James Eben Newton
16 Jun 1843 - 19 Sep 1905

James E. Newton was born in Ellsworth, Mahoning County, Ohio 16 Jun 1843. James was the son of Charles and Anne (Haynes) Newton. He came to Montcalm County in 1867. He was married to Laura Jane "Jennie" Skey 22 Feb 1871. She was born in Jackson, MI, 18 September 1853, the daughter of Octavius and Mary (Fay) Skey.

They had one son, Rudolph Skey (1873-1959) who married Ethel M. Henry.

In the book History of Montcalm County there is a biography of Rudolph Newton with much of James Newton's life as well.

Jennie died in 9 May 1934 of uterine cancer. She is also at Forest Home Cemetery; section 29.

Greenville Independent, Wednesday, September 27, 1905
James E. Newton was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, June 16, 1843, and died in Fairplain, Mich., Sept 19, 1905. He lived on the farm until the breaking out of the civil war; being in his eighteenth year when he enlisted in the 2d Ohio Vol. Cav. He served three years and then reenlisted. Soon after his reenlistment he was taken prisoner and was confined for eleven months in the rebel prisons, Libby and Saulsbury. It could have been truthfully written over the door of either of these prisons: "He who enters here leaves hope behind." He was discharged from the United States service Sept. 11, 1865.

In 1867 he came to Fairplain, purchased a piece of new land and commenced to make a home. Februarry 22, 1871, he was married to Miss Jennie Skey who, with one son Rudolph and two brothers and two sisters are left to mourn his death.

Mr. Newton was a member of the Congregational church of Greenville and lived the life of a Christian. He was a member of the Washington and Lincoln clubs and was president of the Pioneer society of Greenville at the time of his death. In addition to his farm duties he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1882. When his highest ambition seemed about to be realized, the seeds of disease sown in rebel prisons began to develop in his system and he was unable to follow his chosen profession and was compelled to give up a professional life for the more healthful life on a farm. Whatever he undertook to do he did well as any one can see by looking over his farm. With the help of his good wife he transformed from a small beginning to a farm of nearly 200 acres, well covered with valuable buildings and under a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Newton kept himself well informed. He held many offices of public trust. He was a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party and was always ready to give a reason for his belief.

His funeral services were held at his home in Fairplain, Sept. 22, 1905. His pastor, Rev. A. B. Curtis, conducted the services, assisted by Rev. A. P. Moors. His casket was covered by the Stars and Stripes, the flag he loved so well and gave four years of his young manhood to defend. The several societies he belonged to contributed many beautiful flowers. The large concourse of people that attended the funeral and followed the body to Forest Home cemetery, his last resting place, showed better than words the high esteem in which he was held. The sympathy of the whole community goes out to the loving but sorrowing wife and son. May they be able to say, as the man of old, "We cannot bring him back to us but we can go to him."