Benjamin Harrison Eaton

Benjamin Harrison Eaton (* December 15, 1833 in Coshocton, Ohio, † October 29, 1904 in Greeley, Missouri ) was an American politician ( Republican) and from 1885 to 1887, the fourth Governor of the State of Colorado.

Early years and political rise

Eaton visited the West Bedford Academy and then himself took the teaching profession. This he practiced intermittently from in Iowa. In 1859 he moved to Colorado. There and in neighboring New Mexico Territory, he participated in the search for gold. After that, he was a farmer in Colorado. During the Civil War he served in a volunteer unit from New Mexico.

In 1866 he was elected justice of the peace. This office he held for nine years. At the same time he was six years District ( County Commissioner) in Weld County. In 1872 he was a deputy in the territorial parliament; In 1875 he was elected to the Senate of the Colorado Territory. In 1884 he was elected governor of his state.

Governor of Colorado

Eaton took up his new post on 13 January 1885. In his two-year tenure, he attended mainly by agricultural concerns such as irrigation problems, and helping the farmers and their institutions. A conflict over the use of the previously free country still had to be settled with the help of a decision by U.S. President Grover Cleveland. After the expiration of his term Eaton gave up a renewed candidacy.

After his governorship Eaton devoted again its agricultural interests. He built one of the largest irrigation systems in Colorado. In the city named after him Eaton he built a mill. Benjamin Eaton died on 29 October 1904. He was married twice and had three children.