Biography: Fred Henry Eaton
Transcribed by James W. Metzler, February 23, 1999.
FRED HENRY EATON-As senior member of the law firm of Eaton and Chandler, Fred Henry Eaton is a well-known member of the Lawrence bar. He has been engaged in practice in this city for almost forty years and in addition to his professional connections is an officer or director of several local financial institutions. Mr. Eaton was born at Lawrence on September 6, 1874, a son of James Henry and Elizabeth Frances (Jenness) Eaton, and a member of old New England families. He is a direct descendant of William Eaton, born in England about 1604, who settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1637, and became a proprietor of Watertown in 1642. From William Eaton the line is traced through John Eaton, his son; William Eaton, in the third American generation; the Rev. Benjamin Eaton, in the fourth generation; Major Jesse Eaton, who was a minuteman at Bunker Hill and was afterwards with General Stark at Bennington and General Gates at Saratoga; Ebenezer Eaton, son of Major Jesse Eaton; and James Henry Eaton, father of Fred Henry Eaton and representative of his family in the seventh American generation. James Henry Eaton was an important figure in the life of Lawrence for many years. He was born in Candia, New Hampshire, on February 3, 1833. At the age of sixteen, following his father's death, he became a teacher and in 1856 came to Lawrence as sub-master in the Oliver Grammar School. Shortly thereafter he took up the study of law, but as he was preparing for the bar examinations, he was induced to enter the service of the Essex Savings Bank as a teller. The following year he was elected treasurer of the bank and served in that office with distinction until his death. Although he never practiced law, his legal training was of great advantage to him both in his banking duties and in the various positions of honor and trust in civic and public life to which he was called. He was associated with many institutions of the city, was elected a member of the City Council and in 1898-99 served as mayor. By virtue of character and achievement, he became one of the leading citizens of Lawrence and his death on March 22, 1901, was widely mourned. James Henry Eaton married, on November 14, 1860, Elizabeth Frances Jenness, who was born on April 16, 1837, at Epsom, New Hampshire, daughter of William T. and Mary Jane (Sanders) Jenness. They became the parents of two sons: 1. George Herbert born August 29, 1861, died January 15, 1893. 2. Fred Henry of this record. Fred Henry Eaton was educated in the public schools of Lawrence and at Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts. He prepared for his professional career at Boston University School of Law, from which he was graduated in 1897 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In the same year he was admitted to the bar and began active practice as an attorney at Lawrence, being a member of the firm of Bell and Eaton. After his associate, the Hon. Charles V. Bell, was nominated to the bench of the Superior Court of Massachusetts, Mr. Eaton carried on practice alone for several years, but subsequently joined with Frederic N. Chandler to form the firm of Eaton and Chandler. This partnership still exists. The firm, to which James Henry Eaton, son of Fred Henry Eaton, was also admitted some years ago, is engaged in general practice, with offices in the Bay State Building, at Lawrence. Mr. Eaton is also president of the Bay State Merchants' National Bank of Lawrence; a trustee, member of the Board of Investment and attorney for the Essex Savings Bank of Lawrence; and a director of the Lawrence Cooperative Bank and the Lawrence Morris Plan Company. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity at Boston University and a member of the Andover and North Andover Country clubs. Mr. Eaton was an alderman of the City of Lawrence in 1902. His present residence is at Andover, where he is a member of Christ Episcopal Church. On August 24, 1897, at Gloucester, Massachusetts, Mr. Eaton married Maude Sherman, daughter of Judge Edgar Jay Sherman and Abbie Louise (Simmons) Sherman. They are the parents of three children: 1. James Henry Eaton, born November 29, 1898; married Mildred Frost. They have two children. 2. Alma Sherman, born October 29, 1903; married, June 24, 1925, Scott Hunt Paradise. They have three children. 3. Elizabeth Frances, born December 1, 1907; married, June 18,1932, Miner William Merrick. They have one child.
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