Mary Isaacs Eaton

Death of a Former Syracuse Lady.

Mrs. M. K. S. Eaton died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Emma Blackwood, in Lancaster, Pa. Wednesday. Mrs. Eaton was a daughter of Isaac Jerome and was born in Geddes in 1814 and a sister of Mrs. William Jackson of this city. In 1834 she was married to Lieut. E. Kirby Smith of the United States army who for a time was stationed in this city. While living here their son, J. L. Kirby was born. From this city Lieut. Smith was ordered to Fort Dearborn, the site of which is now covered by the city of Chicago, where he was accompanied by his wife. Later he served in the Mexican war as a captain. In this war he was killed in battle after being raised to the rank of major for gallant service. At the outbreak of the civil war Mrs. Eaton's son J. L. Kirby Smith, was a lieutenant in the United States topographical corps but by request was transferred to the volunteer service. He was placed in command of the Fifty-third Ohio regiment and was killed in the battle of Corinth.

Twenty-one years after the death of her husband, Mrs. Smith married Amos B. Eaton, who was commissary general under Grant. Mr. Eaton died about 19 years ago. Mrs. Eaton leaves two sisters, Mrs. Jackson of this city and Mrs. W. W. Williams of Toledo, O., and her daughter, Mrs. Blackwood. Her remains will be brought to this city for interment in Oakwood cemetery.

Source: Syracuse, NY, The Daily Standard newspaper. Friday 6 November 1896, Page 3, Column 2

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Mary Isaacs (nee Jerome) Smith, was a second cousin, twice removed of Winston Churchill, and following her husband's death, she married General Amos Beebe Eaton on September 7, 1870. Ephraim and Mary had three children: Joseph Lee Kirby Smith, who was killed in action during the American Civil War in 1862 in Corinth, Mississippi; Emma Jerome Smith Blackwood; and George Geddes Smith, a veteran of the American Civil War who committed suicide while serving in the United States Army and posted at Fort Russell, Wyoming.

Smith's son Kirby was born in Florida in 1824, graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1845, and served with his uncle in the Mexican–American War. He was one of seven full generals of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. They also had two daughters: Frances Marvin Smith (b. 1809) who married Lucien Bonaparte Webster, and Josephine Lee Smith (1818-1835). His grandson is Joseph Lee Kirby-Smith.