Benjamin Harrison Eaton
Benjamin Harrison Eaton was an American politician, entrepreneur and agriculturalist in the late 19th and early 20th century. Eaton was a founding officer of the Greeley Colony and was instrumental in the establishment of modern irrigation farming in Northern Colorado. He was one of the largest land owners in Weld and Larimer counties, and at one time owned more than 90- 160 acre land plots.
Eaton gained initial success in farming, but eventually expanded his operations into contracting and construction of irrigation canals and reservoirs, a venture he advocated as a means of bringing wealth to Larimer and Weld Counties. In 1873, in association with John C. Abbott, he built what was later dubbed Larimer County Canal No. 2, a canal that supplied water to large areas of land surrounding Fort Collins. In 1878, he began construction of the Larimer and Weld Canal, which at the time was the largest and longest irrigation canal in the state. One year later, he built the High Line Canal in Denver for a group of British investors. Eaton’s projects were influential in helping to turn the South Platte River valley into an important agricultural region in the state's economy.
After a successful career in farming and agriculture, Eaton moved into politics. A member of the Republican Party, Eaton served as the fourth Governor of Colorado from 1885 to 1887, with the nickname of the "farmer governor". After a long, successful career, Benjamin Eaton died in 1904 in Greeley, Colorado. Today, Eaton’s name lives on in the form of public works and towns.
Eaton gained initial success in farming, but eventually expanded his operations into contracting and construction of irrigation canals and reservoirs, a venture he advocated as a means of bringing wealth to Larimer and Weld Counties. In 1873, in association with John C. Abbott, he built what was later dubbed Larimer County Canal No. 2, a canal that supplied water to large areas of land surrounding Fort Collins. In 1878, he began construction of the Larimer and Weld Canal, which at the time was the largest and longest irrigation canal in the state. One year later, he built the High Line Canal in Denver for a group of British investors. Eaton’s projects were influential in helping to turn the South Platte River valley into an important agricultural region in the state's economy.
After a successful career in farming and agriculture, Eaton moved into politics. A member of the Republican Party, Eaton served as the fourth Governor of Colorado from 1885 to 1887, with the nickname of the "farmer governor". After a long, successful career, Benjamin Eaton died in 1904 in Greeley, Colorado. Today, Eaton’s name lives on in the form of public works and towns.
