Joseph also served in the 70th Ill. Inf.
Not much is known about Joseph Athons early life other than he was born in Paoli, Orange, Indiana on Nov 9th 1823 to Alfred Josephus Athon and Elizabeth Betsey Hazlewood. He grew up near Bedford, Indiana. Apparently he lived at the home of his grandfather, Joseph Athon, a judge, after his father's death.
Joseph then went to Danville in 1847 at the age of 23 and went into the blacksmith trade. He married and went to Decatur a few years later. His wife, Angelettey Smith, died and Joseph married a year later to Catherine Elizabeth Newman.
Joseph A. Athons apparently served in the Civil War as a guerrilla fighter for the Confederate army with his brother, Alfred. He and his brother owned a giant boat called the Grey Eagle which outran Union patrol boats. One day the brothers were caught, but Joseph escaped. He jumped off the boat and swam to shore while his brother was taken away by Union officials. Alfred D. Athon watched his boat torched and destroyed. He later died at Camp Dix in Baltimore of bronchus. Joseph waited patiently for the war to end before he sent the war department a letter demanding 7000 dollars for his share of the Grey Eagle. The government paid him for the damages. However, his daughter Sadie wrote on her notes that her father had only a financial interest in the Grey Eagle.
He continued to operate his blacksmith and wagon making business until 1877 when he retired. He went to Colorado with his sons to farm and gain free land, but he later died of a heart attack.
------------------------------
The death of Joseph Athons
The information has reached Decatur relatives by letter that Joseph A. Athons, one of the old residents of Decatur, died suddenly in Las Animas county, Colorado, last Friday night. Mr. Athons went west two years ago to get land for his boys and he and three of his sons, Ed, Arthur and Herbert, procured a section of farming land in Las Animas Co, Colo. He spent the past winter at home, returning to Colorado March 11. Mr. Athons and his son Arthur were in their cabin alone. The next morning Uncle Joe was found dead upon the floor. A physician was summoned and he said that death was caused by cramping near the heart. Mr. Athons was buried near the claim.
The family will have the remains brought to Decatur for final interment. He was aged about 65 years and was born in Indiana. He had been a resident of Decatur nearly 40 years. Until a few years ago he was engaged in the wagon making and blacksmithing business on W. Main street. Lately he made his home on his farm north of the fairgrounds. He leaves a widow and eight children.
Brought Back For Burial
The body of Joseph Athons arrived in Decatur last night by express. It will be buried in Greenwood without any funeral service. Mr. Athons died about two years ago near Vilas, Col., and was buried there then. He left Decatur about three years ago, where he had resided over 30 years.
The Decatur Morning Review, Decatur, IL, Sunday, 17 May 1891, pg. 4
Not much is known about Joseph Athons early life other than he was born in Paoli, Orange, Indiana on Nov 9th 1823 to Alfred Josephus Athon and Elizabeth Betsey Hazlewood. He grew up near Bedford, Indiana. Apparently he lived at the home of his grandfather, Joseph Athon, a judge, after his father's death.
Joseph then went to Danville in 1847 at the age of 23 and went into the blacksmith trade. He married and went to Decatur a few years later. His wife, Angelettey Smith, died and Joseph married a year later to Catherine Elizabeth Newman.
Joseph A. Athons apparently served in the Civil War as a guerrilla fighter for the Confederate army with his brother, Alfred. He and his brother owned a giant boat called the Grey Eagle which outran Union patrol boats. One day the brothers were caught, but Joseph escaped. He jumped off the boat and swam to shore while his brother was taken away by Union officials. Alfred D. Athon watched his boat torched and destroyed. He later died at Camp Dix in Baltimore of bronchus. Joseph waited patiently for the war to end before he sent the war department a letter demanding 7000 dollars for his share of the Grey Eagle. The government paid him for the damages. However, his daughter Sadie wrote on her notes that her father had only a financial interest in the Grey Eagle.
He continued to operate his blacksmith and wagon making business until 1877 when he retired. He went to Colorado with his sons to farm and gain free land, but he later died of a heart attack.
------------------------------
The death of Joseph Athons
The information has reached Decatur relatives by letter that Joseph A. Athons, one of the old residents of Decatur, died suddenly in Las Animas county, Colorado, last Friday night. Mr. Athons went west two years ago to get land for his boys and he and three of his sons, Ed, Arthur and Herbert, procured a section of farming land in Las Animas Co, Colo. He spent the past winter at home, returning to Colorado March 11. Mr. Athons and his son Arthur were in their cabin alone. The next morning Uncle Joe was found dead upon the floor. A physician was summoned and he said that death was caused by cramping near the heart. Mr. Athons was buried near the claim.
The family will have the remains brought to Decatur for final interment. He was aged about 65 years and was born in Indiana. He had been a resident of Decatur nearly 40 years. Until a few years ago he was engaged in the wagon making and blacksmithing business on W. Main street. Lately he made his home on his farm north of the fairgrounds. He leaves a widow and eight children.
Brought Back For Burial
The body of Joseph Athons arrived in Decatur last night by express. It will be buried in Greenwood without any funeral service. Mr. Athons died about two years ago near Vilas, Col., and was buried there then. He left Decatur about three years ago, where he had resided over 30 years.
The Decatur Morning Review, Decatur, IL, Sunday, 17 May 1891, pg. 4
Joseph also served in the 70th Ill. Inf.
Not much is known about Joseph Athons early life other than he was born in Paoli, Orange, Indiana on Nov 9th 1823 to Alfred Josephus Athon and Elizabeth Betsey Hazlewood. He grew up near Bedford, Indiana. Apparently he lived at the home of his grandfather, Joseph Athon, a judge, after his father's death.
Joseph then went to Danville in 1847 at the age of 23 and went into the blacksmith trade. He married and went to Decatur a few years later. His wife, Angelettey Smith, died and Joseph married a year later to Catherine Elizabeth Newman.
Joseph A. Athons apparently served in the Civil War as a guerrilla fighter for the Confederate army with his brother, Alfred. He and his brother owned a giant boat called the Grey Eagle which outran Union patrol boats. One day the brothers were caught, but Joseph escaped. He jumped off the boat and swam to shore while his brother was taken away by Union officials. Alfred D. Athon watched his boat torched and destroyed. He later died at Camp Dix in Baltimore of bronchus. Joseph waited patiently for the war to end before he sent the war department a letter demanding 7000 dollars for his share of the Grey Eagle. The government paid him for the damages. However, his daughter Sadie wrote on her notes that her father had only a financial interest in the Grey Eagle.
He continued to operate his blacksmith and wagon making business until 1877 when he retired. He went to Colorado with his sons to farm and gain free land, but he later died of a heart attack.
------------------------------
The death of Joseph Athons
The information has reached Decatur relatives by letter that Joseph A. Athons, one of the old residents of Decatur, died suddenly in Las Animas county, Colorado, last Friday night. Mr. Athons went west two years ago to get land for his boys and he and three of his sons, Ed, Arthur and Herbert, procured a section of farming land in Las Animas Co, Colo. He spent the past winter at home, returning to Colorado March 11. Mr. Athons and his son Arthur were in their cabin alone. The next morning Uncle Joe was found dead upon the floor. A physician was summoned and he said that death was caused by cramping near the heart. Mr. Athons was buried near the claim.
The family will have the remains brought to Decatur for final interment. He was aged about 65 years and was born in Indiana. He had been a resident of Decatur nearly 40 years. Until a few years ago he was engaged in the wagon making and blacksmithing business on W. Main street. Lately he made his home on his farm north of the fairgrounds. He leaves a widow and eight children.
Brought Back For Burial
The body of Joseph Athons arrived in Decatur last night by express. It will be buried in Greenwood without any funeral service. Mr. Athons died about two years ago near Vilas, Col., and was buried there then. He left Decatur about three years ago, where he had resided over 30 years.
The Decatur Morning Review, Decatur, IL, Sunday, 17 May 1891, pg. 4
Not much is known about Joseph Athons early life other than he was born in Paoli, Orange, Indiana on Nov 9th 1823 to Alfred Josephus Athon and Elizabeth Betsey Hazlewood. He grew up near Bedford, Indiana. Apparently he lived at the home of his grandfather, Joseph Athon, a judge, after his father's death.
Joseph then went to Danville in 1847 at the age of 23 and went into the blacksmith trade. He married and went to Decatur a few years later. His wife, Angelettey Smith, died and Joseph married a year later to Catherine Elizabeth Newman.
Joseph A. Athons apparently served in the Civil War as a guerrilla fighter for the Confederate army with his brother, Alfred. He and his brother owned a giant boat called the Grey Eagle which outran Union patrol boats. One day the brothers were caught, but Joseph escaped. He jumped off the boat and swam to shore while his brother was taken away by Union officials. Alfred D. Athon watched his boat torched and destroyed. He later died at Camp Dix in Baltimore of bronchus. Joseph waited patiently for the war to end before he sent the war department a letter demanding 7000 dollars for his share of the Grey Eagle. The government paid him for the damages. However, his daughter Sadie wrote on her notes that her father had only a financial interest in the Grey Eagle.
He continued to operate his blacksmith and wagon making business until 1877 when he retired. He went to Colorado with his sons to farm and gain free land, but he later died of a heart attack.
------------------------------
The death of Joseph Athons
The information has reached Decatur relatives by letter that Joseph A. Athons, one of the old residents of Decatur, died suddenly in Las Animas county, Colorado, last Friday night. Mr. Athons went west two years ago to get land for his boys and he and three of his sons, Ed, Arthur and Herbert, procured a section of farming land in Las Animas Co, Colo. He spent the past winter at home, returning to Colorado March 11. Mr. Athons and his son Arthur were in their cabin alone. The next morning Uncle Joe was found dead upon the floor. A physician was summoned and he said that death was caused by cramping near the heart. Mr. Athons was buried near the claim.
The family will have the remains brought to Decatur for final interment. He was aged about 65 years and was born in Indiana. He had been a resident of Decatur nearly 40 years. Until a few years ago he was engaged in the wagon making and blacksmithing business on W. Main street. Lately he made his home on his farm north of the fairgrounds. He leaves a widow and eight children.
Brought Back For Burial
The body of Joseph Athons arrived in Decatur last night by express. It will be buried in Greenwood without any funeral service. Mr. Athons died about two years ago near Vilas, Col., and was buried there then. He left Decatur about three years ago, where he had resided over 30 years.
The Decatur Morning Review, Decatur, IL, Sunday, 17 May 1891, pg. 4
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