When John Van Eaton was born on 31 December 1817, in Greene, Ohio, United States, his father, John B. Van Eaton, was 26 and his mother, Sarah Bigger, was 23. He married Rebecca C Young on 18 April 1848, in Butler, Ohio, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 9 daughters. He lived in York, York, Livingston, New York, United States for about 20 years. He died on 5 March 1880, in Suffolk, New York, United States, at the age of 62, and was buried in York, York, Livingston, New York, United States.