Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Stanton, Erastus Hamilton 1886
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Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net August 10, 2012, 10:59 pm

The Ionia Standard, Friday, May 14, 1886

The old saying that death loves a shining mark was once more proven true on 
Saturday, when Hon. E. H. Stanton of this city breathed his last.  Mr. Stanton 
was taken sick while at St. Louis, Mich., on business and was brought home and 
in a week was dead.  His death was not unexpected as a fatal termination of 
his illness was feared for several days before the end came.  He was seventy 
years old last November.

Erastus H. Stanton was born at Durham, Greene county, N.Y., Nov. 13, 1816.  
His grandfather removed from Connecticut to New York in 1790.  The family is 
of Welsh descent.  His mother was a daughter of Henry Niles a descendent from 
a scotch family belonging to the sect of quakers or friends.  Mr. Stanton was 
educated in the common schools and academy of his native town.  An early 
developed taste for reading was gratified by access to a circulating library.  
At the age of sixteen he was placed at his own request with a mercantile firm 
at Renssalaerville, Albany county, where he acquired a knowledge of the 
business.  He began business for himself in 1837 at Greenville, Green county, 
where he remained twelve years.  Here he was married Sept. 2, 1940, to Miss 
Mary Sanford, who survives him.  Owing to the ill health of Mrs. Stanton he 
removed to Illinois, purchasing a farm…(illegible)….only a mile from the 
Wisconsin line.  He remained there engaged in farming, banking and mercantile 
pursuits until 1867 when he came to Ionia and again embarked in mercantile 
pursuits, in which he remained until he began lumbering pursuits, at 
Sheridan.  This business occupied his time and personal attention until within 
the past three or four years, when he gave up the cares of active business 
life.

Mr. Stanton held a commission as quartermaster of state troops in New York for 
four years, beginning in 1838, under Gov. Marcy.  In 1861 when living in 
Illinois he was appointed as military aid to Gov. Gates.  In this city he was 
one of the most prominent promoters of the Ionia & Stanton railroad, a project 
which has done much for this city, and was treasurer of the company until it 
was sold to the Ionia & Lansing road.

Mr. Stanton was a Republican in politics.  He was elected Mayor in 1879 and 
again in 1880, his competitors being James M. Kidd and A. F. Bell, and in 1880 
he was elected state senator from this district. He declined a renomination 
but became a candidate for state treasurer but was defeated by the Detroit 
wing, or ring, of the party.  There was no doubt but Mr. Stanton felt deeply 
hurt at this result, as it was brought about largely by men on whom he had 
reason to believe he could depend for support.  But he was not the kind of a 
man who was wanted by the banks to control the big treasury surplus and he had 
to stand aside.  He has not taken any very active part in politics since, 
though he was somewhat talked of as a possible candidate for congress from 
this district at the next election.

As a man and a citizen, no man stood higher than Mr. Stanton.  He was 
honorable, honest and upright in all his dealings, courteous in his bearing 
towards all and kindly in his social relations.  He was independent in his 
opinions, and though voting with the Republican party, he was a free trader in 
principle and had no sympathy with the doctrine of protection.  Our city is 
largely indebted to him for our splendid system of water works for they were 
secured chiefly through his untiring efforts.

The funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon from the Episcopal church, services 
being conducted by Bishop Gillespie.  The remains were interred at Oak Hill 
cemetery, the pall bearers being H. Rich, J. L. Taylor, L. B. Townsend, Geo. 
W. Webber, A. J. Webber and W. C. Page.  The stores were generally closed 
during the funeral.


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