The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-11-11
written For the Eaton Democrat.I
Eaton in August is26-Eaton in
August 1876.


Eaton in August is26-Eaton in
August 1870.
In 1926 Eaton contained less than
half the population that it does now.
Then the streets, side walks and alleys
were unimproved. The old Court
House stood on the public square, with
the doors permissively left open, and the
sheep often veutured into the forum of
justice. Joshua Collett, was Chief
Justice of the Court of Common 1leas.
Joseph c. Hawkins, Clerk, and John j,
Hawkins, Sheriff. Waller Buell., Sta
Piles Thompson and John Worland kept
tavern, and Cornelius Vanausdal, Hen
~ Mcnfort and John Chopper, sold
goods, wares and merchandise. Alex
andeT Mitchell and Thomas Morgan.
were cabinet makers and worked on
Barron and Main streets. Asa w.
Maloy made winsor chairs, ard David
Shanklin little wheels. Stephen Long
carried ON the tanning business wi ere
Martin Rheafuss is now engaged in the
sai e trade. Philip Helm and John
Gentle were saddiers and harness
makers, and had their shops OF west
Main street. William Watt had a car
ding machine OH the south side of east
Main street. Walter Buell. and Jesse Par
amore, were the principle physicians,
al d David L. Heaton and Lazarus Mil
Ter, the principle lawyers. Isaac
Stephens was Justice of the Peace, Re-
corder, and ono of the common pur-
pose men of the town and county.
William Bri ce, the proprietor of the
town had a grist mill ard a carding
machine, col. Injected witt. afulling mill,
near the south western limits of the
town. Colonel John Acton ard John
Gardner carried on the hating bust
ness, the OH the south side of west
Main street, and the other Oh the east
side of south Barron street John
Smith and lis mother had a bakery, on
the north side of Main street, nearly
oppo lite TO the present site of the Court
House. The old Jail stood on the south
side of the public square, and was par
tia ~ under ground OF the alley, and
the Tailor lived above. The public
square was enclosed by an old board
fence, with no shrubberry or trees,
and the south side, adjoining the alley,
was an elevated bluff, md irregular in
surface.
The Old red hipped roof school house
stood on the present school lot, on north
Barron street, and the locality in that
part of town WAS partially cleared, but
the school-lot was not then enclosed.
The widow Andrews, then lived across
the street on the lot now occupied by
Griffin II. Edison, and all the TOW Il
north east, and west, was unilnproved
but partially cleared and X own as {
kind Of commons. Joseph WATSON ant
Thomas Ward, were the principa
black smiths, the IL LAYING his shol
on north Cherry street and the Other
on east Main street. William Gill, VIA!
the principal shoemaker, aud .JohI
Jennings the prominent tailor jacob
and William Kline were the principa
Wagon makers and carried on shop OF
the north side Of eastern Main street
The mail was then carried OH hors,
back and Isaac Stephens was pos
master. Samuel Tizzard then editet
and published the Regis Ell, ON tn,
west side of north Barron street, wher,
his son William B. Tizzard now re
sides. Jonas Albright, Henry Mon,
fcrt, Jane Vansickle and Sally Sutton
were the chief church singers, VII,
have not been surpassed, if equaled, il
that beautiful art since. The improve
ments then were principally located OIL
west Main street, with no br dg
across the creek, and Il e town site il
other parts comparatively in its nativ
state. Some of the lots were encloset
by board fences, Others by rails, an,
still others out to the commons and bu
part ally cleared. The s%tone-uuarry
west of town, had been opened, all,
some rocks removed to improve til
town.
The cemetery grounds, then con
tanned only four acres, which was dc
mated for burial purposes, by the pro
|, prietOr of the town. 1t was PARTIAL
enclosed by 4 worn fence, and CON
paratively i'll the woods, where but fe,
persons were then buried. 1t was
dark and lonesome spot where but teI
persons ever visited, except on funehr;
Occasions. No monuments, as fifth
mementOes to the dead, then decor ate
, the grounds, except here and thel
some rude head stones set up-takc
; from native QuarrieS, with initia'
l scarcely legible.
As TO tho manners and ccstoms {
, the people, thev were hospitable al
l kind; their wants were not muI'ifar
Gus, and their intercourse, one wit
another, was genuine and frank, al
without assimilation. All were the
comparatively on a level, and cons
f quently there was but little gossipin
p OF back-biting; and stealing appeare
to have been unknown among the
pioneer settlers. Locks and bars wei
seldom used by them, except upc
= stores and business houses. The cattl
sheep and hogs run at lal &c in tt
l tUwI, aud quietly fed along the sire
and mn tho Commons Tho o1J ,.I1