Hon. Jerome L. Eaton, real-estate dealer,
Jackson, Mich., born in Herkimer County, N. Y., Jan.
29, 1811; was reared on a farm, working summers and
attending the district schools winters. When 13 years
old commenced teaching school and followed it seven
successive winters. When 20 years old he thought he
was not making money fast enough, and started out
peddling, his father furnishing a horse and wagon, and
a man by the name of Bronson, of Bridgewater,
furnishing the stock, which consisted of tablecloths.
He commenced at $12 per month, and his wages were to
be raised according to the amount of goods sold. After
the first month he received increased wages, and he
finally received $50 per month, being engaged about
two years. With the money thus accumulated, he started
for Michigan with a team and a stock of goods, and
located at Adrian. Soon after he made a trip across
the country to Jackson, not passing a house between
the points, found a log hotel in Jackson; passing
through he stopped with a man by the name of Pease;
remained there a short time and then returned to
Adrian; made a trip to his old home, and shortly after
returned to Adrian and embarked in the dry-goods
trade; was in trade six years, then returned to his
native State and married Miss Elizabeth Steinbeck, of
Madison County, N. Y. There were 5 children 4 of whom
are living. In 1842 Mr. Eaton came to Jackson where he
had a contract in the prison for making barrels; in
the meantime he disposed of his property in Adrian,
and made Jackson his permanent home. In 1858 he formed
a partnership with Mr. Knickerbocker, and carried on
the wholesale grocery business, and continued until
the war. Mr. Eaton has been identified with true
interests of the county for 39 years, and has held
several local offices of trust. Is President of the
Air Line E. R., and has been since its construction.
He, with a few others, were the prime movers in
getting the railroad shops moved from Marshall to this
place, and when in the Legislature, was instrumental
in getting the Michigan Southern railroad into
Jackson, with the assistance of Messrs. Root and
Thompson.
Barnett F. Eggleston, clothing merchant, is
of English parentage, his ancestors having crossed the
Atlantic in the ship Mary and John 10 years after the
Pilgrims; settled first at Dorchester, and later, as a
part of a colony of 60 Puritans, were the first
settlers of Windsor, Conn. Mr. Eggleston's grandfather
and 5 sons fought in the battle of Plattsburg. Spencer
Eggleston was born and reared in Sheffield, Mass., and
married Nancy Gifford, of Onondaga County, N. Y. They
had 3 children, of whom Barnett and a younger sister
are living. He was born in Ontario County, N. Y.,
February 1, 1820. His father died when he was four
years of age, and in 1835 the widow and her daughter
came to Jackson. Mr. E. following them the next year.
His education was limited to the district school and
individual effort. When eight years old he hired on a
canal boat as cabin boy, at 12 began learning the
tailor's trade, and in 1835 he and another young man
started a little shop in the town of Tonawanda, near
Buffalo, which was closed the following spring and he
came to Jackson. Prior to 1849 Mr. E. devoted his
attention chiefly to tailoring; that fall put in a
full line of piece goods and has carried on merchant
tailoring since; gradually added a stock of ready-made
clothing some years ago, of which he carries a full
line. Mr. Eggleston has chiefly conducted business
alone, and has done most of his own cutting through a
business career of 44 years, during which he has seen
a multitude rise, flourish and fade away, and has now
the oldest clothing house in Michigan. He employs
eight to 12 hands in the manufacturing department. Mr.
E. cast his maiden vote for an Abolition candidate,
later was a Republican, but now is a member of the
Greenback party; is a member of the A. F. & A. M.,
lodge, chapter and commandery, one of the earliest
members of the latter; has been an Odd Fellow more
than 30 years; was a steadfast adherent of the Baptist
Church 25 years, but is not now a member. April 8,
1841, he married Angeline C. Whitmore, a native of
Middlebury, Clark Cole Vt. They have 1 son and 4
daughters, the former in the store with his, father.
Mr. Eggleston is a charter member of the Old Settlers'
Association, and has ever been active in its
interests. His religious views have undergone some
change in the past few years, and he now places more
stress upon deeds than belief.
Leonard Eggleston (deceased) was born in
Skaneateles, Onondaga County, N. Y., Jan. 19, 1824;
was left motherless when six years of age, and made
his home for many years after with a family by the
name of Briggs on the east side of Skaneateles lake.
At the age of 20 he entered the family of Mr. Hammond,
of the same place, as an apprentice for a machinist,
where he remained three years; afterward was employed
in one of the largest shops in Syracuse. In 1849 he
married Miss Adeline C. Welton, of Syracuse, and
removed to Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1852; in 1861
came to Jackson, and was employed in the machine shops
for a short time, but his failing health prompted him
to travel two years. He then turned his attention to
collecting shells and marine curiosities, building up
many valuable cabinets and adding to others through
the East, West and South; he furnished specimens for
Mr. Patterson, of Westfield, N.Y., Mr. Goodman, of the
organ celebrity, Dr. Wescott, Mr. L. L. Lewis, of
Syracuse, and many others of that city who have
beautiful cabinets; Dr. Lee, Mr. Salmon, of Fulton,
Mr. Fairbanks, of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and a few
whose homes are brightened with rare shells from every
clime. Mr. E. was master of his business; could name
and classify all the beautiful gems from the water of
the rolling deep. He was noted for strict integrity,
and great independence of character, unyielding in his
convictions of right, conscientious, genial and
warm-hearted. He drew around him many friends in the
East, West and South; the past 10 winters were spent
in the South, where he reveled in orange groves, and
with the finny tribe. In that genial clime, and with
his ready pen, he painted vivid pictures - scenes in
this world and the world to come; his fingers carried
many curious and comic devices from orange and other
woods of the same forest of Florida, many of which are
held as souvenirs by friends in every State in the
Union. Mr. E. died July 20, 1880, aged 56 years. He
left a wife and 1 son.
Jonathan H. Emmoms, real-estate dealer, was
born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., March 12, 1824.
When seven years old his parents immigrated to Niagara
County, and remained there until the fall of 1835,
when they came to Jackson. His father was a native of
New Hampshire; he enlisted in the war of 1812 as a
private, and came out as 1st Lieutenant. Mr. Emmons
came to this county, located in Spring Arbor, where he
remained three years, then came to Blackman Township,
where his father died in 1847; his mother is still
living at the age of 78 years. In 1849 he sold the
farm and came to Jackson, where he has since remained.
There was a family of 8 children - 4 sons and 4
daughters; 5 of them are still living. In 1849 Mr. E.
built what was known as Dwight's limekiln, furnished
burnt lime for the building of the prison, and also
furnished lime for the State capitol. Mr. Emmons drew
the first load into the town; at that time his was the
only limekiln in the county. He engaged in the
carpenter business and built some of the principal
blocks in the city. He married Miss Huldah J. Slayton,
daughter of Joshua Slayton, a pioneer of Wayne County,
N. Y. She was born May 24, 1827. Mr. E. has held
several local offices of trust in the gift of the
people.
E. M. Evans, proprietor meat market, 111
& 113 North Mechanic St., is a leading
representative of the above interests in Jackson. His
facilities and knowledge of the business enable him to
pay the highest prices at all times - a fact which
farmers should not fail to bear in mind when ready to
sell. Mr. Evans has been identified with the interests
of Jackson for some years. He was born in Syracuse, N.
Y., April 19, 1847, where he received a practical
business education. His father, Alexander M. Evans, a
native of New York, was engaged in the same business
in Syracuse a number of years, giving his son a
thorough knowledge of the trade. In 1863 they came to
Jackson and were known as the firm of E. M. Evans
& Father. Mr. Evans is a young man; came to the
county in limited circumstances, but by good judgment
and close attention to business has built up a trade
he can well be proud of. He uses from 600 to 700 head
of cattle, and about 2,000 head of small stock per
year. He married Miss Laura Hague, daughter of Harry
Hague, of England, where she was born in 1851. Mr. E.
is a member in good standing in the Masonic order and
I. O. O. F.; is at present supplying the State's
prison, and has for a number of years.
