1921 Duluth & St Louis County MN, Van Brunt.pdf - Garon.us

854 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
with it he continued in active service until physical disability rendered
him incapacitated and he received his honorable discharge on the 28th of
May, 1863. He took part in many battles and minor engagements, and
received wounds in the battles of Bull Run, South Mountain and White
Sulphur Springs.
During the winter following his discharge from the army Mr. Eaton
found employment as a lumber scaler in a lumber camp in Michigan,
and in the following year engaged in the lumber-jobbing business, with
which he continued his active association for a quarter of a century.
Within this period he also operated a blacksmith and carriage shop, and
for some time conducted a store at Alpena, Michigan, where he handled
groceries, meats, agricultural implements and other supplies.
On the 15th of March. 1892, Mr. Eaton arrived, with a number of
teams, at the old town of Mesaba, Minnesota, his purpose being to engage
in lumbering operations in this locality. Investigation convinced him that
the field for this enterprise was not promising, and accordingly he estab-
lished a stage line between Mesaba and Merritt, his first stage-load of
passengers having been transported over this route on the 17th of March,
1892. He also opened a livery stable and engaged in general teaming.
In the autumn of 1892 the railroad line was completed and instituted
service in this region, and this caused his stage line to be unprofitable.
In canvassing the situation and seeking a new field of activity. Mr. Eaton
left his son William in charge of his teams and came to Virginia, which
place at that time had only two or three houses. Here he built a barn
and established himself as one of the pioneer business men of the new,
progressive and prosperous little city. In about thirty days he was joined
by his son, with whom he became associated in the operation of a stage
line between Virginia and Mountain Iron, besides doing a general teaming
and livery business. Mr. Eaton hauled the first load of supplies to
Mr. Hibbing's exploring camp at what later became the Sellers Mine.
The fire of 1893 destroyed all of his possessions at Virginia, including
his horses, but he and his son soon re-established themselves. Within a
short time thereafter Mr. Eaton turned the management of the business
over to his son and accepted the office of justice of the peace, he having
been one of the first two men to serve in this judicial office at Virginia.
Later, when the village was incorporated as a city, Mr. Eaton was made
police justice, and in this capacity served twelve years, with characteristic
fidelity and discernment. His service continued until the establishing
of the municipal court, when the office of police justice was abolished.
He has served two terms as a member of the Virginia Board of Aldermen
and two terms as city recorder.
On the 1st of March, 1898, Mr. Eaton was appointed janitor of the
Central School Building of Virginia, and he retained this position until
the close of the last school term in this building. He is now the official
guide of the new Technical High School and takes great personal pride in
this admirable institution and his connection therewith. He still retains
affiliation with Alpena Lodge No. 199, Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons, at Alpena, Michigan, where also he is a veteran member of the
lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he is a
staunch Republican, and his religious faith is in harmony with the tenets
of the Methodist Church, of which his wife is a zealous member.
In October, 1861, Mr. Eaton was united in marriage to Miss Margaret
Cartwall, who was born at Lockport, New York, of English lineage,
and of this union have been born two children—William H. and Adelaide
M. William H. Eaton, who still continues the teaming business which
he and his father established in Virginia in the pioneer days and who