Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 885.
 
W. ROSS EATON, M. D.

     Energetic, conscientious and efficient, Dr. W. Ross Eaton has steadily
progressed in the field of professional service and is firmly established in
public regard as one of Oregon City's leading physicians. He comes of sturdy
pioneer stock and is the only surviving representative of the Eaton family. His
birth occurred in 1887 at Mulino, about six miles from Oregon City, and his
father, Washington Eaton, was also a native of Clackamas county. He was born
near Carus and was a son of James and Mahala (Dickerson) Eaton, who came from
Missouri. In 1863 they started for Oregon, having a wagon, one yoke of oxen and
two cows, and after many trials and hardships arrived safely at their journey's
end. While traveling across the plains they hung the cream at the back of the
wagon and the jolting churned it into butter.  In 1873 James Eaton became a
Sunday school superintendent at Mount Pleasant and the Bible which he used at
that time is one of the cherished possessions of his grandson, Dr. W. Ross
Eaton. For many years James Eaton followed agricultural pursuits and in 1885
death terminated his labors. In his family were five children, two sons and
three daughters, all of whom are deceased.
     Washington Eaton, who also engaged in farming, was called to his final rest
in 1888. He had married Miss Julia Morris, who was born in Macksburg, Oregon,
and now lives near Mulino. Her mother, Helena (Klinger) Morris, was a native of
Missouri and in 1847 came with her family to Oregon, being at that time a child
of six. During that year there was an epidemic of cholera and Mrs. Klinger died
while crossing the plains. The family traveled with a large train and each night
the wagons were placed in the form of a circle, thus constituting a barricade,
but the party experienced little trouble with the Indians. One of the emigrants
shot a squaw and in order to save the lives of the other members of the caravan
they were obliged to deliver the young man into the hands of the savages, who
killed him.
     Reared on his grandmother's farm, Dr. W. Ross Eaton attended one of the
country schools of Clackamas county and the high school at Oregon City. In 1910
he received the B. S. degree from McMinnville College and later matriculated in
the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1916 with the degree
of M. D. He was afterward an interne in the Good Samaritan and Emanuel Hospitals
in Portland, spending a year in each institution. Since 1918 he has followed his
profession in Oregon City and now enjoys a large practice. He is thorough and
painstaking in diagnosis and accurately applies his scientific knowledge to the
needs of his patients.
     Dr. Eaton was married in 1918 to Miss Ruth Latourette, a native of Oregon
City  and a daughter of D. C. Latourette, who was born on a farm about three
miles from  this city. His father, L. D. C. Latourette, was a native of New York
state, whence he removed to Missouri. At St. Joseph he joined a wagon train and
traveled with the party to Oregon in 1848, driving a team for an old Baptist
minister in order to pay for his passage. He was an experienced educator and
during the winter of 1848 was the first teacher in the school which later became
the nucleus of Pacific University at Forest Grove. In 1851 he married Miss Lucy
Fisher, a daughter of the Rev. Ezra Fisher, a Baptist preacher, who started for
Oregon in 1845, spending the first winter on Tualatin plains. Later he removed
to Clatsop plains, where he lived until 1849, when he proceeded to Astoria, and
there he erected one of the first frame houses, making it from one tree. In the
spring of 1849 L. D. C. Latourette went to California, journeying along the
Feather river and Mary's river. He afterward opened a store in Oregon City,
handling books, notions, etc., and subsequently he settled on the donation land
claim where his son, D. C. Latourette was born, purchasing all the rights to the
tract. At one time he was one of the directors of the Oregon City Manufacturing
Company and was also active in public affairs, serving as county commissioner
and school director. His first wife died in 1863 and later he married her
sister, Miss Ann Elizabeth Fisher. In 1886 he responded to death's summons, and
his widow long survived him, passing away in 1924.
     D. C. Latourette was one of the older members of a family of eight children
and attended the public schools of Oregon City, afterward taking a course in
Pacific University. Later he was professor of mathematics at McMinnville College
and afterward studied law. In 1882 he was admitted to the bar and formed a
partnership with Charles D. and Earle C. Latourette, constituting one of the
strongest legal combinations in Oregon City. D. C. Latourette is president of
the First National Bank of Oregon City and a financier of high standing. For
many years he was treasurer of McMinnville College and also one of its trustees.
He is a faithful member of the Baptist church, of which he has been a deacon for
forty years. In 1882 Mr. Latourette married Miss Ellen Scott, a member of a
family that was established in Oregon early in the '50s, and of which Harvey
Scott and Abigail Scott Duniway were members. Mr. and Mrs. Latourette became the
parents of five children: Kenneth, professor of missions and oriental history at
Yale University; Carrol, who lived but a year; Ruth, who is the wife of Dr.
Eaton; Perrin, who was drowned when a child of nine years; and Dorothy, now Mrs.
Homer Hollowell.
     Dr. and Mrs. Eaton have one child, Wilma Ruth, who was born in Oregon City
and is five years old. Mrs. Eaton completed a course in the local high school
and also McMinnville College. In 1915 she was graduated from the College of
Osteopathy at Los Angeles, California, and has since practiced in Oregon City,
occupying a portion of her husband's suite of offices. She is an able exponent
of her profession, and her services are in constant demand. A strong believer in
prohibition, she belongs to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and is also a
member of the Woman's Club of Oregon City, while in religious faith she is a
Baptist. Her husband is a Royal Arch Mason and is also identified with the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
His interest centers in his profession, and he keeps in close touch with its
progress through constant study as well as through his affiliation with the
Multnomah City and County and Oregon State Medical Societies and the American
Medical Association. The Doctor is well known throughout the Columbia River
valley and enjoys the esteem of all with whom he has been associated.
 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2010 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.