Where the Streets All Have Names: Eaton Street

Former Colorado Governor Benjamin Eaton (Photo from the Colorado State Archives)

Originally named Jackson, or E Street, the 5th road west of Sheridan was renamed after Benjamin Eaton in 1903 to reflect the new US Senators and Supreme Court Justices naming system. Which is weird, because Eaton was neither. He was, however, a notable Colorado pioneer and the 4th Governor of the State of Colorado.

Born in 1833, Eaton was raised in Ohio. He married Delilah Wolfe, worked summers as a farmer and winters as a teacher. Sadly, Delilah would die during the birth of his first child in 1857. Leaving his son with family, Eaton moved to Iowa and continued to farm. In 1859 he joined the Columbus City-Pikes Peak Expedition along with other local farmers. They headed west, like so many other 59ers, in search of their fortune. And like so many others, they did not succeed. While the rest of the Expedition returned to Iowa, Benjamin headed to New Mexico and farmed. In 1862 Eaton joined the New Mexico Volunteers, serving under Colonel Christopher “Kit” Carson. At the end of the Civil War, he returned to Ohio to visit his son. There, he married Rebecca Hill.

By 1866 Eaton and his family had relocated to Weld County, Colorado. During his time farming in New Mexico, he had come to appreciate the value unproductive land could have with the proper irrigation and he managed to buy 25,000 acres on the cheap. Quickly, farming brought him what his gold seeking never could, wealth and the political power. In 1866, Mr. Eaton was elected Justice of the Peace, and served in that role for the next 9 years. During his time as Justice of the Peace, he would also serve as the Weld County Commissioner and Chairman of the Board. He would go on to get elected to the Territorial House and then the Territorial Senate. In 1884, he was elected Governor of the State of Colorado, and would serve 3 years.

During his time as Governor, his lasting legacy would be in, get this, farming. He played an instrumental role in developing Front Range agriculture and was a pioneer in our complex reservoir and irrigation system. Eaton passed away in 1904 in Greeley. He is one of the 16 Colorado Pioneers depicted in stained glass in our Capitol’s rotunda.