Henry M. Eggleston, His Story

Henry M. Eggleston and wife Joanna Fitzgerald Eggleston



I have met a new Eggleston Cousin who shares a lot of my Eggleston family history.  He is in the Lyman Fish Eggleston line, brother to my Great-grandfather Madison Joseph Eggleston.  The new cousin has a picture of Henry M. Eggleston and his wife, Joanna Fitzgerald (above).  I have never seen a picture of Henry M. Eggleston nor his wife.  Below is the information I have about Henry M. Eggleston from my Family Tree Maker program.

Henry M. Eggleston was the child of Joseph Eggleston of Hebron, Washington County, New York, his family originally from Stonington, New London County, Connecticut.  His mother was Lucy Bowen.  Little is know about her family history.  His father died in 1812, quite young, and left Lucy with 5 children, the eldest Henry M. Eggleston, b. 1805.  Within a few years Lucy remarried to William Felipe Haight in Wayne County, New York and had 7 more children from the 2nd marriage.  The entire family moved to Michigan, even the married children who already had families.  They settled in the Bronson area, Branch County, Michigan.

In HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN

--BRONSON, MICHIGAN RECORDS

Name--EGGLESTON, HENRY M.

Birth Date--1805

Death Date--25 Jan 1873

Age-68Y

Site-SEC A

In the 1840 Bronson, Branch County, Michigan Census there are 2 Egglestons listed as head of household.

H.M. Eggleston--1 male under 5 years old; 1 male 5 and under 10 years old; 1 male 10 and under 15 years old; 1 male 30 and under 40 years old; 1 female under 5 years old; 1 female 5 and under 10 years old; 1 female 30 and under 40 years old.

Joseph Eggleston--1 male 5 and under 10 years old; 1 male 10 and under 15 years old; 1 male 20 and under 30 years old; 1 female 5 and under 10 years old; 1 female 30 and under 40 years old.  [I had originally thought this was Joseph H. VII Eggleston since he was in Bronson, Branch County, Michigan.  However, in the 1843 will no wife and children are listed as heirs].

In the 1850 Census, Branch County, Michigan,  Family #5 are:

Persons               Age    Sex    Occupation     Value of Real Estate Place of Birth

Eggleston, Henry           45        M      Farmer           400 New York

Eggleston, Joanna         43        F Massachusetts

Eggleston, Anna E.        17         F New York

Eggleston, Madison      15         M New York

Eggleston, Magdelona   13        F Michigan

Eggleston, William H.    10        M Michigan

Eggleston, Abagail           8        F Michigan

Eggleston, Leora E.         6         F Michigan

Eggleston, Lyman           3         M Michigan

Eggleston, Byron            1         M Michigan

[This is the only Census record that says Madison was born in New York. All of the rest say he was born in Michigan]

In the 1860 Census, Branch County, Michigan, Dwelling House 18, Family # 18 are:

Persons                          Age    Sex  Occupation      Value Place of birth

Eggleston, Henry           55         M    Farmer           1600 Real New York

 400 Personal

Eggleston, Joanna          53        F Boston, Massachusetts

Eggleston, Madison        24        M   Farm laborer Michigan

Eggleston, Cordelia         22        F New York

Eggleston, Mandelona     21        F Michigan

Eggleston, William H.      19        M Michigan

Eggleston, Abigail            18        F Michigan

Eggleston, Leora              15        F Michigan

Eggleston, Lyman            13        M Michigan

Eggleston, Byron             10         M Michigan

[Cordelia is Madison Eggleston's first wife.  Her maiden name was Cordelia Parsons, and she was the mother of Edwin Theodore Eggleston].]

In the 1870 Census, Branch County, Michigan, Dwelling House 137, Family # 138 are:

Persons                         Age        Sex    Occupation Value              Place of Birth

Eggleston, Henry M.      65                    Farmer 2500 Real       New York

 500 Personal

Eggleston, Joanna          63                   Keeping House Massachusetts

Eggleston, Lyman          22                    Works on farm Michigan

Eggleston, Leora            25                    Works in house Michigan

Fuller, Merrill                  22          M       Works on Eggleston farm            Michigan

[Haven't found Madison Joseph and wife Mary E. Dunn in 1870 Census yet.

Leora Eggleston married Merrill Fuller who worked on the Eggleston farm].

From Coldwater Republican, 2-1-1873

H.M. Eggleston died of dropsy on Monday, aged 68 years.  Mr. E. had long been a sufferer from dyspepsia.  He was one of the oldest settlers and universally esteemed.  He was buried with Masonic ceremonies yesterday afternoon.  Rev. E.A. Gay delivering the sermon.

[H.M. Eggleston's death record says he died of stomach cancer.]

According to notes from the Lyman Fish Eggleston family, Henry M. Eggleston is buried on the same cemetery lot in the Branson Cemetery as the Lyman Fish Eggleston family.  Henry M. Eggleston's tombstone has a pointed top.