Easton, James Henry 1833 – 1908

EASTON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/7/2022 at 15:05:41

Source: Decorah Republican Jan. 16, 1908, P2 C2

OUR PIONEERS PASSING
FOUR EARLY SETTLERS GO TO THEIR LONG HOME.
ALL CAME IN THE FIFTIES.
Moritz, Lange, James H. Easton, L. R. Severson and Mrs. Mary Valle—
Otto Olson Succumbs After Short Illness.

JAMES HENRY EASTON
After an illness of more than two years, during the greater part of which he was confined to his room, James H. Easton passed away at his home on Main street, Saturday evening at 5:30 o’clock.
Mr. Easton was born in Lewis Co., N. Y., on Nov. 29, 1833, and was educated in the banking business under his father in Lowville, N. Y. The record of the old settlers’ meeting of 1870 says that Mr. Easton came to Decorah on the 7th of April, 1858, where he at once became identified with local business interests by entering the Decorah Bank, which had been established in “land office times” by Messrs. W. L. Easton, Sr., and Leonard Standring, deceased. When the National Currency Act was passed he converted this institution into the First National Bank of Decorah, becoming its president and retaining this position until the bank was forced to close its doors in November, 1896. Since that time Mr. Easton has lived in retirement. His health at that time had begun to fail and he gradually grew more feeble until about four years ago when he suffered a light stroke of paralysis. This was followed by another stroke two years ago which practically made him a prisoner in his home. Here he has been cared for by Mr. and Mrs. John T. Baker and no service that could lend to his comfort has been denied. It is not our purpose nor desire to dwell upon unhappy incidents of Mr. Easton’s life, but in common with others who were familiar with many of the circumstances we cannot help feeling that had he been differently situated his declining years would have been blessed with more peace and the financial difficulties which wrecked his personal fortune and caused serious loss to so many others would have been averted. Certain it is that he used every effort at his command to avert disaster, and had he been able to tide over the crisis it is the belief of those best posted that he would have made the bank pay out dollar for dollar.
Brief services were held at the residence Monday noon, Rev. H. H. Green officiating, and the remains were taken to Lowville, N. Y., for burial in the family plot, being accompanied by his son H. L. Easton who arrived from New York Saturday evening.