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
1875
08 11 FINE ARTESIAN FOUNTAIN
Harding
has taken the Kneisel building [?], on the bank of the river, near the new iron
bridge [Cady Street, but known as Broad Street at the time], and will at
once proceed to its renovation and refitting for a thorough bathing
establishment, supplying it with Turkish, Electric and Plunge Bath Rooms. The supply of water will come principally
from the [nearby] FINE ARTESIAN FOUNTAIN belonging to the Soda Water
manufactory of S. M. Eaton [301-311 N. Water] and will enter the building
through a large iron pipe. The
Watertown News
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 separate 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
07 21 FOR SALE
ICE AND SODA WATER BUSINESSES
WISHING
TO CHANGE MY BUSINESS, I offer for sale my entire business, either the whole
together, or I will sell it separately.
The business consists of the entire Ice trade of the city of Watertown,
with the Ice Houses, Wagons, Horses, Tools, etc. Also the Soda Water Machinery, Bottles,
Wagons, Horses, Building and everything connected with the business.
I will
give the party full instructions in the business and will also guarantee that I
will not engage in the same business here again.
The
whole will be sold Cheap for Cash, or time will be given on a part of it.
For
particulars call and see the property and enquire of the subscriber.
I mean
business, and to any one that also means business, come and see me.
S M.
EATON. Watertown, July 22d, 1878.
NOTE: The attempt to sell was not successful. We
have S. M. Eaton selling to John Knispel in 1909.
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
08 27 MONSTER MUSKELLUNGE
Commissioner Eaton and "Al" Krueger return Monday from a
fishing excursion to Tomahawk lake. They
captured a monster muskellunge, which was four feet long and weighed when
dressed 32 pounds. This mammoth fish was
on exhibition at Krueger’s restaurant and was the wonder of all who saw
it. The catch of disciples of Ike Walton
included another muskellunge, weighing 22 pounds dressed, which was presented
to C. C. Eaton, editor of The Columbus Democrat, and many are envious of
"Can’s" fish dinners for several days to come.
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
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
1891
01 21 THE HARVEST OF ICE
Last week S. M. Eaton & Son and the breweries of
the A. Fuermann company and Hartig & Manz сompleted the work of
filling their ice-houses, securing the nicest stock of ice cut from the river
here for some years. It is without any
impurities and has an average thickness of from 12 to 13 inches. S.M. Eaton & Son stored 3,000 tons. WR
__________________________ EARLY
WEATHER FORECASTING
___________________________
1891: Watertown considered for Weather and Crop
Service Station
04 22 1891 <>
Frank Eaton, secretary of the Farmers
club, and some others, have interested themselves in having Watertown made a
weather and crop service station, under the auspices of the Commercial and
Agricultural interests of Wisconsin. The
project, it is expected, will be matured this week, and flag displays be seen
from the city hall building. Daily
weather maps will be received and posted in conspicuous places for the benefit
of the public. Self-registering
thermometers will be used for making observations of temperatures, rain falls,
etc. Great benefits to the farmers about
here are expected from the establishing of this station, and it hoped that
general interest will be manifested in its maintenance and success. WR
04 24 1891 <>
Through the efforts of Frank Eaton on about May 1st
next a signal service station will be in full running order here. The flags will be displayed from the city
hall towers, which will indicate the weather 24 hours in advance. The rain gauge and self-registering
thermometer will be placed at some convenient place in the city, so that all
may get the benefit of them.
05 15 1891 <>
The signal service thermometers and rain gauge for this station have arrived
and are now in position on the building of
Jos. Salick & Son. The
weather flags will be here in a few days, and will
float from the flag staff of
the city hall.
05
22 1891 <> Last Friday afternoon the weather signals of the
government weather signal station were floated for the first time from the city
hall flag staff, the first signal indicating frost that night. As it was quite warm at the time and
threatening rain, many laughed at the idea of there going to be a frost, and
alluded to the signal service as a fraud, but on toward evening the weather
turned cold, and during the night a very severe frost set in. Thus far the weather predictions have been a
success... WG
05 22 1891 <>
[same date and paper] Attention farmers.
Make hay while the sun shines.
Daily 8 a.m. weather forecasts from Washington-D.C., standard time from
Washburn Observatory and weekly crop reports received at the Music and Jewelry
store of Joseph Salick & Son, Watertown, Wis. WG
06 03 1891 <>
The weather signals are now displayed from the Salick building instead of the
city hall.
________________________________________________________________________________
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
02 26 S. M.
EATON & SON DISPOSE OF BUSINESS
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
12 04 DEATH OF FRANK M. EATON (1856-1911)
The death of Frank M. Eaton took
place at his home in Eugene, Oregon, Sunday evening, December 3, 1911.
Two years ago Mr. Eaton removed
to Eugene and about a month ago decided to pay his parents here a visit and at
the same time transact some business in Chicago and Milwaukee. On his way here while crossing the mountains
the locomotive on his train met with an accident and in changing engines the
steam-heated cars became chilled and Mr. Eaton contracted a severe cold, which
he nursed for a few days here and then made a trip on business to Chicago and
Milwaukee.
He returned to this city and
delayed longer than he intended on account of his poor physical condition, but
after being cared for at his parents' home a few days he decided that he was
strong enough and made the return journey to his home in Eugene and was
immediately obliged to take to his bed with a severe attack of pneumonia,
followed by paralysis and finally death.
The announcement of his death
here spread quickly to all sections of the city, and the many sincere
expressions of sympathy testified the high esteem in which he was held by our
people.
The editor of The Gazette
mourns his loss as that of a very dear personal friend, for we had known him
intimately since 1868-as a playmate, school mate, neighbor and friend. We have always found him loyal and true, most
honorable person in every respect.
He served on the Board of
Education with us many years, and, as in all his duties, as a member of the
Board he was faithful, efficient and honorable.
He was a son of S. M. Eaton and
wife of this city and was born January 1856, in the town of Hebron, this
county, coming to this city to reside with his parents in 1868. He was educated in the public schools of this
city, and after being married he was for a time engaged in business at Ft.
Atkinson.
Disposing of his business there.
he returned to this city and engaged in the soda water and ice business with
his father under the firm name of S. M. Eaton & Son, succeeding the
old-time firm of Eaton and Green. This
firm disposed of their business two years ago, and Frank removed with his
family to Eugene, Oregon, where he built a fine home, and at the time of his
death was engaged in the manufacture of cider, vinegar, pickles, apple butter,
and many other sides vegetable and fruit products, besides owning a half
interest in the largest crockery and grocery store in Eugene.
He was a member of Watertown No. 49,
F. and A. M. and the United Commercial Travelers association, and for many
years served as a member of the Watertown Board of Education previous
to removing from city, and also was a member Phoenix Fire Co.
He was one of Watertown's most
progressive and esteemed business men for many years and his line of business
brought him in contact with most of our people, and all testify to the fact
that they never dealt with a more honorable man. His wife, three sons and one daughter survive
him, his children being Miss Pearl Eaton, Clayton, Almond and Myron Eaton of
Eugene. His father and mother and one
brother and one sister also survive him.
His remains are expected here
tomorrow and will be interred in Oak Hill cemetery.
If Mr. Eaton's remains arrive
here tomorrow, they will be taken to his parents' home in Washington Street and
at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon will be taken to Masonic Temple, where Masonic
rites will be conducted, thence to Oak Hill for burial. 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.
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin