Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Haskins, William C 
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Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

WILLIAM C. HASKINS.

One of the most venerable and worthy citizens of Good Farm township is William 
Cunningham Haskins, who was born April 26, 1818, in Delaware county, Ohio, the 
son of Jeremiah and Mary (Butler) Haskins. The father was the son of Thomas 
and Elizabeth Haskins and the family is of sterling English Puritan stock. The 
original American ancestors located on Martha's Vineyard, on the Massachusetts 
coast, and at a later day settled in the Berkshire hills in the Bay state. 
Thomas Haskins, the grandfather of our subject, was a farmer in Hampshire 
county, Massachusetts. They had three children: Elizabeth, Hannah and Thomas. 
His entire life was spent in the Bay state, where he died when about fifty 
years of age. He had a brother who served in the Revolutionary war and was 
shot in the forehead in a battle near Boston, his death resulting instantly.

Jeremiah Haskins, the father of our subject, was born in Hampshire county, 
Massachusetts, on the 16th of December, 1792, and when a young man he 
emigrated westward to Dayton, Ohio, the state being then on the wild western 
frontier. At the time of the second war with England he entered the service, 
loyally defending his country in that struggle. He was one of the army 
surrounded by General Hall at Detroit, and in Delaware county, Ohio, he 
married Miss Mary Butler, who was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, May 
26, 1793, a daughter of Jethro and Rebecca (Dunham) Butler. Jethro Butler was 
of English Puritan descent and was born in Massachusetts. In early life he 
went to sea, sailing on a number of whaling voyages to the polar regions. In 
later life he became a prosperous farmer in Berkshire county, Massachusetts. 
He lived to a venerable age, dying on the old homestead where his wife also 
spent her last days. Their children were Jethro, Daniel, David, Cornelius, 
Levi, George, Mary, Sarah, Lydia, Persis, Rebecca, Ruth and Lucinda. After his 
marriage, Jeremiah Haskins located on a farm in Delaware county, Ohio, 
becoming the owner of two hundred and seventy-one acres of land, nearly all of 
which he bought for three dollars per acre at a very early period in the 
development of the county. He prospered in his undertakings and was the 
possessor of a comfortable competence at the time of his death, which occurred 
December 6, 1869, when he had passed the eightieth milestone on life's 
journey. He was a member of the Baptist church, a devout Christian gentleman, 
and for more than thirty years served as a deacon. His early political support 
was given to the Whig party and later he became a stanch Republican. For ten 
years he held the office of justice of the peace. His life was honorable, 
upright and industrious and he was a pioneer of sterling worth and integrity. 
His children were James, Butler and William C.

The last named obtained a good common-school education for that day, was 
reared to farm life and when about twenty-three years of age, in Delaware 
county, on the 3d of December, 1840, was married to Miss Martha W. Eaton, 
whose birth occurred December 6, 1823. Her parents were David and Mary 
(Roloson) Eaton. Her father was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, 
November 4, 1798, and was a son of Joseph and Bathsheba (Sackett) Eaton, the 
former a son of David and a grandson of John Eaton. The last named was a son 
of Joseph Eaton, and his father, who also bore the name of John Eaton, was the 
founder of the family in America, coming to this country from Wales in 1686 
and settling in Pennsylvania. Joseph Eaton became one of the pioneers of 
Delaware county, Ohio, where he located in 1805, when a young man. Here he 
cleared and developed a fine farm and from time to time extended its 
boundaries by .additional purchases until he was the owner of twelve hundred 
acres. He became both a wealthy and prominent citizen of his community and 
gave to each of his sons a farm. In the Baptist church he held membership and 
filled the office of deacon. He was the first man elected to the position of 
surveyor of Delaware county, was three times a member of the state legislature 
and for many years was a justice of the peace. His ability well qualified him 
for positions of prominence and he was a recognized leader in the thought and 
action concerning the welfare of his state and county, being a thorough 
student of economics and public questions. He died in 1825, at the age of 
fifty-two years, and his community lost one of its most prominent 
representatives. His children were: Isaac, James, George, David, Joseph, Ruth, 
Mary, Martha and Annie. Three of the sons of Joseph Eaton were ministers of 
the Baptist church, Isaac, George and Joseph. The first named was also a 
farmer of Iowa and had six sons in the civil war. George was for a time 
president of Hamilton College, in New York, and went to the Holy Land, 
visiting Jerusalem in the interest of his church. Joseph was president of the 
College at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and was also an editor.

David Eaton, the father of Mrs. Haskins, spent a portion of his boyhood in 
Pennsylvania, and in 1805 went with his parents to the Buckeye state. He 
wedded Mary Roloson, who was born in Wantage township, Sussex county, New 
Jersey, January 16, 1800, a daughter of John and Lydia (Van Sickle) Roloson. 
Her father was a cooper by trade, and, on removing to Ohio, located in 
Pickaway county, whence he went to Delaware county, where he developed a farm 
of one hundred acres, making his home there until his death, which occurred 
after he had reached the advanced age of over one hundred years. His children 
were Jacob and Joseph, twins; Levi; Joel; Mary; Eliza and Irene. After their 
marriage David Eaton and his wife located on a farm of one hundred and ten 
acres, much of which he placed under a high state of cultivation, transforming 
it into a valuable tract of land, whereon he remained until his death, which 
occurred at the comparatively early age of thirty-seven years. He was a member 
of the Baptist church and was a good citizen. He had but two children,—Martha 
W. and Eliza J. Thus it will be seen that the present generation of the 
Haskins family are descended from honored colonial families, largely of 
Puritan origin. Several representatives of the name were patriots of the 
Revolutionary war and others left the impress of their individuality upon many 
of the events affecting the welfare of the state and nation.

Mr. and Mrs. Haskins began their domestic life in Delaware county, on a farm 
of one hundred and seventy-six acres, of which eighty acres had been placed 
under the plow. He cleared thirty acres of the remainder, erected a residence 
and otherwise improved the farm, making it a valuable property. He there 
resided from 1840 until 1865, when he came to Illinois, taking up his abode 
near Gardner, Grundy county. For a number of years he carried on agricultural 
pursuits in that locality, and in 1879 purchased his present property, 
consisting of eighty acres of valuable land, all of which was broken, with the 
exception of a ten-acre tract. William Haskins, assisted by his son Jeremiah, 
greatly improved the farm and erected commodious and substantial buildings, 
and now he has one of the most desirable and attractive places in this section 
of the state.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. William Haskins are Jeremiah Eaton, who was born 
October 11, 1841, and Eliza Jane, born November 13, 1848. Mrs. Haskins and her 
daughter are members of the Baptist church, with which denomination she has 
been identified since 1843. Mr. Haskins is not a communicant, but contributes 
liberally to the support of the church and takes an active interest in its 
work.

In politics he is a stanch Republican. His first presidential vote was cast 
for William Henry Harrison in the famous log-cabin and hard-cider campaign. He 
also voted for John Charles Fremont, the first Republican candidate for the 
presidency, and for the immortal Lincoln. His allegiance to the party has been 
unwavering since its organization, and he has done all in his power to promote 
its growth and secure its success. In 1888 he served as the assessor of the 
township, and has been a member of the school board. He has always sustained a 
high reputation as a moral and temperate man, whose integrity is above 
question and whose upright life is well worthy of emulation. 
Jeremiah E. Haskins, his son, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, October 11, 
1841, and acquired a good common-school education. Throughout his business 
career he has carried on agricultural pursuits. Since 1865 he has been 
identified with the farming interests of Illinois, having come to this state 
with his parents. He was married December 27, 1897, in Morris, Illinois, to 
Mary Ellen Lewis, who was born on the 1st of August, 1877, in England, a 
daughter of Richard and Winifred (Williams) Lewis. Her father came to America 
in 1878 and engaged in mining in Braidwood. He then settled near Braceville, 
Ohio, on a farm, where he is yet living. His children are Mary E., Jane Ann 
and Matthew. In politics Mr. Lewis is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Haskins have 
one child, Martha A., who was born February 17, 1899. Jeremiah Haskins is a 
substantial farmer, who carefully conducts his business affairs and has thus 
become the possessor of a valuable property. He holds membership in the 
Baptist church, is serving as one of its trustees, and in politics is a 
Republican.

Eliza Jane Haskins, the daughter of William C. Haskins, was married April 24, 
1866, to Thomas H. Glover, who is a merchant of Joplin, Missouri. Their 
children are Claud T., Florence E., Cora J., Edna Pearl and Boyd H.


Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p608-611

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