From History of the Saint Croix Valley (ARC F 587 .S14 E3 1909 v. 1 in the UWRF Archives)
Beldon R. Eaton is a native of Onondaga county, New York and was born August 30, 1832. He came with his parents to Rock county when he was sixteen years old. He worked on his father’s farm summers and attended the district schools winters. His father, Sidney S., was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, and his mother in Massachusetts. they settled in Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1848. He worked at his trade as a blacksmith in early days and then engaged in farming in Beliot township. He came to Pierce county, Wisconsin, in 1855, one year after our subject. He settled two miles southwest of River Falls, Wis.,and here he farmed on land purchased from his son, Beldon and others. Here he lived a number of years and then exchanged his farm for village property in River Falls. He lived here about two years and then moved to Ellsworth, the county seat of Pierce county, and worked on his farm until his death, at the age of eighty-eight. The mother of Beldon died when he was thirteen years old in New York state. Our subject came to Wisconsin and settled in River Falls township, Pierce county, in 1854. He took up 160 acres of government land, also forty acres of timber land. This he improved and made a home there for seven years. Then he sold Mr. Eaton married, July 4, 1856 the farm and enlisted in Company A, thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served till July, 1865. He was on duty in Wisconsin for one year, and the second year he helped build Fort Rice, N.D. He then was on duty at Louisville, Ky.,and in July 1865, he was discharged on account of disability. He then returned to his home in Pierce county, Wisconsin and engaged in the carpenter’s and joiner’s trade , and has helped to erect a great many buildings throughout Pierce county.He has also worked as a millwright. He was elected county surveyor and held office fir eight years After two years he was again elected and has held that office all of ten years. He is a member of the G.A.R., No. 177, I.N. Nicholas Post. A Republican in politics, he was deputy sheriff of the county and at the present time is one of the Glen Park board of commissioners. Mr. Eaton married July, 4 , 1856, Lucy Farnsworth, who was born in Washington, N.H., daughter of Simon and Unice (Lowell) Farnsworth, natives of New Hampshire. They came to Wisconsin in 1854, settling in Pierce county, and here Mr. Farnsworth engaged in farming and lived until his death, which occurred when he was sixty-eight years of age. the mother of Mrs. Eaton died at the age of seventy-two years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Eaton eight children were born, five of whom are now living. Oscar died at the age of thirty-six years. Luella died when one and a half years of age. Henry H. married Sarah Therloway and they and they have three children, Nellie, Dora Belle and Walter P. Bion is the fourth child and resides in Minneapolis, Minn. He married Agnes Salter and they have two children, Florence and Brace Belle. Viola, the fifth, is the wife of P.R. McQuire and they have one daughter, Leone. Archie died in infancy. Irvin married Louisa Foss. Grace is the wife of Otto Thelander and they have three children, Carlyle, Belden and Loila. Mr. and Mrs. Eaton celebrated their golden wedding July 4, 1906, at their home, all the family and many relatives being present.
The Civil War and Northwest Wisconsin 