J. Murray Eaton, Supervisor of Garden Plain Township, was born Oct. 31, 1835, in Willett, Cortland Co., N. Y. John Eaton, his father, was born Sept. 9, 1785, in Albany Co., N. Y. and was married in 1825, to Lucy (Lee) Dains. She was born Dec. 7, 1795, in Oxford, Chenango Co., N. Y. They went to Cherry Valley, and later to Willett, where they were pioneers. The senior Eaton had bought a military claim and took possession of the land, which was covered with heavy timber. he improved a large farm and occupied it until 1836.

The Eaton family descended from John Eaton, who settled in 1635in Deham, Mass., and who came from England. The mother's ancestral decent came from the Bunker's, whose name is perpetuated by Bunker Hill.

In 1836 John Eaton removed his family to Illinois, traveling with teams, and reaching his destination in six weeks. They settled on a claim at Elkhorn Grove, in Carroll County. Mr. Eaton built the first frame house at the Grove, and it was the first between Chicago and the Mississippi River.  He improved a farm, of which he was the occupant until 1854. In that year he sold it and removed to Ustick Township. He died in 1868. He was married first to Lydia Preston, about the year 1806, and their children were ten in number. From the second marriage there were four children, and of the whole number, 14, there are 12 survivors. The second wife is still living.

Mr. Eaton was one year old the day his parents reached Elkhorn Grove, and he was brought up at home, accompanying them to Ustick Township in 1854. In 1864, associated with his brother, he bought 240 acres of land on sections 23 and 26 of Garden Plain Township. They continued their joint ownership and relations a few years, when they made a division; and Mr. Eaton is the owner of 170 acres on section 23, where he has placed his estate in excellent condition for prosperous farming.

He was married Oct. 26, 1869, at Lowell, Mass., to Emma Green. She was born in Greensborough, Vt., June 16, 1834, and was educated in Lowell. She was for a half-score o of years a teacher in the schools of Illinois.

Mr. Eaton has served as Supervisor of Garden Plain Township nine years. He has also filled the position of Town Clerk and held other offices of trust.