| Introduction | Historical Background | Chronology | Geography | Biography | Technology | Ownership and Financing | General Bibliography |
| Biography | Alexander Easton |
Alexander Easton was born in England in 1828 and emigrated to America in 1849
Christening 14 April 1828 Wimborne-Minster, Dorset, England
George Easton 1796-1876, March 1796, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, January 21, 1876 (79) Reading, Reading, England
Frederick Easton, October 17, 1820, Bradford-on-Tone, Somerset, England, United Kingdom
George Easton, 1822-1906
Charles Easton 1826
Frances E. Easton, 1835
Abel Easton, 1830-1902, England
Alexander Easton, baptist October 16, 1861 in Quebec
Built Milwaukee street
railway 1859-60 for John Lockwood
Director June 1860
Married in Boston December 31 1860 to Lorenza Albario Potten, who had been
born in Chile and previously married.
Toronto
street railway 1860/61, sold his interest in 1862 or 1863
Incorporated 29 May 1861
He died on December 22, 1874 while surveying a railroad route across Guatemala..
| Alexander Easton's Water Works Experience | |||
| City | State | Years | Projects |
| Rochester | NY | 1866-1869 | President of the Rochester Water Works Company |
| Milwaukee | WI | 1869-1870 | Contracted for survey from Lake Pewaukee to Milwaukee. |
References
1849 The Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), February 22, 1849, Page 1.
The Steamship Sarah Sands arrived at N. York on Tuesday morning, after a
passage of twenty-six days. Stormy weather and a short supply of
coal detained her. She, of course, brings no news - but had a heavy
freight and the following passengers:
Alex. Easton
1858 Combined letter box and lamp post. Patented March 9, 1858, by Albert Potts, Philadelphia. Engraving by A. Easton's, 407 Walnut St., Phila.
1858 New York Herald,
April 1, 1858, Page 6.
Wanted.- A first rate engraver and lithographer may meet with a permanent
situation by addressing, immediately, Alexander Easton, box 159 Post
office, Philadelphia
1858 Philadelphia city
directory
EASTON ALEXANDER, civil engineer, 407 Walnut, h 627 N 13th
1859 Philadelphia city directory
EASTON ALEXANDER, civil engineer, 407 Walnut, h 463 N 7th
1859 A
Practical Treatise on Street Or Horsepower Railways, Their Location,
Construction and Management, February, 1859, by Alexander
Easton | also here
| and here
| and here
|
1859 "Street
Railroads," Scientific American, 14(39):325 (June 4, 1859)
Much has been learned by the experience of New York in the
construction of street railroads, and a work recently published on this
subject by Alexander Easton, C. E., No. 42 Wall street,
Philadelphia, contains a great amount of practical information on
this subject.
1859 "The
First Rail Laid," Daily Ohio Statesman (Columbus, Ohio),
September 4, 1859, Page 2.
A large crowd assembled on Walnut above Fourth street, yesterday
afternoon, to witness the laying of the first rail on the first street
railroad in Cincinnati. Mr. Alexander Easton, superintendent of
construction for the Cincinnati Street Railroad Company, superintended
operations. After considerable difficulty and some hard swearing,
the crowd was induced to give elbow room, and our friend Caloric F. Hall,
Esq., the progenitor of the Penny Press, seized the spike sledge, and,
with a tremendous surge, brought it down on the rail, clearly
missing the spike. He immortalized himself, however, by
driving home the first side in the first rail laid down on a Cincinnati
street railway - on the eastern side of the track. The second rail
on the west side of the track, was laid and conjointly spiked down by
motive power brought into requisition from the Press and Daily
Commercial offices - so that the distinguished privilege of standing
god-fathers in the original street railroad in the Queen of the West,
appropriately devolved upon the power which gave life and direction to the
important enterprise. Mr. Eastern subsequently proceeded to lay the
track rapidly, the company's iron having arrived. Not many days
hense the horse cars will be bowling through out streets. - Cin. Com.,
Sept. 3
1859 "Horse
and Street Railways," The Buffalo Daily Republic, October 8,
1859, Page 3.
The author, Alexander Easton, Esq., is a practical civil engineer and
contractor, largely engaged in building railways in several western
cities, and is throughly conversant with such improvements. He will
be in this city in a few days.
1860 Milwaukee Daily
Sentinel, June 4, 1860, Page 1.
The following are the names of the directors of the River & Lake Shore
Railway Company:
Geo. H. Walker; Alonzo Seaman; Lemuel W. Weeks; H. K. Viele; Alexander
Easton; John Myers, Peter Martineau. Subsequent to the election of
Trustees, G. H. Walker was elected Pesident and John Mayers Secretary and
Treasurer.
1860 "Street Railways," The
Globe (Toronto, Canada West), October 10, 1860, Page 2.
A proposition is now before the City Council for the construction of a
system of street railways in Toronto. Mr. Easton and his associates.
1860 "Street Railways," The
Globe (Toronto, Canada West), October 29, 1860, Page 2.
Promotes agreement with Mr. Easton
1860 "City Council," The
Globe (Toronto, Canada West), November 1, 1860, Page 2.
Common Council discusses street railway contract with Easton
1860 "City Council," The
Globe (Toronto, Canada West), November 6, 1860, Page 2.
Debate about legality of street railway contract
1861 An act to incorporate the Toronto Street Railway Company. May 18, 1861.
1863 "Attachment against
Absconding Debtor," The Globe (Toronto, Canada West), March 6,
1863, Page 3.
Alexander Easton.
1863 "City Council," The
Globe (Toronto, Canada West), May 5, 1863, Page 1.
The Street Railway. Ald. Jarvis moved that the City Solicitor be
instructed to ascertain the names of the Directors of the Toronto Street
Railway Company, the number of shares they hold, and report to the Council
whether the said Company is constituted and conducts its affairs in
accordance with its charter. He said that Mr. Welsh, the President,
had come before the committee, but had refused to give information
regarding the directors, as to whether the Company was constituted in
accordance with the charter. He also refused to show the transfer
from Mr. Alexander Easton, which whom the contract had been made.
1866 "Water
Works," Rochester
Union & Advertiser, July 7, 1866, Page 2.
It is talked in the streets that a Mr. Easton, of New Haven, has purchased
of the "Rochester Water Works Co.," the right to construct water works for
this city, on his own account pretty much.
1866 IRS Assessment,
November, 1866
Alexander Easton, East Haven, three carriages, watch, piano
1869 "City
Water Works," The Daily Milwaukee News, October 12, 1869,
Page 5.
The Messrs. Easton, of Rochester, N.Y., propose to furnish this city with
water from the Pewaukee lake, and last Saturday Messrs. Cosgrain &
Saulerin, civil engineers of this city, commenced making survey of the
grounds. The Messrs. Easton are about to ascertain the full cost of
accomplishing the work, and then will make an offer to the city. The
Pewaukee lake is 256 feet above the level of this level, and it is
proposed to supply water from them in the same way as New York city
obtains it by the Croton aqueduct.
1869 "Special
Meeting on Water Works," Proceedings of the Rochester Common
Council 1869-70, Pages 229-230, November 5 & 6, 1869.
The original contract with Alexander Easton has been abandoned, and a new
contract made with Frederick Easton, who is now in Europe, but who,
previous to his departure, executed a power to attorney to Alexander
Easton to prosecute the work for him. Alexander Easton subsequently
executed a power to attorney to Richard Merrington, who is now prosecuting
the work under the authority thus delegated to him.
1870 An act to incorporate the Milwaukee, Manitowoc and Green Bay Railroad Company. March 12, 1870
1870 "Railroad
Matters," Manitowoc Tribune, March 24, 1870, Page 4.
On Saturday evening Messrs. Alex. Easton, R. W. C. Merington, and S. W.
Cozzens, of New York, Chas. Cain and Levi Blossom, of Milwaukee, and A. c.
Albano, of Washington, officers of the Milwaukee, Manitowoc & Green
Bay Railroad, registered at the Windate House
1870 "Our
Railroads," Manitowoc Tribune, March 31, 1870, Page 4.
The M. M. & G. B. R. R. Co. entered into contract with Messrs. Alex.
Easton and his associates to build the said road within three years of the
date of subscription.
Messrs. Easton & Co., the contractors for all three roads, propose to
have their headquarters here at Manitowoc, to land their iron,
locomotives, cars, &c, in our harbor, and to construct their car-shops
and all the other buildings necessary for the railroads in the most
substantial manner, right in our midst.
1870 United States
Census, 23rd Election District 18th Ward, County of New York, January 3,
1871.
166 Fifth Avenue, 22nd Street
Alexander Easton, 39, England
Mrs. A.. 34, Keeping House, Spain
Alexander, 9, Connecticut,
Alfred, 5, Canada
1871 "Passengers
Sailed," The New York Times, September 26, 1871, Page 8.
Sept. 23, in Steamship Oceanic, Alex. Easton
1872 Steamship Denmark
arrives in New York City, February 10, 1872
A. Easton, age 45
1872 "Railroad
Subscription," Manitowoc Pilot, May 23, 1872, Page 3.
It is true that the first contractors, Messrs. Easton & Co., deemed
the aid voted by the County sufficient, but they long since passed away
and left the State largely in left, without making a colossal fortune from
our bonds. Inf act, they lost all the money they put in and
succumbed because they could not be money to go on.
1873 Sidney A. Newman v. Francis X. Beckwith Case on Appeal, John Van Voorhis, Quincy Van Voorhis and Walter L. Hyde against Alexander Easton
1874 Newman v. Beckwith, 61 N.Y. 205, September 5, 1874, Court of Appeals of the State of New York. | Records and Briefs | Case involving Alexander Easton and Rochester Water Works Company.
1875 England and
Wales, National Probate Calendar
March 13. Easton, Alexander, Effects under l20.
Administration (with the Will) of the effects of Alexander Easton,
formerly of 68 Ladbroke-grove in the County of Middlesex but late of
Quirigua in the Republic of Guatemala Central America Civil Engineer who
died 22 December 1874 at Yzabal in Guatemala was granted at the Principal
Registry under the usual Limitations to Frances Elizabeth Eastman of the
Limes Erleigh near Reading in the County of Berks Spinster the Aunt and
Guardian of Alexander John Easton and Alfred Easton Minors the Sons and
only Next of Kin.
1875 "In
the matter of the estate of Alexander Easton," The Times
(London, England), June 8, 1875, Page 13.
Who died in or about the month of December, 1874.
1876 Charles Harrison, as Survivor of Himself and James Jones and Henry Jones, Appellant, v. William R. Utley and Andrew J. Wilkin, Respondents, 6 Hun. 565, January Term 1876, New York Supreme Court Fourth Department. Dispute about ownership of cast-iron pipe purchased by Alexander Easton and installed by the Rochester Water Works Company.
1881 History
of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from pre-historic times to the present date,
Volume II
Page 1417: Street Railways, River and Lake Shore City Railway.
The above line is the nucleus of the present system of street
railways. In July, 1859, an association was formed for the purpose
of obtaining subscriptions of $50,000, to push on the enterprise.
Early the next spring the work went vigorously on, under the energetic
management of Alexander Easton, of Cincinnati, the contractor. The
city had been supplied with her first cars the previous September, and Mr.
Easton soon added to enthusiasm, which already existed in favor of the
innovation.
1884 "The
Rochester Water Works," by Nelson J. Tubbs, Engineer in charge of
the water works, from Semi-centennial
History of the City of Rochester: With Illustrations and Biographical
Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, by William
Farley Peck
Page 581: The writer has no desire to criticise the motives of the
managers of the Rochester Water Works company, previous to the time when
the control and management of its affairs went into the hands of Alexander
Easton. During this person's administration, it maybe safely
asserted, the Rochester Water Works company was in the hands of a
Philistine. The wooden conduit pipe laid by him was so notoriously unfit
for the purpose that it was a common remark among the farmers, as
they saw it manipulated, that it would not hold white beans, much less
convey water under heavy pressure.
1889 The
charter of the Toronto Street Railway Co. together with certain
statutes, by-laws, resolutions and agreements relating to the said
company and the corporation of the city of Toronto, from March 14th,
1861 to April 26th, 1889
Pages 10-15: By-law 353 of the City of Toronto, containing original
Agreement with Easton - July 22, 1861.
Pages 16-19: Act incorporating the Toronto Street Railway Company -
May 18, 1861.
1893 The
American and English Railroad Cases: A Collection of All the Railroad
Cases in the Courts of Last Resort in America and England
Pages 549-576: In the matter of arbitration respecting Toronto
Street R. Co., 22 Ontario Reports 374
On the March 26, 1861, Easton was authorized to construct and work a
street railway system.
Easton, in January 1862, duly assigned to that company all the rights
secured to him under the agreement with the city of Toronto.
On February 10, 1862 the company was conveyed to William Cayley.
1903 "Richard
W. C. Merington," United States Investor 14:1790 (October
24, 1903)
Richard Whiskin Crawford Merington was born in England, He died at his
home in New York city, on Aug 24, 1901, at 73 years of age.
1920 Report
on the Electric Street Railways of Milwaukee, Wisconsin: And Other
Public Utility Companies for the City of Milwaukee, with Historical
References on Street Railways and Electrolysis, Together with Report
on a Report Made by the National Bureau of Standards, November 26,
1918, of Electrolytic Conditions in Milwaukee for Railroad Commission
of Wisconsin
Page 92: Alexander Easton, a contractor of Cincinnati, Ohio, built
the original system, about 2 miles of horse car line, in 1859-60.
1972 "Water
for Rochester," by Blake McKelvey, Rochester
History 34(3):1-24 (July 1972)
Pages 5-6: Daniel Marsh, who became the company's engineer, devised
a plan for construction, but unfortunately the onset of the Civil War and
the difficulty of raising the necessary funds delayed action until the
summer of 1866 when a group of investors from Hartford, headed by
Alexander Eaton who had built its water works, acquired control of the
Rochester company. The council renewed its contract for another five years
and the company proceeded to acquire rights of way and to construct an
open canal ditch 1800 feet long from the foot of Hemlock Lake feeding into
a wooden conduit 24-inches in diameter that extended some 16 miles to a
reservoir near Henrietta.
© 2020 Morris A. Pierce