J. J. and Eliza Newton arrived in Council Bluffs in 1858. They made their way from Iowa City with an ox team.
John J. Newton was born in Philadelphia in 1825. Eliza was born in 1824 in Manchester, England and arrived in the United States in 1837. J. J. and Eliza married and by 1847 had their first child Emma. They had three more children (Mary, Samuel and Clara) in Pennsylvania before heading west.
In Philadelphia J. J. was a Weaver, but here in Council Bluffs he had various jobs; teamster, proprietor of the Globe Hotel, expressman, clock tinker, photographer and sidewalk inspector.
The Newton's led a quiet life at their home at 300 Benton Street. They belonged to the Broadway Methodist church and J. J. was a staunch Republican.
John fell into ill health around 1884 and passed away on June 18, 1888. Eliza lived for another 20 years at the house on Benton Street. She died on August 22, 1909. She was survived by two of her children, Emma and Samuel, fourteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
John and Eliza are buried in Fairview Cemetery.
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