San Diego County
Biographies
WILLIAM H. EADON
the Coroner of San Diego County, was born at Sheffield, England, February 11,
1840. His father was a hardware merchant in Quebec, Canada, for many years, and
by trade a saw-manufacturer; he was the oldest son of Moses Eadon, a large
manufacturer of saws and files, Sheffield, England, the business being still
carried on by a younger son, Robert. William H., with is parents, emigrated to
Quebec, Canada, in the year 1842. He was educated mostly in private schools, and
finished with a year's course at the Quebec High School. At the age of fifteen
years he was apprenticed to a pharmacist (G.G. Ardouin), and during his
apprenticeship attended one course of lectures on botany, two on materia medica,
and two on chemistry, at the Laval University, Quebec. In May, 1859, he
graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Upper and Lower Canada at
Montreal, as a graduate of pharmacy, and immediately started for California. On
his arrival in San Francisco, he registered with the Board of Pharmacy. For
twenty-five years afterward he was connected with three of the leading wholesale
drug establishments of that city. He first began with Charles Morrill, remaining
about two years, and with Crane & Brigham, seventeen years (Charles Morrill, and
Crane & Brigham, both retired from business), and with Redington & Co. about six
years, the latter being the largest drug house on the Pacific coast. In 1887 Mr.
Eadon was attracted to San Diego by the boom, but taking it at its height was
unfortunate in his investments. Soon after his arrival in San Diego he was
appointed health inspector by Dr. D. B. Northrup. Dr. Northrup soon after
resigned, and Dr. D. Gochenauer was appointed and retained Mr. Eadon. Mr. Eadon
resigned in October, 1888, after receiving the nomination for Coroner by the
Republican convention, to which office he was chosen in the November election,
assuming his duties in January, 1889, and this position he has held with honor
and credit.
Mr. Eadon was married at Quebec (now the Dominion of Canada), to Miss Honer
Sharpe, a native of Quebec, Canada. They have had five children, only three of
whom survive. One son, William H., Jr., is foreman of the upholstering
department of F.S. Chadbourne & Co., the largest furniture establishment on this
coast. Edward H. is salesman for Chadbourne & Co., San Diego, and Lilly B. helps
her mother housekeeping. Ed. and Lilly reside at home.
Mr. Eadon is a member of Oakland Lodge, No. 188, F. & A.M., of Oakland, and he
takes particular pride in stating that he is a straight Republican.
An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California, from the Earliest Period of Occupancy to the Present Time.... - Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. pp 106-107 Transcribed by Sue Silver