Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/314

292 EASTMAN, Seth, soldier, b. in Brunswick, Me., 24 Jan., 1808 ; d. in Washington, 1). C, 81 Aug., 1875. He was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 182!J and assigned to the infantry. After frontier and topographical duty he was as- sistant teacher of drawing at West Point from 1833 to 1840, served in the Florida war in 1840-'l. and afterward on the western frontier. Prom 1850 to 1855 he was employed in the bureau of the com- missioner of Indian affairs to ilhistrate the nation- al work on the " History, Condition, and Future Prospects of the Indian Tribes of the United States " (Washington, 1850-7). He then returned to the frontier. He was retired with the ranli of lieutenant-colonel on 3 Dec, 1863, on account of disability from exposure in the line of duty, and on 9 Aug., 1866, was brevetted brigadier-general. Gen. Eastman was elected a member of the Na- tional academy of design in 1838. He was the author of a " Treatise on Topographical Drawing " (1837). — His wife, Mary Henderson, author, b. in Warrenton, Fauquier co.. Va., in 1818, married Capt. Eastman in 1835, and resided with him for many years at Fort Snelling, Minn., and at other frontier stations. Her portrayal of Indian life is tlie fruit of long observation and familiarity with the Indian character. She has published '" Dacot^h, or Life and Legends of the Sioux" (New York, 1849) ; " Romance of Indian- Life " (Philadelphia, 1852); "Aunt Phillis's Cabin," a reply to Mrs. Stowe's " Uncle Tom's Cabin " (1852) ; " American Aboriginal Portfolio." illustrated by her husband (1853) ; " Chicora and other Regions of the Con- querors and the Conquered " (1854) ; " Tales of Fashionable Life " (1856) ; and numerous stories and sketches in magazines. — Their son, Robert Langdon, b. in Maryland about 1840 ; d. in Wash- ington, D. C, 9 Nov., 1865. He was graduated at the U. S. military academy in May, 1861, and, being ordered at once to the seat of war, was engaged in the battle of Bull Run. From that time he was on duty with the Army of the Potomac, rising to the grade of captain, till he was prostrated by disease contracted in the service. After the battle of Malvern Hill he was ordered to West Point, and, though suffering from illness, performed the duty of assistant professor of drawing and of ethics until it was impossible for him to continue.

EASTON, James, soldier, b. in Hartford, Conn. ; d. in Pittsfield, Mass. He was a builder by trade, and removed from Litchfield, Conn., to Pittsfield in 1763. He raised a Berkshire regiment in 1775, served at Ticonderoga, 9 May, 1775. and was the bearer of the news of that contest and its results to the Provincial congress. He was one of the earliest to advocate the invasion of Canada, com- manded a regiment under Montgomery until 1776, and received the thanks of congress in that year. His further service in the army was prevented by the enmity of Benedict Arnold. He sacrificed his fortune for his country, and died in poverty.

EASTON, Langdon Cheves, soldier, b. in St. Louis, Mo., 10 Aug., 1814 ; d. in New York city, 29 April, 1884. He was graduated at the U. S. mili- tary academy in 1838, and was assigned to the 6th infantry. He was promoted to be 1st lieutenant, 23 July, 1839, and held the commission till 15 April, 1851, becoming assistant quartermaster, with the rank of captain, 3 March, 1847, and quartermaster, with the rank of colonel, 2 Aug., 1864. He served in the Florida and Mexican wars, and during the civil war. He was chief quartermaster of the Armv of the Cutnberland from 15 Dec, 1863, till 4 May, 1864, and of the armies commanded by Maj.-Gen. Sherman from 4 May, 1864, till 27 June, 1865, being present during the operations of the campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and subsequently at the capture of Savannah. On the march from" the latter city to Goldsborough, N. C, and thence to Washington, D. C, via Raleigh and Richmond, Gen. Easton acted in the same capacity. After the close of the war he was stationed in Mississippi and Missouri. He was brevetted lieutenant-colonel, colonel, and brigadier-general, 17 Sept., 1864, "for distinguished and important service in the quarter- master's department in the campaign terminating in the capture of Atlanta, Ga.," and major-general, 13 March, 1865, " for meritorious service during the war." He was promoted to be colonel and assist- ant quartermaster-general, 6 June, 1872, retiring from active service, 24 Jan., 1881.

EASTON, Nicholas, governor of Rhode Island, b. in 1593 : d. in Newport, R. I.. 15 Aug., 1675. He came from Wales, in 1634, with his two sons, to Ipswich, Mass., and afterward lived in Newbury, Mass., and Hampton, N. H. He was one of the first settlers in both the last-mentioned towns, and, having had trouble with the authorities, removed to Rhode Island in 1638 and built the first house in Newport. He was governor of the united colo- nies of Rhode Island and Providence in 1650-'2. — His son, John, was governor of Rhode Island in 1690-'5, and wrote a " Narrative of the Causes which led to Philip's Indian War " of 1675-'6, which was edited and issued by Franklin B. Hough (Albany, 1858).

EATON, Asa, clergvman, b. in Plaistow, N. H., 25 July, 1778 ; d. in Boston, Mass., 24 March, 1858. He was graduated at Harvard in 1803, and while pursuing theological studies officiated for two or three years in Christ church, Boston, as lay reader. In 1805 he went to New York, and in July of that year was admitted to orders by Bishop Benjamin Moore in Trinity church. He returned to New England soon afterward, and entered zealously upon clerical duties in connection with Christ church, Boston. This position he resigned in 1829, owing to continued weakness of voice, and engaged in the free church city mission with gratifying success. In 1837 he became connected with St. Mary's school, Burlington, N. J., and labored there for four years. Thence he returned to Boston, where he occupied himself in various church works. He also accepted the charge of Trinity church. Bridge water, which he held at the time of his death. He received the degree of D. D. from C-olumbia college in 1828. Dr. Eaton's principal publication was a " History of Christ Church, Boston " (1828).

EATON, Cyrus, educator, b. in Framingham, Mass., 11 Feb., 1784; d. in Warren, Mc, 21 Jan., 1875. He was a son of Benjamin Eaton, a Revo- lutionary soldier. He received a common-school education, studied the classics by himself, and re- moved in 1804 to Warren, Me., where he was for forty years a teacher. He served for thirteen years as town clerk, and was five years in the Massachu- setts legislature. He became totally blind about 1845, and devoted himself to literature, with the aid of his invalid daughter. He was elected a member of several historical societies, and received the degree of A. M. from Bowdoin in 1848. He published " Annals of Warren " (1851) ; " Woman," a poem (1854) ; and " History of Thomaston, Me." (2 vols., Hallowell, Me., 1865).

EATON, Dorman Bridgman, lawyer, b. in Hardwick, Caledonia co., Yt., 27 June. 1823. He was graduated at the University of Vermont in 1848, and at Harvard law-school in 1850, where he took the first prize for a legal essay. He was in that year admitted to the New York bar, and