John Seastone, wagonmaker and blacksmith, was born in Sweden, August 3, 1834. He came to this country in 1858, landing at Quebec August 21. From Quebec he went to Minnesota, where he stayed until 1859, when he came to New Boston Township. (History of Mercer County 1882, p. 110) Curiously the History says he married Eva S. Hilmore on May 23, 1860. According to the Illinois marriage index, on May 24, 1860 John August Seastone was married to Emma Sophia Johnson. There is some possibility that Emma might have been a Hilmore and had a first marriage to a Johnson, but we found no evidence of this. If Emma is indeed a Johnson, we have not identified Emma's parents among the many Johnson families in Mercer County. The Eva Hilmore information may be correct as she is found as Eva Seastone on her tombstone in New Boston Cemetery.
In November 2010 Jamie Paul writes that there is a tombstone for Eva showing she was born 9/27/1839 and died March 4, 1900 (year to be rechecked). Infant Seastone's tombstone is actually located between Charles Peterson and Mary A. Seastone. Charles Peterson was living with John and Eva Seastone and family in the 1870 and 1880 census (see below).
According to the Mercer County History, John Seastone was a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church, a member of the order of Masons at New Boston, and a Republican. John and Emma/Eva had seven children: Mary, Dora, Kate, John E., Charles V., Emma, & Charlotte.
The 1860 census shows John & Emily living in New Boston Township: #1700 John A. Seastone, age 26, blacksmith, born Sweden; Emily S. Seastone, age 21, born Sweden. Living next to them is Charles Lindriest, age 28, Blacksmith, born Sweden, wife Sophia, 28, born Sweden and baby John, born Illinois. It seems clear that John Seastone & Charles Lindriest probably worked together but we find nothing further on the Lindriest family in Mercer County and do not find a marriage for them in Illinois.
The 1870 census shows them in New Boston Town with some of John's family: John Seastone, blacksmith, 35, born Sweden; Eva A., 31, born Sweden (Evidently the source of the Eva given in the history and also correct per her cemetery record); Mary A. Seastone, 9, Il; Dora S., 6, Il; Kate, 3, Il; John E, 1, Il. With them are apparently John's parents and family: John S. Seastone, 57, born Sweden; Anna C. Seastone, 58, born Sweden, and Josephine Seastone, 7, Il, (no doubt John's sister); Charles G. Seastone, 22, blacksmith, Sweden; David Seastone, 17, Sweden. Also with them is a Charles Peterson, 29, blacksmith, born Sweden and a Christine Johnson, 19, housekeeper, born Sweden.
In 1880 in New Boston: John Seastone, 45, wagon manufacturer, Sweden, parents born Sweden; Eva A. Seastone, 40, born Sweden; Mary A. Seastone, 19, Il; Sarah D. [Dora] Seastone, 15, Il; Kate A. Seastone, 13, Il; John E. Seastone, 10, Il; Charles V. [Victor] Seastone, 8, Il; Emma S. Seastone, 6, Il; Lottie E. Seastone [Charlotte], 3, Il; Charles Peterson, blacksmith, 40, born
Sweden, parents born Sweden; August Peterson, boot and shoemaker, 23, born Sweden, parents born Sweden; David Seastone, brother, 24, painter, born Sweden, parents born Sweden.
In 1900 they are in New Boston City: John Seastone, born August 1834, age 65, married 40 years, born Sweden, parents born Sweden, immigrated 1859, blacksmith; Eva, born Sept 1839, age 60, 8 children born, 7 living, born Sweden, parents born Sweden, immigrated 1859 (did they immigrate together?); Mary A, July 1861, 38, born Il; John, Dec 1869, 30, engineer; Charlotte E., April 1878, 22, Il.
The census records for Emma/Eva are confusing but it is evidently the same person as the age and birthplace is the same in each census.
John Seastone is buried in New Boston Cemetery (Aug 3, 1834-Jan 15, 1903). They may have had another child who died as there is an infant, age 3 mo 5 dys, buried between Charles Peterson and Mary A. Seastone. with no name and no date. Charles died unmarried so we believe the infant belonged to John and Eva.
Parents and Siblings of John August Seastone
According to the 1870 census for John August Seastone, he has a number of family members in his household including parents, John S. and Anna C. Seastone, age 57 and 58 respectively and both born Sweden. They were not in Mercer County with John in 1860 and must have followed him later. John S. Seastone died in Mercer County August 7, 1871, age 59 ys, 4 dys and is buried in New Boston Cemetery (as S. J. Seastone). Anna Seastone died September 23, 1878, age 66 ys, 10 mo, and is buried in New Boston Cemetery.
John Seastone's brother Charles, age 22, is with them in the 1870 census. Charles died June 4, 1871 and is buried in New Boston Cemetery.
John Seastone's brother David, 17, is with them in the 1870 census. He is still with them, age 24, and verified as brother in the 1880 census. David died October 5, 1882, age 28 yr 6 mo 10 dy and is buried in New Boston Cemetery as D. H. Seastone.
Children of John and Eva Seastone
Mary A. Seastone Daughter Mary Seastone never married. She is buried in New Boston Cemetery (Mary A. Seastone 1861-1934).
Dora Seastone Shields Daughter Dora S. Seastone married Ira N. Shields, son of William and Lucy Wilson Shields. Their history is continued on the Wilson page.
Kate Seastone WaltonDaughter Kate married Ed Bentley Walton on 12/26/1894 in Mercer County. We have nothing further on this family.
John E. SeastoneHe is at home with his parents in 1900 in New Boston City. Born Dec 1869, age 30, engineer, born Il, parents Sweden. In 1910 he and sister Mary are living at 136 Washington Street in New Boston City, and he is manager of an implement shop.
Charles Victor Seastone Son Charles married Susan Sarah Benton on 6/25/1900 in Union County, Illinois (Illinois Marriage Records). A descendant, Elsie, tells us that her name should be listed as Bouton, so there was evidently a mistake in transcription in the records. Union County is far down the Mississippi nearly at the end of Illinois. Elsie also sent us some links about the family that indicate Charles was an engineer later in Wisconsin so that was apparently his river connection.
Emma Seastone Gore Daughter Emma Seastone married E. Clair Gore, son of George and Emily Hubbell Gore, on 12/27/1899 in Mercer County. Emma Gore is found as a widow in the New Boston census in 1930: #107 Emma S. Gore, own home, age 54, widow, married at age 25, born Il, parents born Sweden. With her is sister Mary Seastone who never married, age 68, born Il, parents born Sweden. Neither has an occupation. We will be putting up a Gore page.
Charlotte Seastone She is at home in the 1900 census, age 22, no occupation. In 1910 she is married to a George H. Moore (first marriage for both), age 38, married 2 yr, born Il, parents born Maine; Charlotte, 33, no children born, born Il, parents born Sweden. They are in Millersberg Township and neither has an occupation.
Updates:
11/2010 Added information from New Boston Cemetery about Eva Seastone as provided by Jamie Paul.
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