NORTHWESTERN
IOWA
ITS HISTORY AND TRADITIONS
1804-1926
E
F. L. EATON
A name known to everyone who has the slightest
acquaintance with the business history of Sioux City, Iowa, is that
of the late Fred Laurine Eaton, whose death, on July 20, 1925, was
considered an irreparable loss to the community. He filled a large
place in the commercial and financial life of the city, and as an
energetic, far-sighted man, whose judgment and discretion were
seldom at fault and whose influence made for the substantial
upbuilding of the locality honored by his citizenship, he earned a
reputation second to none of his contemporaries. Fred L. Eaton, who
at the time of his death was president and general manager of the
Sioux City Stock Yards Company, was born at Calais, Washington
county, Vermont, on the 10th of July, 1859, and was a son of Arthur
G. and Ellen M. (Chase) Eaton. He was the scion of a long line of
sterling American ancestors, the progenitor of the family in this
country having been John Eaton, who came from England in 1635. He
settled first in Watertown Massachusetts, but soon afterwards moved
to Dedham, Massachusetts, and is known in the Eaton genealogy and in
the records of old colonial families as John Eaton of Dedham. The
subject of this memoir was of the ninth generation in direct descent
from this ancestor. Arthur G. Eaton was a farmer in Washington
county, Vermont, and became a soldier in the Union army during the
Civil war, giving up his life in the service, when but twenty-six
years of age. His widow later became the wife of John R. Seaver.
From his sixth year, Fred Laurine Eaton was reared
at Montpelier, Vermont, making his home with his maternal
grandfather, Nelson A. Chase, who was a farmer, but later turned his
attention to manufacturing. He was made judge of the probate court
and afterwards became registrar of the probate court, which office
he held to the time of his death, at the age of eighty-two years.
Fred L. Eaton was given the advantage of a good public school
education and during these years served before and after school
hours as a newspaper carrier. Later he obtained work in a book
store and in 1877 secured a clerkship in the First National Bank of
Montpelier. By faithful and intelligent service he worked his way
up to the position of teller and remained in that institution until
1881, when he went to Barre, Vermont, to become cashier of the
National Bank of Barre. He filled that position four years and in
1885 returned to the First National Bank of Montpelier as cashier,
thus serving until 1894. He then resigned and came to Sioux City,
Iowa, as secretary and general manager of the Credit Commutation
Company, which had been organized among the creditors of the Sioux
City corporations which had failed in the disastrous panic of 1893,
the aim of the organization being the rehabilitation of these
concerns and the consequent protection of the investments of the
incorporators, representing some four million dollars. In the
course of the readjustment an uncompleted bridge across the Missouri
river was finished, at an approximate cost of a million dollars,
which money was largely furnished by the creditors. A new company
was formed known as the Combination Bridge Company, of which Mr.
Eaton was made secretary and treasurer. He remained identified with
that company continuously after that, though the bridge was later
owned by a new company, the Missouri River Bridge Company, of which
also Mr. Eaton was secretary and treasurer.
In 1894 the Sioux City Stock Yards Company was
formed by a reorganization of the old Union Stock Yards Company,
whose property the new company took over in 1895. On the
reorganization, Mr. Eaton was made secretary and treasurer, serving
as such until 1900, when he relinquished the treasurership. In
1901 he was made general manager and in 1903 the office of president
was conferred on him, so that he served as chief executive officer
and general manager for twenty-two consecutive years, his service as
such being terminated only by his death. Baring his administration
of affairs for the stock yards company he attained national
recognition as one of the most capable men in the stock yards
industry. Many of the most important improvements in the yards here
were adopted at his suggestion and in a large measure he realized
his ambitions in the development of these yards, so that Sioux City
became the second largest hog market in the world, it being
generally conceded by live stock and packing plant experts that
great credit was due Mr. Eaton for making Sioux City the market
center that it is today.
In 1895 Mr. Eaton was one of the organizers of the
Live Stock National Bank, of which institution he was made vice
president and a member of the board of directors. He was chosen
president of the Sioux City Terminal Railway Company on its
organization in 1907, continuing in that capacity until his death.
He was president of the Iowa Rendering Company, president of the
Hawkeye Land Company, vice-president of the General Manufacturing
Company and vice-president of the Sioux City Telephone Company. In
October, 1924, Mr. Eaton was elected president of the Sioux Falls
(S. D.) Stock Yards Company on its reorganization, and just prior to
his death was actively engaged in the development of the stock yards
industry there. When the Sioux City Grain Exchange was organized he
was elected its first president, serving in that capacity during the
early period of the development of that organization. For
twenty-one years prior to his voluntary retirement in 1924, Mr.
Eaton had served as president of the Interstate Fair Association,
being then elected chairman of its board of directors. His
accomplishment in that position gave him a place of prominence among
nationally-known officials of expositions. His development of the
Boys' and Girls' club programs, and of the live stock exposition,
both of which were leading features of the Interstate Fair, had
earned for him commendation from both the state and federal
departments of agriculture. At the time of his death he was one of
the five remaining members of the National Association of Fair
Officials, organized in 1907. He was secretary of the first Chamber
of Commerce organization in the city, and at the time of his death
was vice-president and a director of that organization, which he had
previously served as president. Considerable work was accomplished
by Mr. Eaton in the development of inland waterways and in
recognition of his eminent services in this direction he was made,
just prior to his last illness, chairman of the Missouri river
committee of the National Chamber of Commerce, and a director of the
Mississippi Valley Association. In recognition of his magnificent
work for the development of Sioux City, he was awarded the Kiwanis
Club medal for 1923, as the citizen who had done most for the city.
On October 15, 1884, at Barre, Vermont, Mr. Eaton
was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Gale, who was born and reared
at Barre, and they became the parents of two children: Lieut. Col.
Stanley Gale Eaton, of Sioux City; and Dorothy, who is the wife of
Edward C. Palmer, vice president of the Palmer Candy Company, of
Sioux City. Stanley G. was married to Miss Sibyl Wright, of
Montpelier, Vermont. The mother of these children died in 1917.
Fraternally Mr. Eaton was a member of Aurora Lodge No. 2, Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons, of Montpelier, Vermont, to which lodge his
grandfather had also belonged; King Solomon Chapter, No. 7, Royal
Arch Masons, of Montpelier; Montpelier Council, No. 4, Royal and
Select Masters; Mt. Zion Commandery, No. 9, Knights Templar, of
which he was a past commander; Sioux City Consistory, No. 5, Ancient
Accepted Scottish Rite; Abu-Bekr Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, with which order he had been identified
for thirty-eight years; and Sioux City Lodge No. 112, Benevolent
Protective Order of Elks. He was also a member of the Sons of the
American Revolution, the Sons of Veterans, the Sioux City Country
Club, the Morningside Country Club and the Sioux City Boat Club.
His religious connection was with the First Unitarian church. In
1894, while still in Montpelier, Mr. Eaton was appointed a member of
the staff of Governor Urban A. Woodbury, of Vermont, in which
connection he gained the honorary title of Colonel. He was division
commander of the Sons of Veterans of Vermont. He had also served
several years as city treasurer of Montpelier. Possessing a broad,
inquiring mind, he was keenly alive to all the issues and problems
of the day. Though modest and unassuming and easily approached, he
possessed a strong and vigorous personality and in the best sense of
the term was a leader of men and well fitted to manage important
enterprises. Few were more sought for counsel than he and the
correctness of his opinions in practical matters was almost
proverbial. By a straight-forward and honorable course in every
relation of life, he won the hearty admiration of the people of his
adopted city and earned a reputation not only as an enterprising,
progressive man of affairs, but also as a broad-minded, charitable
and upright citizen.
M. M. ELK
M. M. Elk, one of the substantial business men of
Galva, has made his own way in the world and represents that type of
well bred foreign born American citizen whose inherited tendencies
of industry, enterprise and integrity have contributed so largely
toward the development and prosperity of our nation. A native of
Sweden, he was born March 31, 1854, and his parents, Morton Larson
and Annie Johnson, were lifelong residents of that country. They
had seven children: Lewis, Peter and Ernest, all of whom are
deceased; M. M.; Beatrice, the widow of Nesls Johnson, of Sweden;
Johanna, who still resides in that country; and Annie, who has
passed away.
M. M. Elk was educated in his native land and in
1870 severed home ties, responding to the lure of the new world.
His brother had preceded him to the United States in 1869 and both
adopted American names after coming to this country. Our subject
was engaged in farming near Princeton, Illinois, for seven years.
In 1876 his brother came to Ida county, Iowa, acquiring a quarter
section of land, and he was later joined by M. M. Elk, who was a
partner in the transaction. For several years they were associated
in the operation of the place, which they converted into a fine
ranch, supplied with many modern improvements. M. M. Elk was
identified with agricultural activities of that district until 1917,
when he purchased land near Galva, and is now the owner of a
desirable farm of two hundred and ninety-four acres. He utilizes
scientific methods and through systematic work has brought his land
to a high state of productivity. He is also president of the galva
Union Elevator and a salacious, farsighted business man, well able
to cope with modern commercial conditions.
On February 18, 1890, Mr. Elk married Miss Ida
Jacobsen, and eight children were born of their union, namely; Mable,
who is the wife of Ray Walter, of Harlan, Iowa; Florence, a resident
of Long Beach, California; Clarence C., cashier of the State Bank of
Galva; Lewis, Vernie and Ruby, all of whom are deceased; Harold, who
lives in Galva; and Ethel, who is engaged in teaching at Arlington,
Illinois.
Mr. Elk reserves the right to vote according to the
dictates of his judgment, regarding the qualifications of a
candidate as a matter of first importance, and is liberal and
broadminded in his views on all subjects. He has ever placed the
general welfare before personal aggrandizement, and he has held
every office in the township. He has been a member of the local
school board and was assessor in 1892. He served for sixteen years
as secretary of the Farmers Elevator Company and has been the
recipient of many important trusts, all of which he has discharged
with ability and fidelity. He is connected with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and conforms his conduct to the teachings of
the Methodist church. Correctly understanding life's values and
purposes, Mr. Elk has wisely conserved his powers, and although he
has reached the age of seventy-two years, he still remains at the
helm of his business, wisely directing his affairs. His devotion to
duty, public spirit and strict honesty are well known to the
residents of Galva and Ida county and have met with a rich return of
personal regard.
H. H. EPPERSON
Among those who have contributed their part in
making Sioux City what it is in relation to the live stock business
of the country stands Harrison H. Epperson, manager and member of
the firm of Steele, Siman & Company, live stock commission
merchants. He has had long experience in this field of effort, in
which he is considered an authority, and in all his operations has
met with a very fair measure of success. Mr. Epperson was born at
Afton, Iowa, on the 12th of June, 1884, a son of Thomas H. and Emma
(Weeks) Epperson, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of
Vermont. They were married in Princeton, Illinois, where the mother
had come to live with an uncle, and soon afterward they moved to
Afton, Iowa, where the father was engaged in mercantile pursuits for
many years. Both parents are still living and have resided in Sioux
City since 1901.
Harrison H. Epperson received a public school
education, graduating from the Preston high school in 1901. He then
came to Sioux City, and the remainder of that year he spent in
Morningside College and at Brown's Business College. In 1902 he
worked for the Cudahy Packing Company and in the following year
entered the employ of T. J. Steele & Company, live stock brokers of
Sioux City. In 1906 Mr. Steele, R. E. Siman and Mr. Epperson
organized the live stock commission house of Steelke, Siman &
Company, and on the death of Mr. Steele, in 1920, our subject was
made the active manager of the business. He has been more than
ordinarily successful, being a man of alert mentality, great energy
and sound business judgment, and now holds an enviable place in the
business circles of this city. In 1918 Mr. Epperson was one of the
organizers of the Morningside Savings Bank, of which he has since
served as president.
In 1908 Mr. Epperson was united in marriage to Miss
Edith Alqyer, of Paullina, Iowa, and they are the parents of two
children, namely: Helen E., who is a senior in high school; and
Harrison A., Jr., who is in the grade schools. Mr. Epperson is a
member of Morningside Lodge, No. 615, Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons; Sunrise Chapter, No. 141, Royal Arch Masons; Sioux City
Consistory, No. 5, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and Abu-Bekr
Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He also belongs to the Sioux City Chamber
of Commerce and the Morningside Country Club. He and his family are
members of the Morningside Presbyterian church. Through normal and
worthy means, Mr. Epperson has become a dominating power in the
particular field in which he is interested, but in business, as in
every phase of his life, he is fair and the soul of honor. He is a
man of action, essentially utilitarian, and his judgment is greatly
valued among his business associates. While his business affairs
make heavy demands upon his time, he is not unmindful of his
obligations to the community, as his efforts to advance the public
good and promote the welfare of his city and vicinity have
abundantly attested.
WILLIAM EUBANK
William Eubank, a successful florist, is proprietor
of the Riverside Greenhouses at Sioux City and for fifteen years has
conducted this business, which has constituted his life work. He
was born December 28, 1887, in New Madison, Ohio, and is a son of
William T. and Anna Elizabeth (Nyswonger) Eubank, also natives of
the Buckeye state. The father engaged in farming in Ohio and
Indiana for many years and is now living retired at Richmond, in the
latter state, but the mother passed away on the 12th of July, 1915.
Mr. Eubank received his first instruction in a rural
school in the vicinity of New Madison, Ohio, and afterward attended
a public school near Richmond, Indiana. He remained on the home
farm until he reached the age of sixteen, and then started out in
life for himself, securing work in the Hill Greenhouse at Richmond.
He was subsequently employed by florists of Newcastle, Indiana;
Webb City, Missouri; Fremont, Nebraska; Junction City, Kansas, and
Chicago, Illinois. He spent two years in the western metropolis and
in 1910 came to Sioux City, Iowa. After working for about four and
a half months he purchased the Elder Greenhouse in partnership with
J. N. Nordstrom, with whom he was associated for two and a half
years, and then acquired the business, which he has since
controlled. In 1919 Mr. Eubank demolished the old buildings and
constructed his present fine plant of seven houses, twenty-seven by
one hundred and thirty feet in dimensions, each containing
thirty-four thousand feet of glass. He has also recently built a
modern office building which is one of the finest in connection with
any greenhouse in Iowa. The Riverside Greenhouses at No. 1734
Riverside boulevard are conveniently located, being the only ones
situated on a car line in the city, and railroad connections have
also been established. Mr. Eubank raises choice varieties of
flowers and plants and has six regular employees, increasing his
force during the busy season, which occurs in the spring. His
expert knowledge of the business is supplemented by good judgment
and executive force and his trade has now assumed large proportions.
He maintains hi-class service and has established an enviable
reputation for enterprise and reliability.
On June 26, 1911, Mr. Eubank was married to Miss
Grace Arnold, of Fremont, Nebraska, by whom he has three children:
Mildred Grace, whose natal day was October 7, 1913; Dorothea Marie,
who was born April 1, 1916; and William Arnold, born November 16,
1919. Mr. Eubank is a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church and
casts his ballot for the candidates of the republican party. He is
a Yoeman and also belongs to the Riverside Community Club and the
Chamber of Commerce. A public-spirited citizen, he lends the weight
of his support to every project for municipal growth and betterment.
He enjoys his work and his record proves that the old-fashioned
virtues of industry and honesty still constitute they key to
prosperity.
