website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown,
Wisconsin
S. M. Eaton & Son
Sephreness Millard Eaton
Badger State
Began in 1868 by S. M. Eaton and his brother-in-law
John P Green. They made soda water and
began the ice business in Watertown.
Green sold out in 1873 or so to William Woodard and it became Eaton
& Woodard. Woodard sold out and
Eaton's son Frank became his business partner.
They had the first copyrighted trademark in the state -- a badger
holding a bottle of pop. Eaton sold out
in the early 1900s to the Kohloff Brothers and John Knispel. In the
1930s Hallett Kwapil bought the business and it
became a subsidiary of the 7-Up Bottling Co.
But that did not spell the end of the Badger State Co. It opened as an independent bottling company,
bottling Mission Orange soda. It was run
by Peter Euper and his brother-in-law Reuben Leichtel and was on N. Water St. Today the location is part of the parking lot
of the Watertown Bowl 18. The Badger
State Co. moved to 12th Street when it was purchased by Vern Siegel and the
name changed to the Mayville Bottling Co.
It ceased operations in the late 1960s.
_______________________________________________________
1842 – 1843 The
Double Winter Early
recollections of S. M. Eaton
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.
1870
EATON BUILT THE FIRST
S. M. Eaton
built the first establishment of this kind in Watertown in 1870. The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin:
Containing a History of Jeff . . . 1879,
733 pgs
10 12 NEW
ICE HOUSE
Messrs Eaton & Brother have commenced erection of a
large and commodious ice house near the location of their old one, on the right
bank of the river, in the 4th ward. The
building is 75 by 36, and will be capable of holding about 1,200 tons of
ice. WR
11 23 ICE
The past
summer, much to the inconvenience and disappointment of our citizens, the
supply of ice was exhausted before the season was half through. This in part was caused by Messrs Eaton &
Bro. losing most of their supply by the spring freshet. Just by the preparations going on Watertown
will be amply supplied with ice next year
Mr. Eaton and Bro. have now under process of erection a large ice house
75 x 37 and 18 ft. high, capable of holding 1200 tons of ice, which they will
proceed to fill as soon as conditions of the ice on the river will admit. In the future our citizens need have no fears
that the supply of ice will not be adequate to the demand, which will be good
news to many a household. WR
c.1875 About the year 1875 S. M. Eaton took his son in as a
partner. WG 02 26 1909
1876
02 17 S. M. Eaton has packaged the largest
stock of ice he has ever put up in one year.
To make room for this increased amount he has built a large addition to
his ice house. He has some 3000 tons
secured, all in good condition and fine quality, though not quite as thick as
usual. WD
05 11 SODA WATER
Mr. S. M.
Eaton's Soda Water has not only become widely celebrated, but it is a
favorite summer drink wherever its fine and superior qualities are known. The Whitewater Register of the 4th inst., speaks of this healthy and exhilarating
beverage in the following complimentary terms:
"S. M. Eaton, of Watertown, the champion soda
water manufacturer of Wisconsin, has established a route from that city to Whitewater
and during the coming season proposes to supply the thirsty citizens of this
section with this superior beverage. Mr. Eaton's factory is supplied with water
from an excellent artesian well and only the best materials are used in the
manufacture of his soda water. To those who know the excellence of his quality
no word of commendation will be required; and to others we can confidentially
recommend it for a trial. Mr. L. May will have the route in charge and we
certify that this part of the business will be attended to promptly and
reliable." WD
06 01 SHIPS ICE TO CHICAGO
Mr. S. M.
Eaton is actively at work shipping ice to Chicago, where it is stored in the
extensive packing houses of that city, for use during the summer. His new ice house, built last winter, is now
nearly exhausted, upwards of one thousand tons having found its way into the
market. WD
08 01 15,000 TONS OF ICE IN ICE HOUSES
Fifteen
thousand tons of ice are now (August 1879) stored in the icehouses of
Watertown. S. M. Eaton built the first
establishment of this kind in Watertown in 1870. He has two buildings, one in the rear of his
soda factory, and the other half a mile up the river, with an aggregate
capacity of 15,000 tons. A Chicago firm
erected a large building near Mr. Eaton's upper repository last winter, where
they now have 10,000 tons stored. Large
shipments are made to Chicago during the summer. Near the close of the ice harvest of 1876,
when there was a prospect for a decided scarcity of this article in Chicago, several
enterprising individuals of that city came to Watertown, and marshaling every
available man and horse in the community, commenced the work of gathering ice
from Rock River and shipping it to the Garden City. Over two hundred men were employed in the
work for several weeks, about $10,000 being invested in the enterprise. On one occasion, while this army of men were
being paid off at the saloon of O. Auwers, near the
North Western depot, the floor of the saloon gave way and thirty or forty
persons were precipitated into the cellar below. No one was injured, however, but several very
laughable incidents occurred. One man
was doubled up like a jack knife in a barrel of soft soap. Another was stopped suddenly in his descent
by a basket of eggs. The History
of Jefferson County, Wisconsin: Containing a History of Jeff . . . 1879, 733 pgs
1877
EATON HAD CONTRACT FOR HAULING THE “PHOENIX
STEAMER”
Washington’s Birthday in 1877, C.&N.W.Ry.
Warehouse Fire
Watertown volunteer firemen on the day
[in 1877] mentioned assembled in a body at the corner of Main and First streets
at 1 p.m., engines and apparatus brightly shined, also decorated with red,
white and blue. It was the second
appearance of the Phoenix Co. clad in their new blue uniforms, trimmed with
white, and in each horse’s headgear of the team that hauled the Silsby there could be plainly seen the regulation circus
plumes, red, white and blue, which added much to the appearance of the west
side company’s turn out. The men of the
east side wore their regulation red shirts, except the Sack Co., who always
appeared in their neat-fitting sack coats of blue. There was little or no snow to be seen, muddy
roads, badly frozen and broken up, therefore the parade did not get very far
down Main Street. The two-wheeled hose
carts pulled by men on foot were very cumbersome and the ladies were pleased to
get back to quarters early in the afternoon, and the teams were cared for by
their owners in their own barns, S. M.
Eaton having the contract for hauling the “Phoenix steamer,” and Mr. Mannegold of the east side had a similar arrangement with
the city for hauling the “Pioneer” by the year to fires.
About 8 p.m. a fierce fire broke out in a warehouse at the C.&N.W.Ry. depot and spread rapidly. Eaton’s drivers and sons soon had four horses
at the house of the “Rotary” and it was not long after they were hooked up that
they turned the corner at Main Street, passing the Pioneer, with one team, at
the next corner. Charlie Kerr assisted
by Bill Ready drove the pole team, while Frank
Eaton and Charles Haskell rode the leaders.
“Doc” Moore, stoker of the Silsby, fell off at
the next crossing and Barney Gardner and his hack cleared the way at the Warren
Street corner. He was on his way from
the depot and wound up on the sidewalk rather mixed up in Thomas McCabe’s
monument display and it has been said that willing hands disconnected the
“Bays” and hack and put Barney and his rig on the road again. The fire was of short duration after the Silsby connected to the tank house and the day wound up
with a rumpus. Charles Haskell and
Charlie Fuermann could not settle the question as to
which company had exclusive rights to the water in the tank house without
coming to blows and Mr. Haskell got a good one on the top of the head with a
spanner, which settled matters until the following day, when one of the east
side engine crew called at No. 2 engine house telling the man who was cleaning
the Silsby what he would do and proceeded to carry
out his threat. The Phoenix boy ran out
and rang the bell—the rope then hung outside the north wall; this alarm soon
brought a number of firemen, who were employees of Woodard
& Stone, on the scene and the intruder was soon out of sight.
The officers and engineers of our engine companies in 1877 were John Muth, foreman and chief, F. Bursinger,
engineer, E. Kunert, assistant engineer, Charles Fuermann, stoker, Fred Spink, foreman No. 2, C. E. Straw,
engineer No. 2, Edwin Moore, assistant engineer, Frank Eaton, stoker. The
latter also served as secretary of the Phoenix
Company. Watertown
Gazette, 02 26 1909
12 26 WATERTOWN LAGER BEER BOTTLED
I am now bottling Watertown Lager Beer and am prepared to furnish it
(either Bursinger’s
or Fuerman’s) in
any quantities to families or saloons.
S. M. Eaton
1878
07 03 NEW SPRING BED
I am manufacturing the Brown’s patent bed spring and am selling them on
trial. If, after one or two weeks trial,
you are not satisfied with them you can return them to me and your money will
be refunded. These springs have many
advantages over other springs, one of which is, each spring is seperate and independent of the other, and they require no
slats or netting on the top of the springs.
They can be put in any bed without any extra frame other than the slats
that are in the bedstead. A trial will
satisfy you more of their merits than can be said here. Give them a trial. Price $5.00.
I refer you to the following parties who have them in Watertown.
C. B. Skinner, G. B. Lewis, Joseph Giles, Jas. Fornecrook,
Thos. Solan, C. L. Wheeler, Thos. C. Jones, J. H. Keyes, American House, W. L.
Norris, Commercial Hotel,and many others.
S. M. EATON
1870s-1885 Charles Kerr employed by S. M. Eaton &
Son for the Badger State Bottling Co
1885 ALMOND
RANSOM EATON / ANOTHER PIONEER GONE
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. Jefferson
County Union, 12 25 1885
_________________________________________________________
1889
10 11 APPLE CIDER
S. M. Eaton
& Son are making some very fine apple cider, and if you want a choice
article in that line, order of them at once.
You can buy it in any quantity at a very moderate price. WG
1890
01 22 ICE HARVEST COMMENCED
Yesterday S. M. Eaton & Son
commenced cutting ice for the brewery of Hartig & Manz, which is
the beginning of the ice harvest here for this
season. The ice is about 7 1/2 inches
thick and of a clear, good quality. Last
year ice cutting began Jan. 28, one week later than this winter. An abundant ice crop is assured on the river here,
notwithstanding the great scare among ice men only a little while ago. WR
01 22 ICE NOT SOLD TO CHICAGO FIRMS, KEPT FOR
CITIZENS
Representatives of Chicago ice firms have visited this city endeavoring
to purchase all the ice stored by S. M. Eaton & Son, at a price at least $2
per ton more than they will get from home consumers the coming season, but the Eatons refuse to sell the ice, caring more for the good
will of our citizens and their customers than a few thousand dollars in their
pockets. This is indeed commendable in
them, and their considerations for the people of Watertown should not be soon
forgotten. There is a large shortage in
the ice crop of the country, and many communities will suffer for the want of
ice the coming summer. Ice at the
present time is worth $5 per ton in Chicago and $10 per ton in New York, and
before next fall it will command even a higher price. WG
11 19 FINE BUCK WEIGHING 200 POUNDS
At Minocqua, Oneida county, last Monday forenoon, our townsman, S. M.
Eaton, having a few hours to spare, went into the woods near there in quest of
game, and it was not long before he brought down with his rifle a fine buck
weighing 200 pounds. Mr. Eaton was back
at his hotel in less than three hours from the time he started out. The deer was brought here and dressed and was
a grand specimen of the animal kingdom.
WR
11 21 FINEST SPECIMEN OF A DEER
The finest specimen of a deer ever shipped into this city has been was
exhibited by S. M. Eaton at his ice house for several days past. Mr. Eaton shot him at Minocqua, Wis., last
Monday, firing two bullets into him while he was on the run for his life. He tips the scale at 200 lbs., and has a very
fine set of horns. Friend Eaton is
evidently something of a hunter, as he rarely ever goes after game that he does
not capture some of the very best to be had.
On this occasion he was at Minocqua on business, but took two or three
hours for the pleasure of deer hunting, and in this brief time at it he
captured "the boss" deer of the northern woods. A steak from one of his hind quarters was
very much relished by the editor and family on Thursday. WR
12 10 CHRISTMAS TREES AND EVERGREENS
S. M. Eaton
& Son have received their second carload of Christmas trees and evergreens
for the holiday season. They have a
splendid stock comprising the best varieties the woods of Northern Wisconsin
afford. WR
c.1890
S. M. EATON: BADGER STATE BOTTLING AND
ICE HOUSE, 301-311 N WATER ST.
c.1890
S. M. EATON & SON ICE HOUSE
< Badger
logo and birdhouses noted
Blocks of
harvested ice being positioned in channel in Rock river prior to being placed
on elevator to store in Eaton ice house
1892
06 24 GEORGE NORTON
Last Saturday
while Geo. Norton, foreman of S.M. Eaton & Sons bottling works, was
charging a portable steel fountain the head bursted,
causing considerable excitement for the time being. Had the usual amount of pressure been
applied, we feel George ‘‘would be up with the angels now.” WG
1895
01 09 1895 ICE HARVEST
The ice
harvest has commenced on the river and several firms storing it have full crews
at work. The work will continue two or
three weeks and something like 18,000 tons will be cut. Although the ice is
only twelve inches thick a good crop is assured. WR
06 05 EATON'S
STONE CRUSHER
A quantity of
stone crushed by S. M. Eaton's crusher is being placed on portions of Main
Street. It is thought to be just the
thing for an excellent road-bed. WR
1895c 1895c, S M Eaton
& Son, ice dealer, sold to Knispel in 1909
307 N. Water
Ice wagons
in front of ice house
1898
06 08 EATON & GREEN POP BOTTLE
A relic of
Watertown's pioneer business interests was found Saturday near one of the
depots. It was a pop bottle bearing the
inscription of Eaton & Green, who manufactured carbonated beverages here
over thirty years ago. WR
07 27 STONE CRUSHER
M.S. Eaton
& Son’s stone crusher has been removed [moved] to the lot in the rear of
the gas plant and is employed in crushing a large quantity of stone owned by
the city. This experiment will prove
whether the crusher is of sufficient size for the city's needs. The crushed stone is to be used on the
streets. WR
11 23 ANNUAL TRIP TO MINOCQUA
S. M. Eaton has
returned from his regular fall trip to the vicinity of Minocqua. While away Mr. Eaton, in company with some
friends, spent several days in hunting and brings home a deer and a bear
weighing nearly 200 pounds. He tells a
thrilling story of the party's hunt for the bear and how Bruin was finally
cornered in a swamp. WR
11 23 CHRISTMAS TREES
S. M. Eaton
& Son will have a carload of Christmas trees for the local market about
December 1. They are exceptionally fine
ones and were selected personally by Mr. Eaton during his stay in northern
Wisconsin. WR
12 07 BLACK BEAR SKIN
Ed Mueller is
the possessor of a fine black bear skin which he secured from S. M. Eaton. Ed immediately had it sent to the tannery of
John Heimerl, and when it is returned he expects to
have as fine a rug as there is in the city.
WR
1900
01 09 HARVESTING OF ICE
The
harvesting of ice was begun Friday by S. M. Eaton & Son, but after two
days' work they were compelled to quit owing to the warm weather. They expect to store about 5,000 tons for
their own trade, together with a large quantity for the railroad companies and
other customers here. The ice is of the
best quality harvested in recent years, being absolutely clear its entire
thickness of thirteen inches. William Hartig, Ohm Bros., and the cold storage houses will also
begin harvesting soon. WR
1901
04 03 SCALE OF DELIVERY PRICES
It is
understood that the two local ice dealers have arranged a scale of prices for
consumers and agreed to abide by the same.
The new scale will increase the cost to some patrons and decrease it to
others. For residence services the
uniform rate of $10.50 for the season of six months, with four deliveries each
week, will be made. Larger consumers,
such as meat dealers, groceries, saloonkeepers, etc., will be charged pound
rates. WR
1902
01 10 ICE HARVESTING BEGUN
S. M. Eaton began the
ice harvest here on Rock River last Monday with a large force of men. WG
1902
c.1890 drawing compared to 1902 pic
1903
Profile
of S. M. Eaton featured in Milwaukee
Sentinel of 03 20 1903.
1905
04 05 MR. AND MRS. S. M.
EATON CELEBRATE GOLDEN WEDDING
Saturday,
April 1st, just fifty years had elapsed since Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Eaton were
united in marriage, and the event was made the occasion of much rejoicing by
the numerous friends of the worthy couple.
The local Masonic fraternity, of which Mr. Eaton has been an honored
member for many years, had set itself the task of making this golden jubilee a
memorable one to the venerable couple, and that they were successful in their
efforts goes without saying. The
festivities took place at the Masonic Temple between the hours of 8 and 12 and
were participated in by a large number of friends.
Mr.
and Mrs. Eaton were made the recipients of numerous tokens of esteem, including
a silver tea service from the Masonic order, the presentation speech being
delivered by Rev. Thomas B. Thompson. A
handsome gold-headed cane was also presented, the gift of Mrs. Jesse Stone in
remembrance of the intimate friendship existing between her husband and Mr.
Eaton. The latter responded in his
characteristic way and expressed with deep feeling the appreciation of himself
and wife for the kindness of their friends.
The Ellis Mandolin club of which Eugenia Abele, a granddaughter. is a
member, played during the evening and a fine luncheon was served by the members
of the Eastern Star, while a huge johnny cake occupied the place of honor and
was served instead of the conventional wedding cake.
A
letter from his brother, Rev. E. L. Eaton of Allegheny, Pa., evoked much merriment
in its telling of the courting days in the “big woods” and the happy denouement
of marriage and the bridal tour, the conveyance being a lumber wagon and a team
of colts drawing the newly wedded pair.
There was a touch of pathos in the letter as well, and it closed with a
tender solicitation for their happiness in their journey towards the close of
earthly being.
Those
present from out of town were William Green, Mrs. James Fryer, Hebron; Mrs.
Sarah Cartwright, Rome; Mrs. Lucinda Blakely, Whitewater.
Mr.
and Mrs. Eaton were born the same year, 1832, the former in Kingston, Ont., and
the latter in New York state. The former
came west with his parents in 1842, and Mrs. Eaton with her parents came west
the following year, both families settling at Hebron. Mrs. Eaton’s maiden name was Eleanor Green
and their marriage took place at Hebron April 1, 1855. Of this union three children are living — F.
M. Eaton, Mrs. R. Abele, Watertown, and C. C. Eaton of Tacoma, Wash; also nine
grandchildren.
Both
Mr. and Mrs. Eaton are pioneers of Jefferson county and the greater part of the
past fifty years has been spent within its borders. Mr. Eaton relates some interesting
reminiscences of the early days when this section was the frontier.
The
trip from Buffalo, New York, to Wisconsin occupied seven weeks and was made to
Michigan with a team of horses and wagon, crossing the river at Detroit and
traveling through Michigan to Chicago.
The horses gave out near Niles, Mich., and a trade was made for a yoke of
oxen, with which the rest of the journey was accomplished. When the Eaton family reached Whitewater, it
possessed a team of oxen, wagon, a cow, the clothes on their backs, a few bed
clothes, and 75 cents in cash.
Whitewater was reached in November and the elder Eaton arranged to rent
a farm on shares. The winter was one of
the severest known in the state [1842?] and the hardships were many. In 1844 Almond Eaton [father of S. M.]
pre-empted a farm of 160 acres in the town of Hebron and began the work of
clearing it. In speaking of pioneer life
and the habits of the people, Mr. Eaton said: “When we landed in Whitewater I
was a boy of ten years, but remember well that winter and the year following. Many a time have I walked to Whitewater for a
box of matches or some other article used in the house, and was compelled to
ford or swim the river in the spring when the water was high, as there were no
bridges.
“The
settlers in those days seldom saw money and it was only after they had
harvested a crop of wheat that they could expect to receive cash for any
product. The nearest cash market for
wheat was Milwaukee, and it required three days to go and come. Wheat at that time brought 40 cents a bushel.
“I
remember well the first circus, a small affair, which came to Whitewater, and I
wanted to go. I had trapped a coon and
with a boy friend journeyed the seven miles, carrying
the coon with us. We made a trade with one
of the showmen, disposing of the animal for admission to the circus.
“A
thing that helped materially the pioneer of that period was the abundance of
game and fish. An old rifle brought from
New York did yeoman service in bringing down deer, which were plentiful, but
the smaller game, ducks and prairie chickens, required a shotgun. The first one
I ever owned I traded 3000 white oak staves for a cooper at Whitewater and then
it would only break a cap about once out of three times. I would give a great deal to have in my
possession one of the wooden bats used at that period and made by slicing blue
beach or hickory splits, which were woven to fit the head.”
Mr. Eaton believes he is the only
surviving person who helped in the actual work of construction
of the first railroad in the state.
In the early fifties he worked as a laborer on the Milwaukee and
Mississippi road at the time it was being built from Wauwatosa to
Waukesha. He drove the spikes on one
rail from Wauwatosa to Waukesha, following the two men who laid the rails, and
spiked them at the joints. At that time
the company had two small locomotives named Wisconsin and Iowa. When the track was first being graded many of
the farmer boys along the line worked for the company during the fall and
winter months, and boarded at farmhouses along the line.
REV.
EATON’S LETTER.
[A
letter from S.M.’s brother, Rev. E. L. Eaton of Allegheny, Pa.]
Dear
Brother and Sister: My wife and I send
you our warmest and most hearty congratulations upon this your golden wedding
day. We hope that the day will find you
both in good health, with the joy of friends and the peace of heaven in your
hearts.
We
have thought and spoken of you almost constantly since your invitation reached
us, and have sorely regretted that the six hundred and seventy-five miles
between us have practically forbidden us being with you on the joyous
anniversary. This is therefore a day to
us, and especially to me — your brother — of personal pain and
disappointment. If this anniversary had
happily fallen nearer the middle of the week I would have been with you at
whatever cost. But all the same we are
with you in spirit, and our heart-felt good wishes, and earnest prayers are for
you both, that this may be a golden day indeed in your life, and that many
annual returns may visit you and find you in health and full of usefulness and
sympathy with this busy old life about us.
Fifty
years ago! I had just passed my ninth
birthday, four days before. We lived in
the old log cabin at the edge of the forest.
A robin or two had arrived. Songs
of winter were still in the tree-tops.
The hoot of the owl could be heard at night. Campfires could be seen in a half dozen sugar
camps on neighboring farms nearby and far into the night the shouts of the happy
sap boilers could be heard from camp to camp.
The first suckers had just arrived, the vanguard of the full “run” which
the full moon in April brought up Bark river.
When that hour arrived there was “something doing!”
If
my memory is to be trusted for things which happened so long ago, you and your
best girl harnessed up the old nags, and got into the most splendid carriage
which the entire country afforded — which was a lumber wagon without cover,
springs, paint or any such useless things, and started off for town to exchange
a hundred pounds of maple sugar and a half barrel of maple syrup for some stove
pipe, saleratus, shingle nails, a plow point and a
barrel of salt in Whitewater. Night came
on. You did not return. We were not worried, though we knew that the
horses which drew you through twelve inches of mud, after swimming the Scuppenong, would be somewhat worried.
Morning
arrived, still neither nags, nor driver, nor “best girl” appeared upon the seen
[sic], nor were visible upon the distant horizon. The day went by slowly. Father became a little anxious. I think he began to suspect that there was an
African hidden somewhere in the lumber.
But he still kept on saying nothing.
And so the days and nights went by.
The telephone apparatus was not in the best working order that spring,
so there was nothing to do but to wait till the mud dried, and the river went
down and the suckers came up.
Finally,
toward evening of a day that I never forget, we looked down the road toward
George Hollinger’s frog pond which was at that moment the scene of one of the
most magnificent frog concerts which you ever witnessed, and sure enough! There came the two old nags! The steam that rose from their sweaty sides
made you know a mile off that that automobile was not run by electricity.
We
young ones and all the rest of the neighbors quickly gathered a screaming mob
around those old nags, and the happy young couple, whose giggles and blushes
told us but too plainly that it was all over but the “shivarie;”
and for that important function in the “settlement” was every tin pan put in commission. Then we had a supper in the old log
cabin. And such a wedding supper! The first live oyster that I had ever layed my eyes on I beheld that night swimming around in a
gallon of hot water. I shall never,
never forget that oyster. My sympathies
for him prompted me to remove him to a cooler place. I have no recollection about wedding
presents. I was too young to care much
for such trifles, but I suppose that there was silver spoons, diamond neclaces [sic], mahogany chamber sets, patent washers and
wringers, satin gowns, slippers and smoking jackets, pianos and megaphones.
phonographs, and things like that, which a newly wedded couple, who set up
housekeeping in “Bark Woods” would so sorely need fifty years ago. I do not remember all, but these are some of
the things that float in hazy mystery through my memory of fifty years ago.
Bark
Woods never reared a better girl than that bride. While she was yet a young girl she was
self-reliant as a surgeon, and as motherly and kindly and helpful to the little
ones about her and to me especially, to whom she was the only mother I ever
knew, as though she had been my natural mother.
How gently and how wisely she nursed the sick back to life. With that almost superhuman nerve she waited
upon the surgeon when he laid bare the very brain of our young brother whose
skull was crushed by the falling tree.
And when our own mother lay upon her last bed of sickness, if I mistake
not, this young girl, this gentle spirited neighbor, came often to minister to
her and brought to her some of the last comforts which cheered her dying
hour.
Oh
brother! There are two persons yet
living —- you and I — yes three — Carrie — who should be glad to make the
remaining days to the very last hour of Eleanor Green’s life days of happiness
and peace. May heaven bless her, and
bless you both abundantly, inexpressably and
everlastingly!
Personally
we are both grateful to God that He in His infinite goodness has spared you
both to live together for half a century; and that this quiet April evening,
you, surrounded by your children, your brothers and sisters, your neighbors and
a multitude of true friends, may have the soul-satisfactory consciousness that
you have not lived in vain; that marriage is not a failure, but an unspeakable
benediction; that a well-spent life is not a farce nor a delusion; and that out
of it all rises a deep-seated conviction that its bright hours and blessings
are but hints which heaven sends to assure us of the infinite blessings which
are in store for all those who love Him.
I
must now close. There are mistakes upon
these pages, for I have been writing through tears. But my full heart, and the true and happy
heart of my wife, are with you this day in Watertown. God bless you both and all! WR
1905
10 25 ICE SHIPPED TO CHICAGO
On account of the
shortage of ice in Chicago and Milwaukee, S. M. Eaton & Son of this city are
supplying the ice for thirteen refrigerator cars daily for the Chicago,
Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway Co. It
is lucky for the railway company and also for Eaton & Son that they have
the ice to meet the demand. WR
1906
03 24 ICE WAGON, HORSES RUN THROUGH DOWNTOWN
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.
1908
07 31 ELEVATOR
MOVED
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. WG
Cross
Reference: This building was originally
located on West Main Street near the C & NW depot and was moved intact to
North Water Street (today near site of Fannie Lewis park).
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
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
1912
09 05 MRS. S. M. EATON DIED
Saturday evening, August 31,
1912, Mrs. S. M. Eaton died at the family home, 412 Washington Street. Mrs. Eaton had been ill for several months
and for seven weeks previous to her death was confined to her bed. Notwithstanding, she lived far beyond the
allotted three score and ten, and that she had been ill so long, her death was
the cause of much sorrow and surprise to our people.
Mrs. Eaton was one of the early
residents of Jefferson County. She was
born July 28, 1832, at Saratoga, New York.
Her maiden name was Eleanor J. Green and in 1843 she located with her
parents at Hebron, this county, and was married on April 1, 1855, to Mr.
Eaton. Shortly after being married they
resided for two years in Fond du Lac and ever since has made Watertown her home. Seven years ago Mr. and Mrs. Eaton celebrated
their golden wedding.
Mrs. Eaton is survived by one son
and one daughter, C. C. Eaton of Tacoma, Washington, and Mrs. Ella Eaton of Los
Angeles, California, who was with her during her final illness. Eight grandchildren also survive her. Tuesday afternoon her funeral took place from
her late home, the interment being in Oak Hill
Cemetery.
Mrs. Eaton was one of Watertown's
most esteemed citizens. She was strictly
a home person, and mingled but little in society, preferring the quietness of
her own home, and was never so happy as when administering to her duties as
wife and mother. However, she always
took a kindly interest in the welfare of her neighbors and our citizens in
general, and by deed and good example exercised an influence for good in the
community that will have a lasting good effect.
Mrs. Eaton's death is sincerely mourned here, and in their sadness the
bereaved husband and family have the sincere sympathy of all the citizens of
Watertown.
On the occasion of Mr. and Mrs.
Eaton's golden wedding Rev. E. L. Eaton, brother of S. M. Eaton, in a letter of
congratulation, paid the following beautiful tribute to Mrs. Eaton and her
husband:
"Bark
woods never reared a better girl than that bride. While she was yet a young girl, she was as
self-reliant as a surgeon, and as motherly and as kindly and helpful to the
little ones about her, and to me especially to whom she was the only mother I
ever knew, as though she had been my natural mother. How gently and how wisely she nursed the sick
back to life. What almost superhuman
nerve she waited upon the surgeon when he laid bare the very brain of a younger
brother whose skull was crushed by the falling tree. And when our own mother lay upon our last bed
of sickness, if I mistake not, this young girl, this gentle spirited neighbor,
came often to minister to her and brought to her some of the last comforts
which cheered her dying hour. Oh,
brother! There are two persons yet
living — you and I — yea three — Carrie — who should be glad to make the
remaining days to the very last hour of Eleanor Green's life, days of happiness
and peace. May heaven bless her, and
bless you both, abundantly, inexpressibly and everlastingly! Personally, we are both grateful to God that
He in His infinite goodness has spared you both to live together for half a
century . . . “ WG
1913
01 02 S. M. EATON, 80th BIRTHDAY
Thursday evening of last week our
worthy citizen S. M. Eaton, celebrated his 80th birthday anniversary, and many
of our citizens had the pleasure of congratulating him in person on that
day. In the evening a number of his
Masonic friends called at his home in a body and took him completely by
surprise. They presented him with a
beautiful loving cup, appropriately inscribed as a souvenir of the
occasion. Mr. Eaton received his callers
with wide open hospitality and all passed a very pleasant evening together. Our citizens in general congratulate him on
his excellent health for one of his years and all trust he will continue to
enjoy good health for many years to come.
WG
c.1915-1920
ICE HARVESTING
c.1940
DISTANT VIEW OF ICE HOUSE
1957
WHS_011_200E
1964
08 06 MAYVILLE BOTTLING CO
The Mayville Bottling Co., owned
and operated by a corporation headed by Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Siegel and which
last year bought out the Badger States Bottling Co. of Watertown, is now
operating in Watertown at 708 South Twelfth Street. The plant, which began operations here some
weeks ago, is now in full operation and will close the Mayville plant in about
a month, concentrating its entire operations in Watertown. In addition to
making and dealing in the former Badger State Bottling Co. soft drinks, the
concern also deals in Sundrop Golden Cola, Dr Pepper,
Squirt and all of the Mayville quality beverages. Next week the concern will
introduce Sundrop Golden Cola sugar free or diet cola
which is expected to find a wide market because the new diet drinks are growing
in popularity.
1916 WATERTOWN GAZETTE ARTICLE of April 10, 1916
A Journey from New York State to Wisconsin,
in Lumber Wagons
by S. M. Eaton.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Sephreuess Millard 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, etc., 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
oak, 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, where, with his
brother-in-law, J. P. Green, he established a similar business.
WATERTOWN GAZETTE April 10, 1916
The following interesting account of his boyhood trip from the east to
Wisconsin and 74 years ago [1842], by S. M. Eaton will be read with great
interest by all the old Watertown boys who receive The Gazette from Maine to California. Mr. Eaton is greatly esteemed by all of them,
and his letter, we know, will be greatly appreciated by them. James W. Moore, Editor Watertown Gazette. [original spelling maintained]
Dear Old Friend: Herewith I hand
you a story of my experiences and early recollections of an early day journey
from New York state to Wisconsin 74 years ago in a lumber wagons with some
experiences after arriving. You may
publish it in The Gazette, if you
wish; it may interest some of your readers that were pioneers, and amuse some
others.
Yours truly, S. M. Eaton.
A Pioneer Story of Early
Days in Wisconsin
About the 20th of September, 1842, my father started from Pike, Allegany
County, New York, in a cotton covered lumber wagon, without springs. Our family
consisted of father and mother, myself, 10 years old, and baby brother, two
years old. Our motive power was a pair of small horses. We arrived in Buffalo
about 10 AM the second day, my father had a brother employed in the post
office. After a short visit with him and a lunch for ourselves and horses we
started on our long journey. We went to what was then called Black Rock Ferry,
where a steam ferry was run across Niagara River to the Canadian shore there is
now an international railroad bridge there.. Horror first night we camped on,
or near the Welland canal. Our horses were tired as
well as ourselves and father thought the horses would not care to roam so did
not tie them to the wagon but allowed them to feed on the grass that was in
abundance and there. We all slept in our wagon and early next morning, on
arising we found our horses were missing. Father told me to go in the direction
we were traveling while he went in the back direction. I think I went nearly a
mile when I saw a two-masted ship coming, drawn by
two horses, I asked the driver is he had seen any horses, he said no; that he
had come several the miles that morning but had not seen any. So I turned back
and when I got back to the wagon father had just come with the horses; he found
then on the back track. Mother had prepared our breakfast by a little campfire
beside the canal. After our repast and feeding the horses some oats we resumed
our journey. We traveled along the shore of Lake Erie many days, very often in
sight of it and camped nights.
We passed through several towns where the railroad is now runs; we came
through St. Thomas, where there was some kind of a holiday — they were having
some kind of test of strength between a large horse and two ponies. I don't
remember which now, but a man saw our team and wanted to trade for one of our
horses as he had one, an exact match for one of ours, so my father traded with
him and received $10 to boot, which he much needed, as he was short of money.
Canada was almost a wilderness and then, about as much as Wisconsin. We saw
many flocks of wild turkeys, but he did not get any. Although my father had a
new Kentucky rifle he had no ammunition and could not buy any at any place we
passed through. One farmer said he had to keep his chickens in the fields to
keep the turkeys out.
In due time we arrived at Windsor, opposite to Detroit Michigan, where
we crossed the river by steam ferry. We passed through Niles, Michigan. It was
on a Saturday afternoon and a short distance from the town. We stopped with a
farmer over Sunday to let our horses rest as well as ourselves. Our horses had
rundown considerable, and the farmer told my father that he would trade him
oxen for his horse , for he said, your horses must have plenty of oats and
where you are going you will find nothing but while hay and your horses have
never been used to it, and they will rundown more yet.
So they made the trade. We got a
pair of large young oxen and a good col which was led behind the wagon.

Figure by Ken Riedl
We headed for Chicago, passed many towns in Michigan and Indiana, coming
around the head of Lake Michigan and through LaPorte and several other towns
then quite small, finally arriving in Chicago, then not so large as Watertown
is today. But, as I remember, a very bustling place. They asked my father where
he was going, and when he told then they said don’t go any farther, stop right
here, and offered to give him a lot along Clark or Randolph streets is he would
remain, but he had started for Wisconsin and nothing would stop him short of
their. There was not a bridge in Chicago then and we were ferried across the
river on a scow at Lake street, pulled over by a rope. We took our course
north, up along the Desplain river; we passed through
a small village called McHenry and the last day of October, after dark, we
arrived at a settlers on Big Foot Prairie, Rock County, where we staid overnight. The next night we stopped with a farmer
about four miles north of Johnstown, Rock Prairie. This farmer was the father
of the late Norman Humphrey of Watertown, as I since learned from Mr. Humphrey.
At about 11 AM, Nov. 2 we arrived in Whitewater, our destination, after almost
six weeks travel. Whitewater consisted then of 14 buildings, including barns
and a log blacksmith shop. We did not know a soul there, and although money my
father had left was 75 cents.
Father made several inquiries to find out where a certain quarter
section of land lay and learned it was some three or four miles toward Fort
Atkinson (this land belonged to my father's brother and my father was to have
it if it suited him). We started in that direction, but tonight was over-
taking us, so stopped with a man named Henry Johnson, who had been here two or
three years and was quite comfortably fixed. The next day we drove towards that
land about stopped at the last house this side of Fort Atkinson where there was
a large family named Williams in a small log house, but every
body was kind and their hearts were larger than their houses. They took
us in and we staid whith them three or four days. My
father all the time looking for a place that we could live in through the
winter and the last days he was out looking he called in at the Exchange Hotel,
Whitewater. "Uncle Prude Parsons" as he was called, said yes I have
good log house on my farmland just vacated, the man thar worked my farm this
summer has got through and moved to Beloir and you
can move right in tomorrow if you want to. Father asked him where the farm was
and he said about a mile west on the Cold Spring road, and it was partly on the
way to where we were stopping.
Father did not stop long to make more inquiries, but made fast time to
the place and found it all right. Quite a big log house with two windows and a
fireplace, (there were not many stoves then.) The snow was then over 15 inches
deep, it having snowed all night previous, when father came back and told
mother what he had found, she was overjoyed. She had been crying most all day.
Early next morning he got an ox sled somewhere and loaded our few little
belongings on and led the cow behind, and before noon we were in our new home.
There was a stable that we put the cow in (she gave milk) and in a
little cellar under the house was about 20 bushels of potatoes that the man who
worked the farm had put in there so we confiscated them. He came back the week
after he moved to Beloit and came to the house. Father told him we were eating
his potatoes and would like to pay for them but had no money then. He said eat
them in welcome, I did not want to see them go to waste so I put them in there.
They are only 10 cents a bushel and I cannot move them to Beloit. I can get
them there for 10 cents. There was a man came Mr. Levi Sohson
that lived about a mile west, told my father that he would take his oxen and
feed them for the work, and would give my father a job of driving them and
another job in the back woods and hauling timber for a bam, and would pay my
father $8.00 per month for his work, which father did for nearly five months.
Of course when we got into our own home we had to have something to live on so
father went to a man just south of us on what is now Main Street, west of
Whitewater (his name was Samuel Prince) and the street is now called Prince
Street in his honor. Father told him he had just moved into the Parson’s house
and wanted provisions, but had no money, but would work for him or pay him as
soon as he could earn the money Mr. Prince told father that he had pork and
that he could have all he wanted for 2 1/3 cents per pound; flour for $1.50 per
100 pounds, and some butter for 10 cents per pound, and I don't want money, you
may come us and helped me next spring to put in my crops!
On top of the stable where our cow was housed, there was about three
tons of hay, stacked up there for a roof and the hay was good so we used to cut
it down in tiers about halfway to feed the cow. We
got settled all right at last, but it was the longest, lonesomest
winter I can remember. Father had to get up before daylight and go to his work
every morning over a mile. There was a spring a quarter of a mile from the
house which he passed in going and coming from work where we had to go for
water, he would take a pail and leave it at the spring and bring it back frill
of water when he came home at night. That was all the water we had except snow
water. I used to gather snow and melt it. Spring finally came and on the first
Tuesday in April, I remember the few men there went to election (town meeting)
in sleighs.
Cross References:
Video
clip Segment
on ice house and ice harvesting in Society video recording.
< PORTFOLIO OF PICS ON ICE HARVESTING
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.
PROFILE OF 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 Monmouth 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, 1808, 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 Whitewater, 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, 1821), 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, 1831, 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, etc., 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 oak, 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 15,
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; Soloman, b. April 10, 1774; Cyrus, b. June 1,
1780, died April 17, 1788; Timothy, 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.
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History of Watertown,
Wisconsin