Honorable Judge of the Court of Commons Pleas of Mahoning county to order these memorial papers spread upon the journal of said Court.
Resolved, That the Clerk of the Court be requested to engross a copy herself and send the same, under seal of the Court, to the widow and family of the deceased."
J. R. Johnston I. A. Justice
H. H. Moses J. M. Edwards
R. F. Hoffman A. W. Jones
T. W. Sanderson

Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 13 Nov 1885
"Hon. Eben Newton"
"The Newtonian Library Society will hold memorial services touching the death of Hon. Eben Newton, their friend and patron, in Chapel Hall, on next Tuesday evening. All are cordially invited."