website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown,
Wisconsin
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
1911
10 05 Lecture. Monday evening, October 9, 1911, at 8
o’clock, C. C. Eaton of Tacoma, Washington, son of S. M. Eaton of this city,
will lecture on Christian Science at Masonic Temple Hall. The lecture is free, to which the public is
cordially invited. WG
10 12 A Fine Lecture. A large audience was present Monday evening
at Masonic Temple Hall to listen to the lecture by Clarence C. Eaton of Tacoma,
son of S. M. Eaton of this city, his subject being Christian Science. P. H. Swift presided at the meeting. Mr. Eaton is an old Watertown boy and our
people were eager to hear him talk. He
gave a very interesting lecture and his delivery was very fine. In fact, he is considered one of the best lecturers
in the country on Christian Science. 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.
NB the source of all this
Sephreness
Millard Eaton
A sympathetic knowledge of the world, and the recognition of the
elements of progress in it, enables a man to better endure the struggle in the
battle of life: arid the man who seizes his opportunity and improves it in any
community or walk of life, as a rule, prospers. This fact was early recognized
by Sephreness Millard Eaton, of
Watertown, Wisconsin.
Mr. Eaton was born December 26. 1832. in Canada. 25 miles east of
Kingston in what was then called Leeds, and when about four years old came with
his parents to the United States, settling first at Edinburg, Portage County,
Ohio, where they remained a couple of years, then removed to Pike. Alleghany County. New York. In the fall of
1842. when he was ten years old, his parents
emigrated West, traveling with team and canvass-covered wagon, camping nights
by the roadside. They arrived in Chicago, October 27, 1842. which
at that time was a very small village in a very large mud hole. An account of
stock taken while in Chicago showed but seventy-five cents in cash, a pair of
oxen, a wagon and a cow. Remaining but a short time, they started for
Whitewater. Wisconsin, where they arrived November 2, 1842, and remained two
years on a farm belonging to X. P. Parsons, one and one-half northwest of
Whitewater, in the town of Cold Spring, Jefferson County, where they settled on
a piece of wild, government forest land in what is now the town of Hebron,
Jefferson County, and built a log cabin, clearing the land and making a fine
farm, which is still owned by S. M. Eaton, his brother and sister. The winters
of 1842-3 will long be remembered by the few settlers in Wisconsin at that time
as very hard, long winters, entailing much suffering and privation.
April 1, 1855. Sephreness Millard Eaton was
united in marriage to Eleanor Jane Green, who was born in Orleans County. New
York, July 28, 1832, and is the daughter of Joseph Elliott and Polly (Caine) Green. Four children was the result of this union,
namely: Francis Marion, born in Hebron, Wisconsin, January 7.1856: he married
Emma Nute and they have four children, Pearl,
Clayton, Almon Ransom and Myron: Edward Orthello, born in Whitewater, Wisconsin, November 3, 1859:
he married Mary Jones; they lived in Englewood, Illinois, and he was employed
in the Michigan Central Railroad freight office, when he died March 29, 1890,
and his wife died in October of the same year, leaving one daughter, Bessie,
who now lives in Milwaukee with her mother's sister; Clarence Clayton, born in
Whitewater August 7. 1861; he married Julia Ford and has two children, Sumner
and Roswell, and now lives in Columbus, Wisconsin, and is editor and publisher
of the Columbus Democrat; Ella Alsea,
born in Whitewater, April 11, 1865; she married Eugene Abele and has two
children, Eugeine Louisa and Hazel Eleanor Eaton, and
now lives in Milwaukee.
Mrs. Eleanor Jane (Green) Eaton is a great granddaughter on the paternal
side of John Green, who was a relative of General Green who fought at the
battle of Moumouth during the Revolutionary war; and on
the maternal side, of John Palmiteer, who, when ten
years old. was a servant to General Washington, who
taught him to read. Her maternal grandfather was Dennis Caine.
Her father, Joseph Elliott Green, was born at Batavia, New York, January 10,
1805. and her mother, Polly (Caine)
Green, was born August 24, 1S08. and they were married
at Albany, New York, January 1. 1825. They lived in this vicinity until
September 28, 1844, when with their family, they moved from South Barre, Orleans County, New York, to Wisconsin, arriving at White¬water, September 80, and settled permanently at
Hebron, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, in May 1845. where
he had the previous winter built a log cabin on a piece of pre-empted laud.
Twelve children were born to them, namely: Luther Bebee.
born December 26. 1826, and married
Julia E. Green; Dennis, born January 14, 182!). and
met with an accidental death in 1830; Calvin, born December 21. 1830: Eleanor
Jane, married to S. M. Eaton; William Henry, born February 13. 1834. married Charlotte Reynolds; John Pulsifer.
born November 30, 1835. married
Luella Green; Anna, born March 27. 1837. married
Zebulon Mead; Sarah, born March 26, 183!), married Charles S. Cartwright: Aseneth. born April 22, 1841,
married Henry Edwards; Lucinda. bom
December 22. 1842, married Leister Blakeley; James Waudel.
born March 30. 1845 and George
Washington, born December 26, 1846.
Mr. Eaton lived in Whitewater seven years, during which time he worked
at his trade of carpenter and joiner. In those days twelve to fourteen hours
constituted a day's work, and there being no machinery for the purpose he was
compelled to make all his flooring, doors, sash, &c., by hand. He built the School House in
District No. 4 in the town of Hebron for the sum of seventy-five dollars,
making all the desks and seats of oak, the floor of white ash. two of the doors of basswood and the outer door of walnut 1
3/4 inches thick.
In 1866 Mr. Eaton moved to Fond du Lac. where
in company with his cousin C. A. Hickey. he organized
the first bottling works for carbonated beverages. In the fall of 1867 he sold
his interest to his partner and moved to Watertown, Wis., where, with his
brother-in-law, J. P. Green, he established a similar business, which continued
two years, when Mr. Green disposed of his interest to S. S. Woodard, and two
years later Mr. Eaton bought out Mr. Woodard and took in his son F. M. Eaton,
and added the retail ice business. This business is now being conducted by them
under the name of the Badger State Bottling Company.
- Sephreuess Millard Eaton is the son of Almon Ransom Eaton, who was born in Vermont, May 12, 1805,
and died in Hebron, Wis.. December 15, 1885, aged 80
years, 7 months and 3 days. He married Orissa Carey, daughter of Samuel and
Rebecca Haskius of Massachusetts. She was born, in
St. Albans, Vermont, but lived in her early life in Canada, near Kingston. Six
children were born to them, three in Canada, namely: Sephreness
Millard, the subject of this sketch, and two that
died in
infancy, and three who were born in the United States, namely:
Recellus Chauucey. who was born in New York
January 31, 1841, and
was
drowned in the Bark river in Wisconsin in 1861; Caroline Amelia,
born in
Cold Spring. Wis.. and now
married to James Fryer; Ephraim
Lewellen. born March 27. 1846, who was
twice married, first to Mrs.
Jane Struthers and next to Sophia Bailey, with whom he lived until his
death; she
survived him some ten years. Three of the family are
still
living,
namely: Sephreness M.. Caroline Fryer, living on the
old home
farm in
Hebron, and Ephraim L.. who is a noted Methodist D. D.
at Des
Moines. Iowa, and pastor of the First M. E. Church of that city.
Whilst not a member of any church. Mr. Eaton is a firm believer in
God and his goodness: he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and a
Knight Templar. In politics he is a staunch Republican, and
has been
a member of the
Board of Alderman of Watertown, and President of the
City Council of that city for four
years.
Mr. Eaton is justly proud of his ancestry and, as will be seen by the
annexed genealogy, traces back to the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers.
Genealogy
(1) Francis Eaton, one of the Mayflower company.
(2) Benjamin I Eaton, his
son.
(3) Benjamin Jr., his son.
(4) Francis, his son, who married Thankful Alden, granddaughter of John
Alden and Priscilla, the young lady whom he courted for Miles Standish, but married himself.
(5) Jabez. his
son.
(6) Jabez, Jr., his son.
(7) Almon Ransom.
JABEZ EATON, SR (5). FAMILY:—He
resided and died in Pike, Allegheny County, New York: Lucy. b. March 24. 1760;
Elizabeth, b. June I 5, 1763; Simeon, b.
May 20. 1765; Jabez, Jr..
b. January 26,
1767 and died in Leeds. Ontario,
September 20. 1825: Luraney. b.
April 26, 1769,
died in
Massachusetts December 18, 1778; Oliver (twin), b. November
14, 1771. died July 29. 1799: Olive (twin), b. November 15, 1771;
Solo-I man, b. April 10, 1774; Cyrus, b. June 1, 1780, died April 17, 1788;
Tim-I othy, b. June 19. 1782;
Selah. b. Nov. 21, 1783. died
December 26, 17»3.
JABEZ EATON, Jr. (SIXTH GENERATION):—Oliver, b.
November 15, 1794, died in Canada May 29. 1842; Cyrus,
b. June 24, 1796, in
Massachusetts, and died in Hebron,
Wisconsin, October 2], 1876;
Sarah, b.
October 18, 1798, died in Janesville, Wisconsin, October 18, 1885;
Chauncey, born April 28, 1801, died in Leeds, Ontario; Hiram, b. December
1803, died in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Almon
Ransom, the father of our
subject;
Minerva, b. September 4, 1807, died in Cold Spring, Wisconsin,
1850; Jabez
Leonard, b. December 29, 1809, died in Cold Spring, Wisconsin in 1847 (killed
in a well); James Edson. b. April 7, 1812, died in
Peoria, Illinois, May 30,
1888; Almira Julia, b. June 3, 1615, died in
Chicago, August 9, 1882.
