(Col) John Eaton

• Born      21 January 1838 at Brechin, Forfarshire
• Married Catherine, daughter of  Joseph Rowbottom of Ashton-under-Lyne and Marple.
• Died       Saturday 25 November 1905 at “Strathdene” Taunton Road Ashton-under-Lyne

(Colonel) John Eaton was the son of John Eaton, architect and was born at Brechin, Forfarshire, on January 21 1838 and came to Ashton as a child. He was educated at Stamford Academy, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester School of Art 1857-1860 where he gained distinction for drawing. Travelled on the Continent. Having served as a pupil in his father’s office he became an assistant in the office of Robert Moffat Smith of Manchester from 1856.With his brother James he joined his father, John Eaton senior, in partnership under the style John Eaton and Sons about 1867 until the latter’s death in 1876 and his brother James until 1884. John Eaton is then said to have worked alone for a period while maintaining the name of the practice. About 1895 he took William Rayner Cantrell into partnership, later being joined by his sons Frank Lees Eaton (assumed) and Sydney Edmund Eaton who joined the partnership in 1905. He was a Fellow of the RIBA, being admitted 9 January 1882, proposed by L Booth A Darbyshire and I Holden and Vice president of the Manchester Society of Architects 1904-1905.

John Eaton was also Justice of the Peace for the borough of Ashton-under-Lyne and Colonel commanding the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Manchester Regiment. John Eaton was only the second person to sign the roll of membership of the Ashton Volunteer Corps when it was formed in 1859 and took an active role for the next 44 years, retiring in 1903. In 1892 he received Volunteer Decoration (London Gazette). Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1902 according to the Manchester Guardian obituary. However, Tracy and Pike Contemporary Biographies, published about 1900 includes the award. According to Sheila Blanchard, other sources indicate that it was awarded as part of the Coronation honours with investiture at Buckingham Palace.  A prominent mason, John Eaton was the Past Master of the Fidelity Lodge of Freemasons, No. 450 Ashton; Past Master of the East Lancashire Centurion, Manchester; PPGS of Works, Cheshire and Past Provincial Grand Treasurer for East Lancashire.

John Eaton died on Saturday 25th November 1905 at his residence “Strathdene,” Taunton Road, Ashton under Lyne with interment at Christ Church, Ashton-under-Lyne at 2.30pm on Thursday 30 November 1905. As befitting his role as Colonel of the Volunteer Battalion, it was a military funeral with the coffin borne on a gun carriage and the Colonel’s charger led by a member of the volunteer battalion.

Address
1877        John Eaton & Sons Catherine Street Ashton-under-Lyne (Manchester Guardian)
 1898        John Eaton, and Sons Ashton-under-Lyne,
1898        John Eaton, Sons and Cantrell Stamford-street, Ashton-under-Lyne,
1905        John Eaton, Sons and Cantrell Stamford-street, Ashton-under-Lyne,

Residence
1870-78    Tintwistle/ Micklehurst, Cheshire (based on birthplace of his children)
1881        “Strathdene,” Taunton Road, Ashton Under Lyne
1905        “Strathdene,” Taunton Road,  Ashton Under Lyne


Reference    Manchester Guardian 27, 28 and 29 November 1905, Page 12 Deaths
Obituary    Builder 16 December 1905 Page 652
Obituary    Manchester Guardian Monday 27 November 1905 Page 8
Reference    Tracy & Pike. Lancashire at the Beginning of the 20th century. Contemporary Biographies - Volunteers Page 250 with illustration