Eaton in Preble County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
William Bruce
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009
1. William Bruce Marker
Inscription.
William Bruce founded and platted the city of Eaton in 1806. Born in Virginia in 1762, Bruce relocated to Ohio in 1793. In 1806, he purchased nearly two thousand acres of land from the government for the founding of Eaton. Bruce, a Revolutionary War veteran, named the town for General William Eaton, a veteran of the Tripolitan War, a war fought between the United States and the Barbary States from 1800-1805. Some of Eaton's principal streets also took their names from other Tripolitan War veterans, including Somers, Decatur, and Israel. Bruce established the first sawmill and gristmill in Eaton and often distributed corn meal to the needy and deserving. He also made liberal donations of land for the benefit of the town, and sold many lots inexpensively or on partial payment to induce settlers to locate in the town. William Bruce died in 1830 and is interred in the Mound Hill Cemetery in Eaton.
William Bruce founded and platted the city of Eaton in 1806. Born in Virginia in 1762, Bruce relocated to Ohio in 1793. In 1806, he purchased nearly two thousand acres of land from the government for the founding of Eaton. Bruce, a Revolutionary War veteran, named the town for General William Eaton, a veteran of the Tripolitan War, a war fought between the United States and the Barbary States from 1800-1805. Some of Eaton's principal streets also took their names from other Tripolitan War veterans, including Somers, Decatur, and Israel. Bruce established the first sawmill and gristmill in Eaton and often distributed corn meal to the needy and deserving. He also made liberal donations of land for the benefit of the town, and sold many lots inexpensively or on partial payment to induce settlers to locate in the town. William Bruce died in 1830 and is interred in the Mound Hill Cemetery in Eaton.
Erected 2006 by Brooke-Gould Memorial Bicentennial Park and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 6-68.)
Location. 39° 44.64′ N, 84° 38.178′ W. Marker is in Eaton, Ohio, in Preble County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 35) and Barron Street (U.S. 127), on the left when traveling west on Main Street. Marker is at Brooke-Gould Memorial Bicentennial Park, across Barron Street from the Preble County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Eaton OH 45320, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009
2. William Bruce Marker in Brooke-Gould Memorial Bicentennial Park
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009
3. William Bruce Statue
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009
4. William Bruce Statue in Brooke-Gould Memorial Bicentennial Park
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009
5. William Bruce Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009
6. William Bruce Grave Marker in Mound Hill Cemetery
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009
7. William Bruce Grave Marker in Mound Hill Cemetery
In memory of William Bruce.
Laid out Eaton in 1806. Donated ground for public square, churches, school and cemetery. Built the first merchant mill. A kind father and friend to the poor.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009
8. William Bruce Grave Marker Base of Mill Stones
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009
9. Brooke-Gould Memorial Bicentennial Park Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009
10. Brooke-Gould Memorial Centennial Park Marker
Photographed By Craig Doda, February 27, 2022
11. William Bruce Statue Detail
Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 4,189 times since then and 112 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on March 31, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 11. submitted on March 2, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.