# William R. Eaton

William Robb Eaton (December 17, 1877 – December 16, 1942) was an American businessman, lawyer, Spanish-American War veteran, and politician who served two terms as a U.S. Representative from Colorado from 1929 to 1933.
He was the nephew of Charles Aubrey Eaton.

## Early life and education

Born in Pugwash, Province of Nova Scotia, Canada, his parents were Cyrus B. and Margaret S. (Whidden) Eaton. He was of New England ancestry. Eaton immigrated to the United States with his parents who settled in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1878, and in Denver, Colorado, in 1881. He attended public and private schools.

## Early and law school

Beginning at the age of 12, he was employed as a bank clerk from 1889 to 1901. He engaged as a jobber and wholesaler and in the warehouse business 1901 to 1909. He served in Troop B, First Squadron Cavalry, National Guard of Colorado from 1898 to 1904. He served during the Spanish–American War.
He was graduated from the law department of the University of Denver in 1909. He was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Denver, Colorado.

## Political career

He served as deputy district attorney of the second judicial district 1909 to 1913.

### State legislature

He served as member of the State senate 1915 to 1918 and 1923 to 1926. He was a sponsor of the Colorado State Workmen's Compensation Law in 1915. He specialized in oil and shale land property rights, insurance, mining, and corporate law. He served on the Public Lands Committee. He was interested in the establishment of military installations and the expansion of the Fitzsimons General Hospital near Denver.

### Congress

Eaton was elected as a Republican to the 71st and 72nd Congresses (March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1933). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1932 to the 73rd Congress and for election in 1934 to the 74th Congress. His loss in 1932 is attributed to his position that the prohibition should not have been repealed.

## Later career

He resumed the practice of law in Denver, Colorado. He was a member of the Masonic Temple, the city, state, national and international bar associations, the National Association for Constitutional Government. He was also a member of the Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims and the Colorado State Historical Society.

## Personal life

On September 16, 1909, he married Liela Carter. She was president of the board of the State Industrial School for Girls at Mt. Morrison. Her residence was the Colburn Hotel in Denver.

## Death and burial

He died in Denver on December 16, 1942, as the result of complications following surgery and was interred in Denver's Fairmount Cemetery.

## Electoral history

1928 United States House of Representatives elections, Colorado's 1st district :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | William R. Eaton | 63,258 | 58.08% |
| | Democratic | S. Harrison White (incumbent) | 44,713 | 41.05% |
| | Workers | William R. Dietrich | 949 | 0.87% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,545 | 17.03% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 108,920 | 100% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |
1930 United States House of Representatives elections, Colorado's 1st district :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | William R. Eaton (incumbent) | 39,907 | 50.33% |
| | Democratic | Lawrence Lewis | 38,152 | 48.12% |
| | Farmer–Labor | W.R. Duke | 813 | 1.03% |
| | Communist | Louis A. Zeitlin | 411 | 0.52% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,755 | 2.21% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 79,283 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
1932 United States House of Representatives elections, Colorado's 1st district :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lawrence Lewis | 70,826 | 54.41% |
| | Republican | William R. Eaton (incumbent) | 56,601 | 43.49% |
| | Socialist | Bruce Lamont | 1,926 | 1.48% |
| | Communist | Charles Guynn | 422 | 0.32% |
| | Farmer–Labor | W. R. Duke | 385 | 0.30% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,225 | 10.92% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 130,160 | 100% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |
1934 United States House of Representatives elections, Colorado's 1st district :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lawrence Lewis (incumbent) | 59,744 | 56.04% |
| | Republican | William R. Eaton | 34,073 | 31.96% |
| | Old Age Pension | Charles W. Varnum | 9,511 | 8.92% |
| | Socialist | Carle Whitehead | 2,540 | 2.38% |
| | Communist | George Bardwell | 743 | 0.70% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25,671 | 24.08% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 106,611 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |