Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-02-13
FRED EATON.

Of Fred Eaton, the leading dry goods mer-
chant Of Toledo,
Mr.. Eaton was born Nt Sutton, Merri-
mack county, New Hampshire, (among
the rocks and rills) Feb. 10, 1896, making
hin, just two days older than the writer.
His father was a leading farmer In that
section, and the son followed the plow,
drove oxen aud engaged In the hardest of
farm work until well up in his teens.
From the Toledo Posts local sketch
book we extract the following sketch of
his honorable and progressive career since
his arrival in that city, believing IL will
he read with much interest by the people
oil Wood county who are so familiar with
his name:
In 1857. on the eve of the business co.,
lapse of that decade. Mr.. Eaton began the |
dry goods business for himself in Toledo |
His brother, Gen. John Eaton, now United |
States Commissioner of Education, was
then superintendent Of the Toledo Public |
Schools, and had some money interest for
while in the new enterprise.
All within the great trading circle of
Toledo are familiar with Mr. Eatons com.
mercial success. Bv h,s enterprise in nd
verising to bring trade from the surround
ing region TO himself he has been help to
every other merchant and to every indus
try in Toledo 1t is impossible for Mr..
Eaten or any merchant TO suit the taste of
all customers. and II H. frequent occur.
renee for people, who have come from n
distance TO trade with Mr.. Eaton, to
| finally see goods at other stores which su,t
| them letter. Thus Mr.. Eaton's enterprise
has been help rather than an injury to
his rivals. Generally every person who
comes to Toledo to buy dry goods alao
buys some other clnss of goods OF the
dealer in the same. His marked shrewd.
ness md wisdom in buying gonds and in
getting low prices has been Of great benefit
to his customers and to Toledo. For the
city has the reputa'i ion Of low prices in
dry goods.
Mr.. Eaton is a commercial genius. His
iniuitive and sudden capture af opportmn-
tiles is wonderful. He ia n commercial
sra,egisi. HIS bright blue eyes see gold
where some merchants see only disaster.
In the recent six vears of hard times he
has made such careful purchases aud 80
manipulated his goods that his counters
were always thronged with customers. He
has battled with all the calami,ies for %
years. which at times have crushed COM
mcrcc, and manufacture, and agriculture,
and sent giant millionaires to poverty
but his nple has never gone 10 protest.
M poor man ever lost dime or II dinner
hy n breach of his promise. About 12
years ago building adjoining his present
Lion" Store was burned. and also his
store and some of its contents. This was
after 10 o'clock at night. Before Mr.
Eaton went to bed that night he had signs
over the asl,es Of his store announcing the
entipg of another building and the open
ing OF M immense sale the very next
morning. He is doubtless one OF an ex-
ceeding few merchants in this country who
have had to lock their store doors and
station policemen at them to keep out the
crowds of customers. For several days in
the spring OF 1881, that was the only way
he could control the crowds at his Bee
Hive in special sale of goods bought
from the wholesale meichants whose stores
had been flooded.
Mr.. Eaton is delightful conversation
alist. He is a superb gentleman. There
is poetry in his pulse and romance in his
soul. His customers count it a rare social
bon-bon when lie can leave his desk and
walk down bv his counters and greet them.
His heart is with the welfare of Toledo.
Every year he gives back to the people
and to the city in hundreds of ways n
most liberal share of his profits. He is
too generous TO ever become millionaire.
His beautiful home at the corner Of Lo-
Gust and Huron streets. is his joy. Mrs
Eaton, the partner of his affections for
nearly 25 years, ia an active worker in
private and public charities.
A BUSINESS MANS TESTIMONIAL.
The following is the friendly expression
of business man:
We measure man by his success. 1t i
not always just judgment, il Is often cruell,
wrong, but it is the standard in use and il
the main is fair one. There isa caution
maxim in vogue: "Never praise a maj
till lie is dead" but it is the refuge o
cowardice. Words of praise fall on ih
cold ears of the dead with no power Il
give pleasure they pay no debt; the.
wipe ont no scores of injustice; they ar
empty sound. Let us speak 10 them Will
the heart is warm to receive them, and b
as generous in giving the just measure o
praise, NJ we are ever too ready TO met
out more than full measure Of blame.
Measured as a merchant, MIR. Eaton
position must be a high one. None bu
E mercnan's can ini'y aPpreG'a;ae .he |o,,' n;'
aerI"' resources SNOW" ,', oy n'n ~ "e m,,,
'ory o' MS ca!eer' ine ne., """ p" ""''o'
o"'i we cons1',hency p1o' me 'In'pe.,'o' ,,'.,
VI c"arac'er s"a' "o"'u nave "een '"n,'
and courage. Young and ambitious mel
have seen in this city promising field
hnte "tone"t .me, f ';,,,'ss 'i "ps "'
ora'S o", 'ne ''s' y, '"''",sA' 'I'e. VI -"
ei, "e"i '"'' '" In H., w..
nere before ',,s', mem, IN "e,I ~" i'a, ~"
s"o"" HN'n,a s."I'r .'.', " ." -,
o',' III, u" Pe''o'";' %
l''"r' '" ,,
hh" ~ " wen 70 "o'e '""' w. ':"'"Ee
a." .'',,,,; ,i,, n.,a o,j Lin in IL,
management that il required 10 supervise
MIR. Eaion's store. The merchant OF tn
| uny must De very buI ann very cHNllDlFi