This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website

 

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.

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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

Burials in OH cem

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.