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S. M. Eaton & Son
1868
S. M. Eaton, manufacturer of mineral waters; born
near Kingston, Canada, Dec. 26, 1832. His
father, Almond R. Eaton (see below), came with his family to Whitewater, Wis.,
in 1842; after two years’ residence there, he removed to the town of Hebron,
Jefferson Co., where he now resides.
S. M. Eaton came to Watertown in 1868, having been
located at Fond du Lac for two years prior to that date, engaged in the
manufacture of soda and mineral waters since 1866.
On April 1, 1855, he married Eleanor J. Green,
daughter of Joseph Green (deceased), of Hebron; she was born in Saratoga, N.Y.,
July 28, 1832; they have four children – Frank M., Edward O., Clarence C. and
Ella A.
1875 About the year 1875 S. M. Eaton took his son in as a
partner. WG 02 26 1909
1877
S. M. Eaton had contract for
hauling the “Phoenix steamer;” Mr. Mannegold had similar arrangement for
hauling the “Pioneer” by the year to fires
WG, 02 26
1909
1870s-1885 Charles Kerr employed by S. M. Eaton &
Son for the Badger State Bottling Co
1903
Profile
of S. M. Eaton featured in Milwaukee
Sentinel of 03 20 1903.
1906
03 24 Ice wagon, horses run through downtown, S.
M. Eaton & Son.
1909 S. M. Eaton & Son
Dispose of Business
02 26 On Saturday last a deal was closed whereby The Badger State Bottling Co.
of this city disposed of its property to John Knispel
and Kohloff Bros. The sale includes the
ice houses, soda water factory, machinery and contents, horses, wagons, etc.,
and beside two residences. The Badger
State Co. is composed of S. M. Eaton and son Frank and is one of the oldest and
best known firms in Wisconsin. In 1868
Mr. Eaton engaged in the manufacture of soda water here and later added the ice
business. About the year 1875 he took
his son in as a partner and since then they have succeeded in building up one
of the most successful ice and soda water enterprises in the state. The firm has the reputation of manufacturing
some of the very best kinds of soft drinks in the entire country and the ice
sold by them is likewise good and wholesome.
They always dealt on the square with everybody, hence all our people
regret to learn of their withdrawing from the Watertown business field. S. M. Eaton will no doubt continue to reside
here, but his son Frank contemplates after taking a long rest engaging in
business on the Pacific coast. The new
proprietors will take charge of the business in about two weeks but Mr. Frank
Eaton will remain with them six months learning them the details of this
extensive business. WG
04 02 Real Estate.
S. M. Eaton has purchased the Robert E. Lewis
residence property in Washington Street, the consideration being $500. This is a very desirable piece of property
and Mr. Eaton was fortunate in securing it at so reasonable a figure. WG
04 09 On Thursday of last week S. M. Eaton & Son
passed over their ice and soda water business to Kohloff Bros. & Knispel,
who recently purchased it of them. Frank
M. Eaton will remain with the new firm for a time, but S. M. Eaton will
henceforth lead a retired life. S. M.
Eaton and his son Frank will be greatly missed in Watertown business circles,
for they were two of Watertown's oldest and most honorable business men, people
with whom it was always a pleasure to deal, for they conducted business on the
principle "live and let live."
WG
10 01 Masonic Lodge No. 49
tendered a banquet to S. M. Eaton and family, who expect soon to remove to
Eugene, Oregon, Tuesday evening, September 28, at Masonic Temple. The invitations were extended to “Masons and
their families only” and a goodly number assembled to testify their
appreciation of the friendship felt for Mr. Eaton and his family. The first hours of the evening were passed in
the lodge rooms on the third floor, where an informal reception was held. At ten o’clock the guests were invited to
descend to the banquet rooms where a most substantial feast was served. After the appetites of all had been satisfied
Mayor Arthur Mulberger arose and made a neat little speech, praising the good
efficient work done in the lodge by Mr. Eaton, expressing sorrow at his going
away and wishing the family health and happiness in the new home to which they
were going. Mr. Eaton’s response was
very brief, but to the point, thanking all for their kindness and
interest. At the conclusion of the
banquet the room was cleared and for an hour or two those who cared to do so
spent the time in dancing, the Weber-Stube orchestra furnishing the music . .
. WG
Almond Ransom Eaton
Another
pioneer gone
Jefferson
County Union, 12 25 1885
Almond
Ransom Eaton died at his home in the town of Hebron, in this county, on the
15th day of December, 1885, after a long and painful illness - his death
occurring in the midst of his 81st year. He came of New England stock belonging to the
seventh generation from Frances Eaton, one of the famous founders of Plymouth
Massachusetts, and had some of the strong moral and religious convictions that
characterized that people. From boyhood
to the tomb he was stoutly orthodox, anti-slavery, anti-polygamy and anti-intemperance. He was born near Bennington, Vt., May 12,
1805. His early life was spent in
Canada. Forty-three years ago he came to
Wisconsin, making the entire journey with his family in a covered wagon, and
soon after settled upon his farm upon which he has ever since resided. He was a genial and companionable old man; he
read much, and took a lively interest in all the material, social, political
and moral changes that have marked the growth and development of this region.
Orissa
Haskins Eaton, his first wife and the mother of his children, died in the
spring of 1850. In 1855 he married Miss
Sofia Bailey, who survives him. S. M.
Eaton, his oldest son, is a manufacturer, residing in Watertown. Mrs. Carey Fryer, his only daughter, resides
in the town of Hebron, and E. L. Eaton, the youngest son, is a minister of M.
E. church, and is now presiding elder of Madison District, and resides in
Madison.
He
lived how the full measure of his years and left the good record of an earnest,
busy and useful life.
_________________________________________________________
1906
A
powerful team belonging to S. M. Eaton & Son, attached to an ice wagon
became frightened Saturday afternoon near Fifth Street and ran away, going west
on Main Street at a breakneck speed, colliding with a buggy near the corner of
Fourth and Main, belonging to Mrs. Amelia Brennecke who had come to the city
with her son, who fortunately were absent from the buggy at the time as the
vehicle was badly wrecked. Pursuing
their flight they struck another buggy belonging to Martin Stueber, a farmer,
in front of the store of Schempf Bros. & Co.,
which was also badly wrecked and Mr. Stueber slightly injured. Continuing their flight they struck a farm
wagon opposite the Masonic Temple belonging
to O. Brennecke, a farmer, taking off their hind wheels without injuring no one
and then ran to the corner of Main and Washington streets, where they were
stopped. It is surprising that so little damage was done and only one person
injured as street at the time was full of teams and people. Mar 24
1908
H. Wertheimer
will remove his elevator in a few days from West Main Street near the
Northwestern depot to the vicinity of the sidetrack
[spur] of the Northwestern rail way just north of S. M. Eaton's & Son's
factory in North Water Street. July 31 WG
Cross References:
Early recollections of S. M. Eaton
Clarence C. Eaton, son of S. M. Eaton, is on a lecturing tour on
Christian science in England. Watertown Gazette, 10 16 1908
Eaton, Edward O., b. 1859, d. 1890
Eaton, Eleanor J., b. 1832, d. 1912
Eaton, Ella A., b. 1865, d. 1919
Eaton, F. M., b. 1856, d. 1911
Eaton, S. M., b. 1832, d. 1922
1909, Frank M.
Eaton and son Almond returned from trip to Pacific Coast. Mr. Eaton’s son Myron remained at Medford,
Oregon.
