Person:Milton Newton (1)

According to the LYMAN NEWTON STORY (not published) by C. Albro Newton, and the website myronnewton.com by Myron L. Newton, Jr.

MILTON ELIJA NEWTON (1834 – 1886) By C. Albro Newton and Myron L. Newton, Jr.

Milton Elija Newton was born on September 27, 1834, as the first child of Lyman and Sarah D. Newton. His mother was the daughter of Robert Kidney and Bethia Graham who, like the Newton clan, had relocated from Marcellus, New York to the Town of Mansfield in Cattaraugus County, New York. The Kidney land was not far from the farm owned by Lyman, whose parents, Reuben and Eunice Newton, were early pioneers to the area.

It seems strange that Lyman and Sarah where not in Mansfield in 1834, but in Ridgeville, Ohio when was Milton born. Two years later, however, we know the family was again established in Mansfield since Milton’s younger brother was born there in 1836. It is quite possible that Milton’s birth coincided with a visit and not an actual move by his parents.

The Ohio trip probably had something to do with a number of Newton family events. Eunice Newton, Milton’s aunt, married in 1832 and moved to Lorain County, Ohio. Reuben Newton, the father of Lyman, died a year later in 1833. Is it possible that Lyman and Sarah took Reuben’s widow, also named Eunice, for a visit to her daughter? Or did the younger Eunice return to New York for her father’s funeral, and then Lyman and Sarah traveled back to Ohio with her with to assist her with the birth of her first child in May? Whatever the case may have been, the “Ridgeville” referred to in family documents is surely the township of that name in Lorain County, Ohio and it was only few miles from Eunice’s residence in LaGrange Township.

Milton seemed destined to be a lifelong farmer in the rolling hills of Mansfield. The censuses for that area showed him living on the Lyman Newton farm in 1840, 1850 and 1860. Surely, it was hard work for Milton and his younger brother, Myron, as they toiled to improve the 100 acres that Lyman began clearing in 1830. It must have been a successful endeavor because, by the time Milton was married, there was a fine new house for him known as the “White Place”. Likewise, there was a house for Myron, named the "Red Place”.

The date of Milton's wedding to Chloe Sophronia Benson is missing however we know that it took place between 1860 and 1870 because the latter census has the couple enumerated together, along with a housekeeper and farm laborer. Milton’s wife was the daughter of another Mansfield family, the Reverend Elihu Benson and Selinda Jackson. Chloe’s sister was Martha, the wife Milton’s brother, Myron. Chloe’s gravestone, which is designated “Sophronia C”, gives March 25, 1849 as her date of birth.

After their marriage, Milton and Chloe lived in the square, two-story “White Place” on Sodom Road, between the local schoolhouse to the south and the Five Forks crossroads to the north. As of June 2000, this is the only house built by the Newtons that is still standing. Larry and Carolyn Toucha moved into the house in the 1960’s and, after extensive remodeling, made it their residence. The original, huge barn survived as an integral part of their farm life until the late 1990’s when fire destroyed the structure.

Milton and his wife had been childless for at least 13 years when, on November 26, 1883, Chloe gave birth to her only child, Sarah Sophronia. Chloe was 34 and Milton was 49 years of age. The close proximity of the two Newton families meant that the sisters maintained a close relationship, and Martha reportedly assisted Chloe during Sarah’s birth. Destiny though, ruled that both Martha and Sarah Sophronia would be close for many years into the future.

The few weeks following Sarah’s birth was filled with anxiety for Milton and the rest of the Newton and Benson families. As so common during that era, giving birth was a woman's most dangerous task and it did not help that Milton’s wife was in her thirties. Chloe Sophronia Newton died on January 11, 1884. Baby Sophronia was less than two months old.

We know little of how Milton handled the tragic loss of his wife over the next few years but he probably kept busy struggling with the large dairy farm. His father, Lyman, died in 1879, and Myron and Martha moved into Little Valley in 1883 to run a farm implement store. Who was raising the child? Logic would tell us that she lived not on the farm, but in town with her Aunt Martha. Certainly, it must have been a lonely time for Milton.

Milton died in Mansfield, after a sickness of only eight days, on December 12, 1886. He was 52 years old and lived as a widower for less then three years after the death of his wife. Milton and Chloe are buried in the Newton family plot of the Little Valley Rural Cemetery.

Only small, individual photographs of him and Chloe remain to remind us of the couple who had so few years together. We also know that their beautiful set of dishes was packed away in a huge wooden box. They remained packed until their daughter Sophronia was a grown woman.

An obituary was found at the Cattaraugus County Museum and Research Library. Portions were not successfully copied, resulting in gaps in the transcription below.

DEATH OF MILTON NEWTON

The death of a well known and respected citizen always brings a sense of sadness and sorrow beyond the circle of relatives, and their loss is lamented by the community according to their worth and virtues, as in this case. The people of this village and those of surrounding towns were saddened when they learned Sunday morning of the death of Milton Newton. His demise occurred at his former residence in Mansfield Saturday evening, the 12th inst. at ….. o’clock, in the 52nd year of his age. His death (hemorrhage of the bowels) was of short duration, lasting only about nine days which he bore with characteristic forbearing and patience.He was born in Ridgeville, Ohio, and when about two years of age, he came to this county with his father’s family, who settled in the Town of Mansfield, where the greater part of his life has been spent. Three years ago he was called to part with his loved companion, who was a daughter of the late Rev. Elihu Benson. Upon him then … the care of a young babe, the child of their union, which is now an orphan at the tender age of three.

He wisely confided it to the keeping of Mrs. M. L. Newton, sister of his wife, where it still remains. In …. relations of life, as husband, father, brother and citizen, Mr. Newton was …, considerate and exemplary. His unexpected death has stricken with …. large number of relatives and friends. ….. sorrow will be assuaged by the ….. of his kindly ways and and genial ….. He leaves an aged father, Lyman Newton, and an only brother, M. L. Newton of this village, who will keenly … the irreparable loss of a kind son and affectionate brother.

The funeral was held at the M. E. church …. Monday afternoon, the ceremony being conducted by Rev. C. O. …. of Randolph, assisted by Reverends …. and McKee, and was attended by a ….. large concourse of citizens of this and … towns. His remains were laid with those of his wife in the village cemetery.

Myron L. Newton, Jr July 2006