. H. Eaton, the first and only agent in Redlands of the Southern Pacific railroad, was born at Iowa City, Iowa, February 14, 1867, and about nine years later arrived in Los Angeles. There, after an education in the common schools, he entered, in November 1886, the service of the Southern Pacific as a student of telegraphy, at the Pomona office. After serving about a year there he became a regular employee of the road and was employed at different points from the Tehachapi to Yuma, at first as relief agent and afterwards in the more permanent capacity of agent in charge. When the Southern Pacific opened its office in Redlands, Mr. Eaton was sent here to take charge, and has remained in the position ever since. In this connection it may be of interest to note that the first regular train service into Redlands, that on the Motor road, commenced June 4, 1888; that this road was sold to the Southern Pacific June 27, 1891, and that service on the broad gauge Southern Pacific commenced March 14, 1892. In 1876 the Southern Pacific, in its course of construction overland, was built across the extreme south-western corner of what is now Redlands. In the fall of 1884 a platform was placed in the canyon, and many residents of this section were accustomed to go there, flag the train and be taken aboard.

(Source: Illustrated Redlands, p. 10.)