Census: 1880 Norton, Jefferson Co., Kansas: age 57

"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 112, No 13, p 415, Mar. 28, 1932.
Hannah Abbie Babcock, daughter of George A. and Abbie Brown Babcock, was born in Hopkinton, R. I., January 25, 1843. Her mother was a descendant of Peter Brown, who came over in the Mayflower, and her father descended from James Babcock, the first white child born in Westerly, R. I.
She was married to Russel Maxson, April 5, 1864. After living a short time in Chenango Co., they homesteaded in Freeborn County, Minn. Three years later she went back East for a year to regain her health. In 1869 they sold their Minnesota homestead and came to Kansas, living in Emporia, then in Cowley County. Driven out by ague, they came to Jefferson County, buying land three miles west of Nortonville in 1874. She was left a widow on April 7, 1886, with six children, three having died in infancy. Mr. Maxson and Ina, sixteen, and Clyde, thirteen, succumbed to diphtheria.
Some years later Ruth Babcock was taken into the home. She with two more of Mrs. Maxson's children, have since died, leaving four children still living - Clifford V. Maxson and Mrs. Alena Bond of Nortonville; Lyle E. Maxson, of Matheson, Colo.; and Alfred I. Maxson, of Stuart, Fla. There are also nineteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
After thirty years on the farm west of town she moved to Nortonville, where she has lived since with the exception of three years in Wisconsin and a little over a year in Battle Creek, Mich.
Early in life she was baptized in the pool behind the Ashaway Seventh Day Baptist Church, and she has been loyal to her church and an earnest, trustful Christian all her life, quick to grasp any opportunity to help others, whether friends or strangers. She was cheerful and uncomplaining and her presence has been like sunshine.
Farewell services were held from the Seventh Day Baptist Church March 5, 1932, conducted by her beloved former pastor, Rev. S. Duane Ogden, of Olathe, Kans., and she was laid by the side of her husband in the Nortonville Cemetery. Pallbearers were former neighbors in the Hickory Grove community.
--- From Nortonville News.

Russel Maxson 1835-1886
Categories: Nortonville, Kansas, The Sabbath Recorder Obituary
'The Sabbath Recorder', Vol 42, No 18, p 5, May 6, 1886.
At their home three miles west of Nortonville, Kansas, March 1, 1886, Ina Belle in the 18th year of her age. Also on March 16, 1886, J. Clyde in the thirteenth year of his age. These were the children of Russel and Hannah Maxson. Still the work of death went on and on April 7, 1886, the father, Russel Maxson, died, aged 51 years, 3 months and 4 days. The obituary of Ina appeared in the Recorder of March 25th. Being the only daughter except a very young sister among a large family of boys, she was a great help and comfort to that household. It was difficult to bear up under so severe a stroke. But in two weeks after Ina's death this promising boy Clyde was taken. He was much more useful than boys ordinarily are at his age. The parents, toiling along in life's work, and feeling the weight of rearing a large family, they looked to this boy with a good deal of encouragement, accomplishing a good deal in a manly way; but alas, earthly hopes vanish! The father, Bro. Russel, was sick but five days. The care, the anxiety, and the grief of the past weeks placed him in such a condition of body and mind that he soon yielded after the dread disease fastened itself upon him. Russel Maxson, son of Russel Maxson was born in Preston, Chenango Co., N. Y., where he grew to manhood. Favored with true-hearted Christian parents, he received a religious culture and an education which caused him to be a worthy member of the church and a good and useful citizen. Some twenty years ago he married Miss Hannah Babcock, of Rhode Island, who still survives him. Together they endured severe new country hardships in Minnesota, and in Cowley county, Kansas. About twelve years ago they settled on the farm which has since been their home. During his sickness his suffering was severe, but his mind was calm and clear to the very last. He attended to business so as to make everything as easy for his family as possible. He gave his children farewell counsel while strength yet remained. He bade his wife an affectionate farewell, said good-bye to his friends, and then quietly passed away.
In early life Bro. Maxson became a Christian. He was a member of the Nortonville Seventh-day Baptist Church, lived a Christian and died a Christian. He leaves a wife and six children who mourn this great loss. Thanks be to God for the religion which sustained Bro. Maxson in the hour of death, and which sustains the bereaved wife and mother. S. R. W.

Census: 1880 Norton, Jefferson Co., Kansas: age 45, farmer

He moved to Minnesota in 1864, thence to Kansas Dec. 1869. He was the town clerk of Preston 1857 and was assessor at Alden, Minn. in 1865