Elon Howard Eaton (sometimes Elon Eton; 8 October 1866 – 27 March 1934) was an American

ornithologist Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the "methodological study and consequent knowledge of birds with all that relates to them." Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and th ...

, scholar, and author. He was born in the Town of Collins near Springville, New York, the son of Luzerne Eaton and Sophie Newton. As a youth, he took a taxidermy course in Buffalo, New York, where he prepared wildlife he had taken in the field with his shotgun. Eaton was home-schooled and self-taught in rural southern Erie County, although he also attended the Griffith Institute in nearby Springville. He attended the University of Rochester where he graduated in 1890 with a B.A. Subsequently, Eaton received an M.A (1893), M.Sc. (1910) and Sc.D. (1927), all from Rochester. After teaching science in local schools, he attended Columbia University (1899–1900) for additional graduate work, studying paleontology under Henry Fairfield Osborn. Eaton established the biology department in

Hobart and William Smith Colleges Hobart and William Smith Colleges are Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts colleges in Geneva, New York. They trace their origins to Geneva Academy established in 1797. Students can choose from 45 maj ...

in 1908, where he taught until his death. He was the New York State ornithologist from 1908 to 1911. Each May he led a group of students and fellow ornithologists on a bird survey of Potter Swamp. Part of the delay between volume one and volume two of "Birds of New York" was due to his marriage in 1909 to Gertrude Yeames and a heart attack in 1913. The publication of this work elicited many letters to Eaton, including one from the then-young

Roger Tory Peterson Roger Tory Peterson (August 28, 1908 – July 28, 1996) was an American naturalist, ornithologist, illustrator and educator, and one of the founding inspirations for the 20th-century environmental movement. Background Peterson was born in Jam ...

. In 1915, Eaton later married second time, to Ester Woodman. His two marriages produced four children. Elon Eaton also enjoyed a sporting life. Game taken in the field Eaton prepared himself for dinner parties. Eaton died in Geneva, New York of atherosclerosis.

Publications

* ''Birds of Western New York'', 1901 * ''Birds of New York'', (v. I: Water Birds, 1910, v. II: Land Birds, 1914), New York State Museum Memoir 12 * ''Biological Survey of the Finger Lakes''

References

*Rising, Gerry, "A tribute to a gifted ornithologist from Springville," Buffalo News (21 September 2008) * "Eaton was a vintner, a chef and an excellent shot," Buffalo News (5 October 1908) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Eaton, Elon Howard American naturalists American ornithologists Hobart and William Smith Colleges faculty Columbia University alumni People from Collins, New York People from Geneva, New York 1866 births 1934 deaths Scientists from New York (state)