Elijah L. Barton (1812 - 1896)

Born 3 May 1812 in Cold Spring, Philipstown, Putnam, New York, United States

Husband of Harriett (Bassett) Barton — married 1833 in Lysander, Lysander, Onondaga, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 14 Jul 1896 at age 84 in Grundy Center, Grundy, Iowa, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Richard Barton [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Barton Name Study.

Birth and life in New York

Elijah was born on May 3, 1812, near Cold Springs, Putnam, New York.^[1]

He married Harriett Bassett in 1833, in Lysander, Lysander, Onondaga, New York.^[2][1]

1840 US Census has Elijah in Philipstown, Putnam, New York. We suspect that he was working as a boilermaker for the WEST POINT FOUNDRY. Likely, Harriett is one of the females in the list.^[3]

There is fascinating information about the "Boarding House" household where Elijah Barton appears in the 1840 census. Notes will be updated soon, If you want to read what we found, go to this link https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalhistoriclandmarks/upload/2020-September-West-Point-Foundry-Redacted-508-FINAL-FOR-SECRETARY_reduced-part01.pdf .

Read page 63, the next to last paragraph talks about the conversion of this house about 1840 to housing for foundry workers. This explains the proportion of men to women - 43 men, mostly 20-40 years old and four women, probably cooks and laundresses. I suspect the Elijah Barton (28), listed as HOH (how lucky is that) , is the older man in the household, but that's just a guess at this point.

1850 U.S. Census - Elijah by this time has married Harriet and this census has Elijah born about 1818 (wrong) (b. New York), and Harriett (b. New York) was in his household. They are living in Philipstown, Putnam, New York. ^[4] He is still employed as a boilermaker. As a side note: Harriets parents are listed in Illinois in the 1850 US Census.

From his obit, we know Elijah was active in the M. E. Church from 1820 on. It appears in 1855, he was a Class Leader in the Cold Springs Methodist Church. (In early Methodism, every member of a Methodist society was put under the care of a class leader — a more mature Christian who took responsibility for nurturing the spiritual development of a group of about 12 others, to translate their faith into disciplined Christian living.)^[5]

1855 New York Census lists Elijah and Harriett in Lysander, Onondaga, New York. This census lists his place of birth as Putnam County and Harriett's place of birth as Delaware County, New York. He is now a machinist.^[6]

1860-1865 It is likely the Elijah did not serve in the army during the Civil War. We believe he was exempt because he worked in the West Point Foundry making munitions for the war effort.

1864 By this time Elijah and Hattie have had 5 children and all died early. Son William Henry Barton is born in 1864 in Illinois.^[7]

Elijah must have done some land dealing. I have found 1869 records for purchase of 2 acres in Buffalo Township.^[8]

From 1865-1869 Elijah sold 7 parsals of land for $10-$300 dollars.^[9] Then in 1869,^[10] Elijah and Harriett sold 25 acres of land for $950, presumably so they could return to New York. Description - all the following described lot piece or parcel of land, situated in the Town of Buffalo, in the County of Ogle, in the State of Illinois, wit:

a part of the South East quarter of Section Twelve (12) Township twenty three (23) North Range Seven East H(?) P M. Commencing at the South-East corner thereof, thence North Fifty Four (54) Rods, West Eighty (80) Rods , South Fifty Four (54) Rods, East Sixteen (16) rods, North twenty (20) rods, East Sixteen (16) rods, South Sixteen (16) Rods, East Fourty Eighty (48) rods to the place of beginning, Containing Twenty Five acres.

Elijah Barton buys land in Olge, Illinois (June 1869) Deed Transfer.- https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37H-BHX2?view=fullText&keywords=Elijah%20Barton%2CIllinois&groupId=M9MD-RD1

1870 US Census has the family back in Philipstown, Putnam, New York and would calculate Elijah's birthdate at 1816, making Elijah 47 when William was born. He is again employed as a boilermaker.^[11] Elijah is listed as father of William H. Barton in family history.^[12]

The move west

Some time between the 1870 and 1880 federal censuses, the family moves back to Illinois. A number of Hattie's family members are living in the Polo, Illinois area. The West Point Foundry was having financial problems and it seems that men moved families and all to find work.

1880 US Census has William (16) in the household of Elijah. Son William was born later in life in Illinois. Elijah was a Head Laborer, and William is a farmer. All living in Eagle Point, Ogle, Illinois, United States. This record lists Elijah's parents as both born in New York.^[13]

1887 William's marriage record, dated January 16, 1887, names Elijah as father of William and Herriett as mother. She is still alive and would have seen him married.^[14]

1895 Iowa Census lists Elijah in Iowa living with son William and his wife Mary and three children in Grundy County, Iowa. They are listed as Protestant. William is a painter (likely house not artistic).^[15]

Elijah Barton died in 1896 at his son's home in Grundy County, Iowa. His obit reads:

Elijah Barton was born in Putman County, New York, near the town of Cold Springs, May 3rd, 1812, and died July 14th, 1896, aged 84 years 2 months 11 days. He was married to Hattie Bassett in the year 1833. There was six children born to them all of whom died In their infancy except one Wm. H.. with whom he has made his home since the death of his wife in 1888. Deceased has been a firm member of the M. E. church since the year 1826 and as long as health permitted was a faithful consistent member even in his last remaining years was regreting that he was not able to go to worship.^[1]

Records indicate that Elijah and Hattie Barton are buried in the Rev. Talmadge plot in the Reinbeck Cemetery, Reinbeck, Iowa (Blk C; Lot 27) (No marker). It is not known if Hattie was moved from Illinois up to Iowa. It is not known in which of the eight plots Elijah and/or Hattie are enturned. The cemetery is going to check into stones on that lot and maybe probe for "boxes".^[16][17]

Paster of the M E Church in Grundy Center Iowa at time of his death was Rev Bourland Davis Smith.^[18]

Research Notes

• With the help of Jean Atkinson Andrews, CG®, we are currently working to find more out about Elijah Barton. He is a brickwall profile in my surname line, and it is nice to have help. If you have additional information about him please leave a comment on this record and I will be sure to contact you.

Current work

• This might be the father our Elijah M. Barton. It has two small children under ten and two 45 year old parents. - "United States Census, 1810", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH25-3P5 : Fri Mar 08 16:17:32 UTC 2024), Entry for Elijah Barton, 1810.
• Find a Grave, database and images ( : accessed 25 January 2022), memorial page for Elijah Barton (6 Apr 1778–6 Feb 1850), Find A Grave: Memorial #24504954, citing Cold Spring Cemetery, Cold Spring, Putnam County, New York, USA ; Maintained by D. L. (Travis)(Corbett)(Maston)Black (contributor 47352945) .
• No new death date: (1/25/22) Iowa State Historical Society quarried about death date - Received response from Historical Society: "I checked Grundy County microfilm, Reel #1302945 - Grundy County Deaths Index, 1880-1897 - but, unfortunately, did not see Elijah Barton listed. Therefore, I surmise his death was not recorded."
• The 1820 US Census lists several Bartons in Putman. I think we already know these from the 1850 Census:^[19]

1. Elisha
2. John
3. Daniel
4. Jacob

• Notes for 9/20/2021 - Putnam County was created from Dutchess County in 1812. There were no subsequent setoffs or border changes. Delaware County was formed in 1797 and is in the central area of the state, a considerable distance from Putnam. Elijah and Harriet married at an unknown location but in 1850 were living in Putnam County. By 1855 they had moved to Onandoga, County. Putnam, Delaware, and Onondaga form a roughly northwest line of migration through central New York. It appears likely Elijah was moving for work. - Jean
• Notes for 10/25/21 - I worked on Elijah last week and plan to spend some more time on him this week. I think I have resolved, or at least have a credible explanation for William's birthplace which I now believe is Illinois. And oddly enough, the explanation is based on analyzing his mother Harriett's death record.

Consider this:

• • William’s mother Harriet’s 1888 death record in Ogle County, Illinois suggests a possible resolution to the birthplace conflict in favor of William being born in Illinois. Harriett’s 1888 death record gives her residence in Illinois as 27 years. This would place the family in Illinois about 1861, at the beginning of the Civil War. If the Barton's moved to Illinois about 1861 it supports the birth of son William in Illinois in 1864. The family may have gone back to Putnam County, New York sometime between 1864 and 1870, then returned to Illinois perhaps when work for Elijah became less stable as the West Point Foundry business began to decline. This temporary return to New York could explain the error of recording William’s birthplace as New York in this one census of 1870.
  • I am also of the mind now that the family went to Illinois because Harriett's father and various other family members were there in 1850 and 1860. And they also were in Onandoga County, NY in 1855 at the same time Cornelius Bassett was living with his son-in-law Alonzo.
  • It's apparent that some of the Barton moves were influenced by her family, but why they were moving around is something I have not investigated. - Jean

• In Nov 2022 through Jan 2023, Richard Barton assemebled (and continues to be updated) a large spreadsheet with all knownn Bartons in the Roger Barton's (the imigrant) lines in the colonies and America (1660 - abt. 1840). This has produced serveral possible fathers for Elijah. None exactly conclusive because of lack of data for men born in about 1780 and their children. It is possible this material has just not been digitized. Several new sources were used.^{[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]}

older notes:

• Unlikely - From Elijah's obit, Elijah and Harriet had six children. William was the only one to survive. There are some records for a David F. Barton, son of Elijah and Harriet. But cannot find a connection. Do not know if this is same Elijah and Harriet. ^[28]

Potential Father (for Unknown)

1. This may be the right one. https://www.bartondatabase.com/getperson.php?personID=I4155&tree=gbtree
2. Elijah Barton b. 1785 (New York) - https://www.bartondatabase.com/getperson.php?personID=I82364&tree=gbtree
3. (1/25/22) Elijah Barton b 1775 m. Lois Ensign d. 1857 in Wyoming County, New York - Find a Grave, database and images ( : accessed 25 January 2022), memorial page for Elijah Moore Barton (10 Nov 1775–21 May 1857), Find A Grave: Memorial #104170562 , citing North Java Pioneer Cemetery, Wyoming County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Butterfly~Kisses (contributor 46994799) .
4. This could be the father - Elijah Barton- 1820 - United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBZ-RPN?cc=1803955&wc=3L7N-HDH%3A1586986403%2C1586988312%2C1586988314 : 16 July 2015), New York > Dutchess > Fishkill > image 13 of 24; citing NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. (rule out) No son with many children found - Elijah Barton b. 1778 m. Sarah Ingerson d. 1850 in Putnam. - Find a Grave, database and images ( : accessed 25 January 2022), memorial page for Elijah Barton (6 Apr 1778–6 Feb 1850), Find A Grave: Memorial #24504954, citing Cold Spring Cemetery, Cold Spring, Putnam County, New York, USA ; Maintained by D. L. (Travis)(Corbett)(Maston)Black (contributor 47352945) .
   1. Elisah Barton transfers land to John Barton - "United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D9LD-ZM3Z : 1 March 2023), Elisha Barton in entry for John Barton, 1835.

AKA

Elijah's middle initial "L" is listed in this record, and is supported by his son's marriage record and the 1895 Iowa Census record.^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Obit in The Grundy Republican, Grundy Center, Iowa. pub July 23, 1896.
2. ↑ Cornelius Bassett Asahel Orlando Bassett Letter dated 10 Oct — FamilySearch.org.htm - Copy on FS or Copy with Barton-7380.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHYC-JJS : 16 August 2017), Elijah Barton, Philipstown, Putnam, New York, United States; citing p. 304, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 324; FHL microfilm 17,202.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6733-VCW?cc=1401638&wc=95RW-BZ3%3A1031313801%2C1031385001%2C1035090001 : 9 April 2016), New York > Putnam > Philipstown > image 57 of 69; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ https://www.lewisonlinelearning.org/CourseInfo/10006
6. ↑ "New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6QJ-556 : 13 March 2018), Elijah Barton, E.D. 1, Lysander, Onondaga, New York, United States; citing p. 214, line #44, family #234, county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 870,756.
7. ↑ Birth Certificate of Son William. "Iowa, Delayed Birth Records, 1850-1939," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3H-392Q-N?cc=2527591&wc=Q64Q-43G%3A1590046455 : accessed 14 November 2019), 101716639 > image 2074 of 5013; citing State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines.
8. ↑ Deed Record: Ogle. Deeds 1868–1882
9. ↑ General Index Grantee: Ogle. Grantee Deed Indexes 1837–1865, 1865–1873
10. ↑ "Ogle, Illinois, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37H-B4P8?view=fullText : Mar 27, 2024), image 17 of 328;
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8VT-7RR : 18 March 2020), Elijah Barton, 1870.
12. ↑ Family history passed down to Richard A. H. Barton.
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXKM-T3Y : Fri Oct 06 18:43:54 UTC 2023), Entry for Elijah Barton and Harriett Barton, 1880.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJDF-SHM : 20 September 2017), William H. Barton and Mary L. Scranton, 16 Jan 1887, Perry Township, Tama, Iowa, United States; citing reference Vol 1 pg 96, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,022,738.
15. ↑ "Iowa State Census, 1895," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VT3S-Z6S : 20 February 2021), William H Barton, Grundy, Iowa, United States; citing p. 90, 1895, State Historical Society, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,020,355.
16. ↑ Scroll down to Elijah and Hattie - http://iagenweb.org/grundy/cemeteries/cemeteriesreinbeck.html
17. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #268982800 - Reinbeck Cemetery staff have confirmed by telephone that both Elijah and Hattie Barton are buried there.
18. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #77543795
19. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YYJ-SHV5?cc=1803955&wc=3L7F-31T%3A1586986403%2C1586985644%2C1586988533 : 16 July 2015), New York > Putnam > Philipstown > image 6 of 14; citing NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
20. ↑ Roger Barton of Westchester Co., NY and Some of his Earlier Descendants by George E. McCracken, of Drake University, Des Moines, lowa From the NEHGS Vol. 106, pg. 168-304 and pg. 179-304 (1952-1953) - PDF in possession of Joe Barton
21. ↑ Roger Barton of Westchester Co., NY and Some of his Earlier Descendants by George E. McCracken, of Drake University, Des Moines, lowa From the NEHGS Vol. 107, pg. 50-51 (1952-1953) - PDF in possession of Joe Barton
22. ↑ Arnold James Elwood and Ruby DeOtte Arnold. 19791980. The House of Hadden: Some of the Descendants of John and Elizabeth Hadden Westchester New York 1620-1979. Dallas Tex: Arnold. - no ebook - find hard copy in Historic Societies.
23. ↑ Roger Barton's kinsmen: a general record of the Barton family and a detailed list of Roger Barton's descendants by McLean, Margaret Alberta Barton – Follows Roger3, Joseph2, Roger1
24. ↑ Lieutenant William Barton of Morris County, New Jersey, and his descendants
25. ↑ The descendants of Solomon Barton of Dutchess County, New York and Monkton, Vermont / compiled by Dr. Joshua Lindley Barton
26. ↑ Norman Davis, Westchester Patriarchs. A Genealogical Dictionary of Westchester County, New York, Families Prior to 1755. (1988).
27. ↑ Roger Barton and his kinsmen by Voge, Adolph Law - Note: it has content later disproven by McCracken
28. ↑ "New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:27YM-TJT : 11 February 2018), David F. Barton, 12 Apr 1854; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,315,311.

See also:

• Bassett Family Association Database
• West Point Foundry Wiki page
• M E Church history
• [1] for an Elijah who had a grandson, Elijah III, in a compatible timeline and close location.
• FamilySearch Person: L6FN-MC8