TOWN HISTORIES

TOWN OF EATON


From "History of Manitowoc County" by Dr. Louis Falge, 1912 Vol. 1, pg. 338

The town of Eaton was named after Chauncy EATON who came from Illinois in the 
year 1849 and engaged in the lumbering business soon after. He was one of the 
first settlers in this section but his holdings were located in what is now 
the western part of Liberty. The first actual settlers within the present 
confines of the town of Eaton were O. SWENSON and family who located in section 
14 in 1849.
The present town of Eaton (except section 1 which belonged to Maple Grove), 
west one-half of Liberty and sections 31, 32, 33 and one-half of 34, in 
Rockland were taken from the town of Newton. (Liberty was detached from Eaton 
November 16, 1857.) The town of Eaton was organized in 1851 with George MONROE 
as chairman. In 1853 the name of the town was changed to Valders, at the 
instance of the large number of Norwegians who had flocked there in the early 
fifties, the name being that of their home province in Norway. One year later 
the name was again changed to that of Eaton.
Among the early settlers was N. PORTER who came in the fall 
of 1849 and settled in section 4. In 1851, N.K. JOHNSON located in section 10. 
In 1865 he built a sawmill and later on a store and cheese factory.
C. SCHWALBE settled in section 14 in 1854. The first white child was H.M. HANSON, 
who was born in 1850. The first school was taught by Miss Therese MOTT in her 
mother's home in 1854. The first death in the town occurred the same year, a 
Mr. GUENTHER being killed by lightning. The first postoffice was established 
at Niles at about the center of the town. This was in 1856. Another postoffice 
was later established at Steinthal, a place containing a sawmill, a general 
store and several houses, in the southwestern part of the town. These postoffices 
have gone out of existence upon the advent of the free rural route delivery. 
The only postoffice in the town at present is the one at St. Nazianz which was 
established in 1871, conducted by the Baumgaertners, father and son, until the 
present day. Up to that year the people of that vicinity were compelled to get 
their mail at Eaton postoffice, located about two miles northeast from the 
village in the town of Liberty.
St. Nazianz is the only village of importance in that town. It was founded in 
1854 on the cooperation plan. Its interesting history will be found below. 
More about St. Nazianz.
Eaton ranks high in agriculture as well as in its dairy products and among 
its fine orchards that of Ludwig ADELMAN who gained more than local fame.
Population, census of 1910, was 1,300.