Eaton in Preble County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

William Bruce

(1762 - 1830)

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.

Erected 2006 by Brooke-Gould Memorial Bicentennial Park and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 6-68.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers

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• War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1806.

Location. 39° 44.64′ N, 84° 38.178′ W. Marker is in Eaton, Ohio, in Preble County. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Till Plains.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Preble County Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker);

William Bruce Marker in Brooke-Gould Memorial Bicentennial Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009

2. William Bruce Marker in Brooke-Gould Memorial Bicentennial Park

Preble County Courthouse (a few steps from this marker); Van Ausdal-Donohoe House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Roberts Bridge / Timber Covered Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away); Roberts Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away); Mound Hill Cemetery Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Monument at Mound Hill Cemetery (approx. 0.6 miles away); Birthplace of Swine Improvement in America (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Eaton.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Fort St. Clair (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing).

William Bruce Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009

3. William Bruce Statue

William Bruce Statue in Brooke-Gould Memorial Bicentennial Park image. Click for full size.

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

William Bruce Grave Marker in Mound Hill Cemetery image. Click for full size.

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.

William Bruce Grave Marker Base of Mill Stones image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009

8. William Bruce Grave Marker Base of Mill Stones

Brooke-Gould Memorial Bicentennial Park Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009

9. Brooke-Gould Memorial Bicentennial Park Marker

Brooke-Gould Memorial Centennial Park Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2009

10. Brooke-Gould Memorial Centennial Park Marker

William Bruce Statue Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, February 27, 2022

11. William Bruce Statue Detail

Credits. This page was last revised on November 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 5,707 times since then and 183 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on March 31, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 11. submitted on March 2, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.