Springfield-Greene
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HENRY EATON. From a sterling family of the old Pine Tree state came the late Henry Eaton, for many years one of the prominent business men of Springfield, and having inherited many of the commendable traits of his rugged ancestors, he won not only material success, but also a creditable position as a citizens He was a man of industry, prompt in the discharge of his every-day duties, and he gradually overcome the obstacles in his pathway and became one of the substantial men of his city, and his standing here as a thorough going, honorable man of affairs, was such as affords the keenest satisfaction to his family and friends, and no doubt was gratifying to himself, and in the true sense in which the term is used his life was a signal success.
Mr. Eaton was born on October 10, 1840, in Stonington, formerly known as Greene's Landing, a small island off the coast of Maine. He was a son of Charles and Rebecca (Doane) Eaton. The father was born in Stonington, Maine, also, and the mother was a native of Newberg, that state, the birth of Charles Eaton occurring in 1810, and Rebecca Doane first saw the light of day in 1818. These parents grew to maturity in their native state, received meager educations and were married there. They each represented old families of New England. Nathan Eaton, the paternal grandfather, established the family home in Maine when that state was sparsely settled. Charles Eaton spent his life in Maine, where he engaged extensively in the mercantile business, dry goods and groceries, also owned several fishing vessels, and carried on fishing on a large commercial scale. His family consisted of eight children, five of whom are still living.
Henry Eaton grew to manhood in Maine and assisted his father when a boy and he received his education in the public schools, also attended a seminary. After leaving school he went to sea for awhile, and was also associated with his father for some time in merchandising, remaining there until 1870, when he came to Missouri and located in Clinton, Henry county, where he remained two years, and traveled for Cole Brothers, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, then came to Springfield and went into the transfer business, becoming a member of the firm of Bryan & Eaton, and later conducted the business alone. It grew to large proportions, and his vans and teams were to be seen all over the city daily. Later he added coal and ice to his transfer business and also did a large business in this line of endeavor, and continued both with increasing success until his death. Honesty and promptness were his aims, and he had the good will and confidence of the people. He was also interested in mining and other lines of business.
Mr. Eaton was married on June 30, 1863, to Tryphosa B. Raynes, who was born at Sunset, on the same island in Maine on which Mr. Eaton was born, her birth occurring on November 27, 1845. She is a daughter of Abial and Susan (Lufkin) Ravnes, both parents being natives of that vicinity also, and there they grew up and were married, and Mr. Raynes became a sailor, was shipwrecked on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, and although he lived to reach shore, died of cold and exposure later. Mrs. Eaton's family were all seafaring people. Mrs. Eaton's grandfather, William Raynes, was born in 1778, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-one years; his wife, Ruth Sylvester, was born in 1789 and died in 1852. John Raynes, father of William, Raynes, was born in 1753 and died in 1837; his wife, Deborah Cuchman Sylvester, died in 1837 also. Capt. Edmond Sylvester, the maternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Henry Eaton, was born on June 17, 1762, and he served a short time in the Revolutionary war, and thereby Mrs. Eaton is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her grandfather and grandmother Sylvester were married at Marshfield, Massachusetts, on December 23, 1784. Mrs. Eaton was the only child of her parents, and she was but a year old when her father lost his life at sea. She grew to womanhood in her native community and received a common school education.
To Henry Eaton and wife six children were born, three of whom are deceased; they were named as follows: Ann is the eldest, Charles is deceased, Daisy is living, Henry, Jr., is deceased, as is also Kate; Karl, the youngest, lives in Springfield and is well known among the younger business men here.
Politically, Henry Eaton was a Republican, and fraternally he belonged to the Masonic Order. He was called to his eternal rest on March 23, 1913 at the age of seventy-two and a half years.
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