"An Illustrated History of Whitman County, state of Washington." San Francisco:
W. H. Lever, 1901.  p. 360
 
JOHN D. EATON

     A pioneer of the west of a very early date and of Whitman county since
1870, the subject of this article is certainly among the founders and builders
of the county with which he has so long been identified, and to him the honor is
due which always belongs to those, who, at great personal sacrifice, have
assisted in ushering in a brighter and better day and a higher civilization into
any section of our land.  Mr. Eaton is a native of Oswego county, New York, born
January 22, 1833.  In 1835 he moved with his parents to Ohio, where he remained
on his father's farm on the banks of the Maumee river until March, 1853; but
with the advent of manhood came the desire to seek the smiles of fortune in the
west, so in 1853 he crossed the plains with ox-teams to Oregon.  On the way he
experienced some very exciting adventures with Indians.  Arriving in Oregon
City, Oregon, on August 11, 1853, he at once engaged in the arduous labor of
cutting cordwood, but, failing to receive any compensation for his work, he soon
sought other employment.  He went to Portland, bought a skiff and journeyed in
that to Montecello, going thence to the sound, walking the entire distance.
Locating at the site of the present town of Ranier, in Thurston county, he
engaged in stock-raising, continuing in that industry until 1859, when he
removed to Walla Walla county.  Locating on the Tukanon river, he again engaged
in the stock business.  In 1862 he sold out and began traveling through British
Columbia, Montana, Utah and California, mining and trading.  In 1868-9 he
operated a ferryboat on the Snake river at a point called Kentuck Ferry, and in
1870 he came to Whitman county.  On April 6 of the year referred to he took land
near Alki and resumed the business he had before followed namely stock-raising.
Prosperity attended his efforts; his realty holdings grew, and he is now in
possession of a princely domain of fifteen hundred acres.  He has a fine home, a
good barn and other outbuildings, and the evidences of thrift and industry are
everywhere perceptible about his premises.  He is certainly to be numbered among
the very best and most successful of the farmers who have made their home in
Whitman county.  He is still quite extensively interested in stock-raising, his
herd at present numbering about one hundred head.
     In the political affairs of county, state and nation our subject has always
taken an active and leading part, and he is justly considered one of the
representative men of the Palouse country in these matters.  He was road
overseer when his district comprised what is now Whitman, Douglas, Franklin and
Adams counties, and all of Spokane county south of the river.  In 1891 he was
the choice of his section for the office of county commissioner.
     Being a pioneer of a very early date, Mr. Eaton has seen his share of
Indian warfare.  In 1856 he enlisted in Company B, Captain Robison, during the
war of 1855-6, and had many narrow escapes during the years ofthat conflict.
His brother, Charles, who crossed the plains with Dr. Whitman, also took part in
the same war as captain of the rangers.  This brother is now deceased, as is
also another brother of our subject, Nathan, who was with Whitman in the
emigrant train conducted across the plains by the missionary patriot.  His
sister, who lives with him, is a pioneer of 1872.
 
     
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Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in November 2006 by Diana Smith.

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.