Suttonsonline.com family genealogy website

James, Sutton, son of Platt and Elizabeth Sterling Sutton, was born in Butler Co., and married Dorcas Graham, a native of the same county. The family consised of the following children: M.A., E. P., Lizzie, wife of S. J. Irvin; O. L. and H. W. The death of the mother occured 1895, and that of the father in 1902.

History of Butler Co., Pa. 1895

JAMES SUTTON, youngest son of Platt and Elizabeth SUTTON, was born upon the homestead in Concord township, Butler county, October 21, 1821. He received a meager education in the log school houses of pioneer days, inherited the homestead, and lived thereon until 1873. In that year he purchased the Robert KINNEAR farm in Forward township, consisting of 156 acres, upon which he resided until 1891, then erected his present home in Evans City, and retired from active business. Mr. SUTTON was married in 1860, to Dorcas, daughter of Mordica GRAHAM, of Forward township. They are the parents of six children, five of whom are living, as follows: Mordica; Alva; Elmer P.; Mary E., wife of John IRWIN; Ora, and Harry W. Mr. SUTTON is a member of the Presbyterian church, and although in early life a Republican in politics, he is now independent.

Notes from my Grandmother Suttons geneaology notebook

James received a meager education in the log school houses of pioneer days. James inherited the homestead and soon after married Dorcas Graham. The 1860 census shows that James and Dorcas were living in the Concord Township, Butler, PA area where James' listed occupation was a Farmer.

James' sister Phoebe, who remained single throughout her life according to family members was living at the house at this time. The 1870 census shows that James and Dorcas now had four children, the youngest at one year old was my great-grandfather Orah. Orah's closest older brother, Howard, had passed away prior to the 1870 census. James' occupation was once again listed as Farmer. James and Dorcas lived at the homestead until 1873. Phoebe had apparently moved out from the house by the 1870 census.

In 1873, James purchased the Robert Kinnear farm in Forward Township which consisted of 156 acres. The 1880 census shows that James and Dorcas now had five children. The occupation was once again listed as Farmer. James and Dorcas remained there until 1891 when James erected his home in Evans City and retired from active business. The 1900 census shows that James was now living with Elmer, his son, and that his occupation was landlord. Dorcas, his wife, being deceased, was not listed in the 1900 census.

James was a charter member of the Evans City Presbyterian Church, and was a member of the building committee that built the church in Evans City in 1882, having donated the land on which it was to be built. The church was completed and had its first services in 1893. James also served as an elder in the church, as he had in the Plains Presbyterian church from which members the church was largely formed. Although a Republican in politics, he became more independent in his later years.

James was in a business partnership that failed after 2 years, possibly because money was stolen from the business.

From my own research:

There is a reference in historical literature of a flour mill boiler explosion that occurred at the Sutton mill. When the railroad came to Evans City for the first time in October 1878, it carried a new boiler for Sutton's flour mill. I have not been able to find out if this business was associated with this James Sutton or another Sutton family that may have been in the area at the time.

My grandmother Sutton's notes diverge at this point in the family tree. She shows James' parents as Jeremiah and Elizabeth Sterling. Research by other genealogists which I have linked to on this page shows that Platt was his father, and Platt was married to Elizabeth Sterling. My grandmother passed away long before I started my interest in genealogy, so I never did have the chance to talk to her about this discrepancy. My mother has acknowledged that Jeremiah might have been called "Platt", but she does not have documentation to support this other than my grandmothers notes. Based on the evidence to date, I believe that James' father was the Platt Sutton that is buried in the Concord Church Cemetery in Butler County, PA.

Click here for the James Sutton death certificate

James & Dorcas Sutton tombstone:

References

Last data update: Dec 14, 2025

1860 United States Census Document, Concord Township, Butler County, PA; Enumeration date: July 26th, 1860, page 115, lines 17-19 Citation post date: 2006-06-12

1870 United States Census Document, Concord Township, Butler County, PA; Enumeration date: July 4th, 1870, page 21, lines 31-36 Citation post date: 2006-06-12

1880 United States Census Document, Forward Township, Butler County, PA; Enumeration date: June 12th, 1880, page 18, lines 20-26 Citation post date: 2006-06-12

1900 United States Census document, Evansburg Boro, Butler County, PA; Enumeration date: June 9th, 1900, sheet 10, lines 12-15 Citation post date: 2009-07-08

Craddick Branches, rootsweb.com genealogy, Victoria Craddick, contact, database: vcraddick1, Citation post date: 2007-02-28

Descendants of Augustine Herman Bohemiensis from Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic, rootsweb.com genealogy, Rechcigl, contact, database: mila1, Citation post date: 2007-02-28

Descendents of Jacob Statzer, rootsweb.com genealogy, LaVern Statzer, contact, database: :1695711, Citation post date: 2007-02-28

Find A Grave internet website for grave markers, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115720259/james_e-sutton Citation post date: 2025-12-09

History of Butler County, R. C. Brown & Co., Publishers, 1895, chapter 24, "Evans City Borough" Citation post date: 2006-07-16

Kennedy's Ancestors, rootsweb.com genealogy, Margaret McGinnis, contact, database: :3041045, Citation post date: 2007-02-28

Personal genealogical research information and notes provided by Grace (Ramsey) Sutton, Citation post date: 2006-06-10

Personal genealogical research information and notes provided by James E. Sutton III, Citation post date: 2006-06-10

Personal genealogical research information and notes provided by Nancy Lee (Hesselgesser) Sutton, Citation post date: 2006-07-16