Sergeant Alvin Sumner Eaton / US Army

Alvin Sumner Eaton was born at Hillsborough Bridge Village, NH, on December 4, 1840, the son of James B. and Sarah R. (Hobson) Eaton. As an infant, he came to Nashua with his parents.

In his early adult life, he was a locomotive engineer on the Boston & Lowell railroad. When the Civil War broke out, Eaton joined the New Hampshire Battalion of the First New England Cavalry, the name of which was changed after the battle of Front Royal to the First Regiment of Rhode Island cavalry. The name was later changed back to the First New Hampshire Cavalry. He was wounded in the arm in the fight at Tom’s Brook and taken prisoner on Nov. 12, 1864, at Back Roads. He suffered the “hardships and privations” of four months confinement at Stanton jail, Libby Prison, Pemberton Castle, and Salisbury, N. C, and was released March 1, 1865. He was honorably discharged on June 24, 1865.

The New Hampshire Battalion of the First New England Cavalry was a significant unit during the Civil War. It was first organized at the fairgrounds in Concord, NH in the fall of 1861 as a battalion of four companies. Which later became part of the 1st New England Cavalry. The battalion was detached from the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry to form the 1st New Hampshire Volunteer Cavalry. The regiment was attached to various cavalry brigades and divisions, including the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, and Army of the Shenandoah. The regiment played a crucial role in the defense of Washington, D.C., and participated in various battles in the Shenandoah Valley. The battalion lost five officers and 28 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, and two officers and 112 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. (Source Wikipedia)

Returning to Nashua, he ran a market for some time on Canal Street and for many years was engaged in the concrete business. At the same time, he held commissions as Deputy Sheriff for Hillsborough and Rockingham counties, being very interested in police work. Not surprisingly, Eaton became Nashua’s City Marshal and one of the most progressive police administrators in over 50 years, bringing the department to a new level of professionalism.

Alvin Eaton was among the first of the Nashua soldiers to become a member of John G. Foster Post, G. A. R., and was commander of the state department in 1875, making an honorable record.

He attended the Methodist church, was a member of Watananock tribe of Red Men, Nashua Lodge, Knight of Pythias, and the Knights of Honor.

Eaton was united in marriage Oct. 16, 1868, at Nashua, with Rebecca H. Sawyer, daughter of David and Cordelia A. (Harmon) Sawyer of West Buxton, ME. One son has been born of their marriage. Ivory Custer, born Dec. 8, 1876.

Alvin Sumner Eaton died in Nashua on October 22, 1906, and is buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Nashua.

Source: History of the City of Nashua, NH from the Earliest Settlement of Old Dunstable to the Year 1895 by Judge Edward E. Parker / Published by Telegraph Publishing Company 1897

Edited for brevity and clarity and submitted by Gary Ledoux

US Service Personnel Profiles
By Gary Ledoux February 13, 2026