Bio: Eaton, Alfred Surraneous (1841 - 1932)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Eaton Cross Brown Begley Matteson Weston Jones

----Source: Military Records, Family Records, Federal and State Census Reports

Alfred Surraneous & Emeline A. (Brown) Eaton

Greenwood, Clark Co., Wisconsin

Major Alfred S. Eaton

(Click on the photo to enlarge it)

[Family History by Steven Healy] [Family History by Tom Jones]

Alfred S. Eaton was the son of Ebenezer and Hannah (Cross) Eaton of Merrimac County, New Hampshire.   He was born 13 Aug 1841 and named for his paternal grandfather.  When war broke out he enlisted in Co. H, 2nd N. H. Vol., was transferred to 10th N. H., and was mustered from service as captain in 1865.  He was one of Wisconsin's best known Civil War veterans.

He married Elmira A. Brown in Black River Falls, Wisconsin October 12, 1868.  They had three daughters, Viola A., Freddie Helen and Genevieve.  They lived in Black River Falls where the family operated a tin and hardware shop, but it burned in 1871 and all of the stock, amounting to $24,000, was lost.  The family then moved to Greenwood, Wisconsin and opened a new hardware store where he carried a large stock of $7,000 by 1881 and did a business of $20,000 a year.

Alfred's youngest brother, Ed who had been teaching in Black River Falls, joined the family in the move lived with them for the first two years, clerking in the new store and learning the tin shop trade from his brother.  Ed then opened a store of his own in Longwood and even opened a branch in Withee, four miles north of there.  In 1873, he married Miss Maggie McCarty of Pennsylvania.  In 1882, he also open the Eaton Saw mill at Longwood. 

In 1884, Alfred, Edwin and Bernard F. Brown (a brother-in-law of Alfred who later moved to Minneapolis) ventured to the Dakota Territory to enjoy a chicken hunt together.

At the time of the 1880 Federal Census, sixteen year old, Lena Christianson was employed by the Eatons as a housekeeper. Her parents were both natives of Norway, but she was born in the Badger State. 

Mr. Eaton was active and respected in community affairs.  He served as town treasurer, notary public and postmaster.

The G.A.R. in Greenwood was named for John A. Eaton, the older brother of Alfred Surraneous Eaton.  John never returned home from the war.  He died from wounds while serving with Company H, 10th Infantry Regiment New Hampshire on 27 May 1864.

"Major Eaton", as Alfred was called, was a former State Commander of the G.A.R. He was also active in Masonic circles.

The family business was sold to John Schiller about 1892 and  left Greenwood to relocated in Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin.

Major Eaton died in Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin, February 10, 1932.  He and Emeline are both buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Superior, Douglas Co., Wis.

Family Photo Album [1] [2] [3]; [66th Annual Encampment]

----Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Lake Region, pgs. 143-44

MAJOR ALFRED SURRANEOUS EATON, a well known business man of Superior, Douglas county, and a veteran of the great Civil war who saw much active service therein, represents an old New England family, many members of which have been distinguished for patriotic service in behalf of the nation. Both his grandfathers were members of the Continental army during the stirring days that "tried men's souls," and four of his brothers, as well as himself, cheerfully responded to the call of their country when rebellion threatened its destruction. One of them, John A., lost his life upon the field of Petersburg. The parents of these valiant brethren were Eben and Hannah (Cross) Eaton, who lived and died upon a farm at Newbury, N. H., reaching the ages of sixty-three and sixty-four years, respectively. They were the parents of six sons : Albridge, now a citizen of Creston, Iowa; John A.; Alfred Surraneous and his twin brother, Albert Sylvanus, who now resides at Warner, N. H. ; Jesse W., of Newbury, in the same State; and Edwin, who was too young to enter the military service, and now lives at Vancouver, Washington.

Alfred S. Eaton, whose name heads this article, was born in Newbury, Aug. 13, 1840. He passed his boyhood upon the farm, receiving an academic education. When the news of the fall of Fort Sumter and the President's call for volunteers reached him, he lost no time in offering his services, and was enrolled April 30, 186 1, in Company H, 2d N. H. V. I. Upon the expiration of his ninety days in that organization, he re-enlisted in Co. H, l0th N. H. V., and continued in service throughout the memorable conflict and until his final discharge April 24, 1866. Most of this period was spent with the Army of the Potomac, and his meritorious conduct won regular promotions until he held the rank of Major in his regiment. Besides numerous minor engagements, he took part in the battles of Fredericksburg, Fort Royal, Honey Hill, Petersburg and James Island. At the last named place he commanded the color company, seventeen men in which were killed in a single volley of the enemy's fire. Fie received a slight wound from a bullet which had passed through the body of one of his comrades. At Honey Hill he took from the pocket of a Confederate soldier who had fallen in the fight, a Testament, upon the fly leaf of which he found a note requesting the finder to forward it to his family in Alabama. This commission the Major was careful to carry out, and in due time had the satisfaction of receiving an acknowledgment of its received by the family. He had many other thrilling experiences, which cannot here be enumerated.

After the restoration of peace, Major Eaton located at Black River Falls, Wis., where he carried on a mercantile business for five years. For fifteen years more he dealt in hardware at Greenwood, Clark county, in the same State, also conducting a general store for a time at Agenda, Ashland county. Thence he went to Minnesota, and became interested in the North St. Paul Casket Company, in which he is still a stockholder. After three years' residence at that place, in 1891, he became a resident of West Superior, which has since been his home. He conducts a general real estate, loan and fire insurance business, and long since established an enviable reputation for business integrity and general probity of character. On Oct. 12, 1868, Major Eaton was married to Miss Emma Brown, daughter of Peris Brown, Mr. Eaton's partner in business at Black River Falls. Mrs. Eaton was born at Marengo, 111., and is the mother of two living daughters: Viola Adell, now Mrs. Dudley W. Jones, of Black River Falls; and Genevieve May, a student at the Superior State Normal School. The family is identified with the Congregational Church, and enjoys the best social advantages. Major Eaton has always been a leading spirit in the Grand Army of the Republic. While living in Greenwood he organized the John A. Eaton Post, No. 213, which was named in honor of his brother who fell a martyr to the cause of freedom as previously stated. He was commander of the Post during his residence at that place, and for ten years past has served as quartermaster of Alonzo Ralmer Post No. 170, at Superior. He is also prominent in the Masonic fraternity, and besides being identified with the local Lodge and Chapter, he is captain general of Superior Commandery, No. 25, Knights Templar. Among other organizations in which he holds membership are the Knights of Honor and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Few men can point to more honorable business or military careers, and none are held in higher regard by their associates.

Genealogy

Alfred Surraneous Eaton

Father: Ebenezer Eaton, b. February 7, 1809 in Newbury, Merrimack Co., NH, son of John & Phebe (Brockway) Eaton who married in 1836.

Mother: Hannah B. Cross, b. in Salem, MA and married Ebenezer Eaton, January 7, 1836.

Siblings: Phineas Eaton, b. 1836, Newbury, NH; John G. Eaton, b. Mar. 11, 1838, Newbury, NH; Albert S., Newbury, NH; Alfred S. Eaton b. August 13, 1841, Newbury, NH; Jesse Wilbur F. Eaton, b. April 8, 1843; Edwin A. Eaton, b. April 16, 1846; Phineas A. Eaton, b. November 3, 1856, Newbury, NH.

Marriage Records

Wisconsin Marriages, 1835-1900

Name: ALFRED S. EATON

Spouse: EMMA A. BROWN

Marriage Date: 12 Oct 1868

County: Jackson 

State: WI 

Census Records

Previous Household: M. Horace Weston and his wife, Fannie, daughter Edna, son H. Harry, housekeeper, Mary Matteson and Phebe Peterson and her two boys, Denver and Frank.

Next Household: H. Mary Pownder, Martha Cowley, George Begley

Land Records

Wisconsin Land Records [Image]

Name: Alfred S Eaton

Land Office: EAU CLAIRE 

Sequence #: 1 

Document Number: 653 

Total Acres: 160 

Misc. Doc. Nr.: 1956 

Signature: Yes 

Canceled Document: No 

Issue Date: 1 Apr 1874

Mineral Rights Reserved: No 

Metes and Bounds: No 

Statutory Reference: 12 Stat. 392 

Multiple Warantee Names: No 

Act or Treaty: May 20, 1862 

Multiple Patentee Names: No 

Entry Classification: Homestead Entry Original 

Land Description: 1 NE   4TH PM - 1831 MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN No 28 N 3 W 9

Military

Alfred S. Eaton

Source: Revised register of the Soldiers and sailors of New Hampshire in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 - 1866
Page 527
Easton, Alfred S. Co. H; B. Newbury; age 21; cred. Newbury; enl. Aug. 9, ’62; mustered in Sept. 4, ’62, as Corp.; app. Sergt.; discharged March 6, ’64; to accept promotion. See U. S. C. T. and State Service.
Page 1205
Eaton, Alfred S. Milford Volunteers; b. Newbury; enl. April 25, ’61; as Priv.; discharged July 13, ‘61’ as of Capt. George H. Gillis’s Co. See 10 N. H. V. and U. S. C. T.
Source: History of Merrimakc and Belknap Counties, New Hampshire
History of Newbury - Page 417
Alfred S. Eaton, Co. H, Tenth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers
* * * *

U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Name: Alfred S. Eaton
Side: Union
Regiment State/Origin: New Hampshire
Regiment Name: 10 New Hampshire Inf.
Regiment Name Expanded: 10th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry
COMPANY: H
Rank In: Corporal
Rank In Expanded: Corporal
Rank Out: Sergeant
Rank Out Expanded: Sergeant
Film Number: M549 roll 4

* * *
American Civil War Soldiers
Name: Alfred Eaton
Enlistment Date: 9 Aug 1862
Side Served: Union
State Served: New Hampshire
Service Record: Promoted to Full Sergeant.
Enlisted as a Corporal on 9 August 1862 at the age of 21.
Enlisted in Company H, 10th Infantry Regiment New Hampshire on 4 Sep 1862.
Discharged for promotion Company H, 10th Infantry Regiment New Hampshire on 6 Mar 1864.
Promoted to Full 1st Lieutenant (As of Co. H 32nd USCT Infantry) on 10 Mar 1864.
Commission in Company H, 32nd Infantry Regiment U.S. Colored Troops on 10 Mar 1864.
Mustered Out Company H, 32nd Infantry Regiment U.S. Colored Troops on 22 Aug 1865.
Promoted to Full 1st Lieutenant (As of Co. F 97th USCT Infantry) on 20 Oct 1865.
Commission in Company F, 97th Infantry Regiment U.S. Colored Troops on 20 Oct 1865.
Mustered Out Company F, 97th Infantry Regiment U.S. Colored Troops on 6 Apr 1866.
 

New Hampshire's 10th Regiment Infantry

Regiment organized at Manchester and mustered in September 4, 1862. Left State and moved to Washington, D.C., September 22-25; thence to Frederick, Md., September 30; to Sandy Hook, Md., October 4, and to Pleasant Valley October 6. Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to July, 1863. 3rd Brigade, Getty's Division, United States Forces, Norfolk and Portsmouth, Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to April, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 18th Army Corps, Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to December, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 24th Army Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.--Duty at Pleasant Valley, Md., until October 27, 1862. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 27-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg. Va., December 12-15. Burnside's Second Campaign ("Mud March") January 20-24, 1863. Moved to Newport News, Va., February 9, thence to Norfolk and Suffolk March 14. Siege of Suffolk April 12-May 4. Battery Huger, Hill's Point, April 19. Reconnaissance across Nansemond River May 4. Moved to Portsmouth May 13, thence to Yorktown, Va. Dix's Peninsula Campaign June 24-July 7. Expedition from White House to South Anna River July 1-7. Moved to Portsmouth July 8-14, and to Julien Creek July 30. Duty there until March 19, 1864. Ballahock, on Bear Quarter Road, and Deep Creek, February 29-March 1, 1864. Moved to Great Bridge March 19, thence to Yorktown April 19. Butler's operations on south side of the James River against Petersburg and Richmond May 4-28. Port Walthal Junction May 7. Chester Station May 7. Swift Creek (or Arrowfield Church) May 9-10. Operations against Fort Darling May 12-16. Battle of Drewry's Bluff May 14-16. Bermuda Hundred June 17-27. Moved to White House, thence to Cold Harbor May 27-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 15-19. Siege of Petersburg and Richmond June 15, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Chaffin's Farm, New Market Heights, September 28-30, 1864. Fort Harrison September 28-29. Battle of Fair Oaks October 27-28. Duty in lines north of James River before Richmond until April, 1865. Occupation of Richmond April 3. Provost duty at Manchester until June 21. Mustered out June 21, 1865. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 2nd New Hampshire Infantry.

Losses, 7 Officers and 54 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 133 Enlisted men died of disease. Total 195.

1881 Historical Sketch

1881 HISTORY OF NORTHERN WI

Chicago: The Western Historical Company
A. T. Andreas, Proprietor (grammar as is)
Pg. 247

S. EATON, merchant, Greenwood. Born in Merrimac Co., NH, Aug. 13, 1840. When the war broke out, enlisted in Co. h., 2nd N. A. Vol. He was transferred to the 10th N. H., and was mustered from the service as captain, in 1865. He then went to Black River Falls, opening a tin and hardware shop, where he remained until 1871, when his stock was burned. He lost $24,000. He then moved to Greenwood, where he now has a large hardware store, carrying a stock of $7,000, and doing a business of $20,000. In 1868, he married Miss Emeline A. Bran (Brown), of Black River Falls. They have a family of two children, Viola A. and Freddie. Mr. E. has served as Town Clerk and Town Treasurer is now Notary Public and Postmaster.  He belongs to the Masonic lodge. 

Contributors

Steve Healy (family member), Marsha Hosfeld, Tom Jones, Janet Schwarze, Crystal Wendt, Al Wessel & The Clark Co., WI History Buffs.