Capt. Charles W. Eaton, an ex-soldier of the Civil War, is a native of Grand Rapids, Mich., was born April 14, 1840, and is a son of Harry and Cynthia W. (Hunt) Eaton, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Vermont, and married in Brattleboro, in the latter state. These parents came to Grand Rapids in 1837, and here the father was a pioneer merchant and lumber man. The death of the latter took place in 1859, and that of his widow occurred in 1894, at the age of eighty-six years, and their children were four in number, of whom, Henry, the eldest, died in Jamestown, N. Y., in 1835; Charles W., the subject of this sketch, is the second in order of birth; Theodore C., is a journalist in St. Louis, Mo., and Henry C. is a hardware merchant in Duluth, Minn.

Charles W. Eaton was educated in Grand Rapids, learned the printer’s trade, and at this he worked seven years; was next city clerk for two years, then enlisted in company B., Twenty-first Michigan volunteer infantry, August 11, 1862. He was assigned to the western army and served under Generals Buell, Rosecrans and Sherman, participating in the following named engagements: Perryville, Stone River (or Murfreesboro), Chickamaga, Missionary Ridge, and Kingston, N. C. At the last named battle he was taken prisoner, but escaped after three days of confinement, and rejoined his regiment at Goldsboro, N. C. When captured, he was on the staff of General Thomas Francis Meagher, the Irish patriot.

For his gallantry on the field, Capt. Eaton had been promoted from the rank through all various grades to that of captain. He was on the staff of General William H. Lytle during his career in the army of the Cumberland, and was with him when he received his death wound at the battle of Chickamaga Lytle being the only general officer killed in that engagement on the Union side. The modern military camp, and also the railway station at that point, have been named in honor of this gallant general.

Capt. Eaton was placed on detached service as quartermaster of the post at Dalton, Ga., for some months, and in January, 1865, went on the staff of General Meagher; the February following his capture, before alluded to, which took place at Kingston, N. C., the corps was under command of General Schofield. It was but shortly after he had rejoined his regiment that of the rebel, Johnston, surrendered to Sherman and then Lee to Grant, and Capt. Eaton went with the victorious Union troops on to Washington, D. C., where he shared in the "grand review" in May, and was finally mustered out at Detroit, Mich., June 5, 1865.

A year following his muster-out, Capt. Eaton was with General Innis in operating the military railroads at Chattanooga and Atlanta, at the first place acting as ticket agent, and at the latter as freight agent. The reconstruction policy had so far advanced by this time that the railroads were turned over to their original owners, and military control relinquished.

Capt. Eaton then returned to Grand Rapids and became a member of the book firm of Nelson & Eaton, which was the nucleus of the subsequently popular and extensive book concern of Eaton & Lyon, which existed for twenty-four years. From this concern Capt.

Eaton withdrew in 1896, and has since passed a semi-retired life, principally at Duluth, Minn.., where he is vice-president of the Duluth Hardware company, of which his brother Henry is the principal stockholder. The captain, however, retains his property interest in Grand Rapids, and alternates his time between the two cities. In 1899, the captain constructed a fine business block at Nos. 53 to 61 South Division street, Grand Rapids, to be occupied by five stores on the first floor, and the upper part by the Grand Rapids Engraving company. In this latter business the captain has had considerable experience, as he was formerly president of the Eaton Printing company-now the Seymour & Muir company-in which he still holds stock.

Capt. Eaton is a member of Grand Rapids lodge, No. 34, F. & A. M.; Grand Rapids chapter, No. 7, R. A. M.; DeMolai commandery, No. 5, K. T.; and Saladin temple, order of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of Michigan commandery, Loyal Legion; he was formerly a democrat in politics, but since 1864 has been a republican. At the age of twenty-one years he was elected city clerk, filled the office so acceptably that he was re-elected, but resigned his position to serve his country on the field of battle.

For the past ten or twelve years the captain has been an extensive traveler. He has twice visited South America, has been on a European tour, has visited the Holy Land, and has seen many other places of great historical interest.