Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah August 20, 2020

Gilbert Eaton, one of the representative and respected residents of Glidden, has been successfully engaged in the furniture and undertaking business here for the past thirty-six years. His birth occurred in Windham county, Connecticut, on the 19th day of August, 1840, his parents being Horace and Mahala (Doty) Eaton, natives of Connecticut and Vermont respectively. His paternal grandfather, Ebenezer Eaton, was also a native of Connecticut and a farmer by occupation. He died in middle life. Unto him and his wife, Mrs. Sybil Eaton, were born the following children: Horace, Joseph P., Edwin, Samuel, Henry, Eben, William, Sarah, Lucy and Eliza. The maternal grandfather of our subject was born in Vermont and also followed farming as a life work.

Horace Eaton, the father of Gilbert Eaton, was a wool sorter. He died at Wilsonville, Windham county, Connecticut, in 1896, when eighty-nine years of age, passing away in the faith of the Congregational church. By his first wife, who died at the age of thirty-four years, he had four children, namely: George, Gilbert, Horace and Edward. By his second wife, who bore the maiden name of Eleanor Young, Horace Eaton had two children: Albert, who is deceased; and Ellen, the wife of Charles Kelly, of Wilsonville, Windham county, Connecticut.

Gilbert Eaton was reared at Wilsonville, Windham county, Connecticut, and obtained his education in an academy. After putting aside his text-books he entered the woolen factory of his uncle Joseph, being thus employed for some years. Subsequently he enlisted in Company K, Seventh Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, remaining with that command for three years and ten months and holding the rank of first sergeant. At the battle on Melvin Hill, near Richmond, he received a gunshot wound in his left shoulder. He likewise participated in the engagements of Port Royal, South Carolina, Olustee, Florida, Fort Fisher, North Carolina, and Morris Island and west with Butler up to Richmond. After returning from the war he removed to Illinois, settling in De Kalb county. In 1870 he came to Iowa and made his home in Calhoun county until 1875, which year witnessed his arrival in Glidden, Carroll county. Here he has resided continuously since, conducting an extensive furniture and undertaking establishment. He has built up a large and profitable business and is widely recognized as one of the substantial and leading citizens of the community.

As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Eaton chose Miss Martha A. Curtis, a native of Douglass, Massachusetts, and a daughter of Bryant and Patience Curtis, who were likewise born in that state. Removing to Illinois, they spent the remainder of their lives in De Kalb county, both attaining a ripe old age. Their children were seven in number, namely: Joanna; Sarah; Mary; Martha; Elijah; David, who died in a Confederate prison as a Union soldier; and Nathan. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Eaton have been born eleven children. David C., a carpenter and builder of Glidden, wedded Miss Sylva Rigdon, by whom he has five children. Lilly passed away when three years of age. Mary Jessie, residing at Dunlap, Iowa, is the wife of George Gleason and has four children: Edward, George, Irvin and Curtis. Frank, a carpenter and builder of San Francisco, California, has one son, Frank Jr. Junia is employed in his father’s store. Jason is the secretary and treasurer of the Western Newspaper Union in the city of Oklahoma. Rudolph is the secretary and treasurer of Eastman Brothers’ paint house at Oklahoma. Edward, a stenographer employed at Shawnee, Oklahoma, has one son, Donald. Horace G., a rural mail carrier in Glidden, Iowa, married Miss Jennie Bell and has three children: Wilbur, Belle and Robert. Elva is employed as clerk in a drug store of Kansas City. Myra is the wife of Dr. E. R. Stealy, of Dunlap.

Mr. Eaton is a republican in politics and for several years served as justice of the peace in Calhoun county. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Haggai Lodge, No. 369, A.F. & A.M., of Glidden, Iowa; and Copestone Chapter, No., 78, R.A.M. He also maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in N. P. Wright Post, G. A.R., of Glidden. Upright and honorable in all the relations of life, his word is considered as good as his bond, and he has the entire confidence and respect of those with whom he comes in contact either in business or social affairs.

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