The Springfield herald., 1904-11-04
Gov. EATON DEAD
GRAND OLD PIONEER GONE
Former Governor and Leading Farmer
Of Colorado Dies at His Home In
Greeley at the Age Of seventy-Two
Nears

Greeley at the Age Of seventy-Two
Years.
Denver. Oct. 30.-A Greeley dispatch
last night says: Hon. Benjamin II.
Eaton, ex-governor of Colorado, fore
most representative of its agricultural
and irrigation interests, successful
farmer and public-spi,ited citizen, died
at his residence, sos Twelfth street, at
4:2O O'Clock this afternoon, after a lin
gering Illness, of diabetes. Mrs Eaton,
his two sons. Bruce G. Eaton and A. J.
Eaton; his daughter, Mrs Jennie Eaton
Petrikin; his son-in-law, John NJ. d.
Petrikin; his brother, A. S. Eaton;
Miss Blanche Middleton, his niece, and
Mrs. B. G. Eaton were at his bedside
when he died. He was seventy-two
years of age.
Last December Mr. Eaton and his
wife went to Hot Springs. Arkansas,
where the waters benefited him for
time. When they returned In the
spring he became more feeble and sell
dom left home. For the last month he
had been confined to his bed. He had
been Ill three months, but did not retire
from business until last winter.
Probably no man in the state was
better known than Benjamin H. Eaton.
From the first he was identified with
Colorado's three great interests-min-
ing. agriculture and stock raising.
In the days of 49," when he shoul-
dered a pick and shovel to mine for
gold on Pixies Peak; in the pioneer era
on the Cache la Poudre, where he
plowed the first furrow to carry water
for the uplands. and later demonstrated
by mighty system of waterways that
upon irrigation depended the success of
agriculture in Colorado; in his political
life. when the highest honor Of the
state was conferred upon him; In his
later years. when he harvested the
fruit of his labors, his name stood for
all that was enterprise and upright
ness.
Mr.. Eaton built the first ditch for
Union colony at Greeley. 1t proved sat-
isfactory and he began to construct
other bitches. Among these was the
Larimer and Weld canal, commonly
called the Eaton ditch. This ditch,
when completed, made a detour of fifty
two miles, cost 100000 and watered
10000 acres of land.
Mr.. Eaton's reputation as big ditch
builder was established. Soon he was
called to build the Merino ditch near
Sterling and the High Line ditch south
and east of Denver, which is taken
from the Platte river and which cost
100000.
Mr.. Eaton advised reservoirs as aux
iliaries to the bitches, for the purpose
of storing water to irrigate potatoes
late in the season when streams and
rivers are almost dry. He illustrated
the practicability of his suggestion by
building the Windsor reservoir. This
reservoir covers 800 acres, representing
an outlay of 100000 and is one of the
largest in the country.
Up to the last moments Of his life
Mr.. Eaton was interested in ditch build
ing, and lately invested $4,000 to bring
water from the rivers over the range
to supplement the irrigation of the
Poudre valley.
In 1872 he was elected to represent
his district in the Territorial Legisla-
ture. In 1875 he was elected to the
Senate, where he served one term, do
ing effective work on various commit
tees. In 1884 he was elected governor
by his party. He sold his mining in
terests in 1890. After his retirement
from the governors chair be applied
himself to the his extensive farming
and irrigation interests.
Being of broad and liberal views he
gave others the benefit of his expert
ence and wealth and the thriving town
Of Eaton stands monument to him.
Last year he and his son Bruce culti-
waited 10000 acres of land.
When the dome of the state capitol
was nearing completion. it was de-
clded to place in it portraits of six
teen Colorado men who had given the
most effective service to the state.
Frontier life was typit1ed by noted
scout. the development Of mining by |
well-known miner, craftsmanship by |
the portrait of an honored son, and |
Benjamin II. Eaton was chosen to rep
resent those who had brought about |
the high development of Colorado's
agricultural and irrigation interests.