Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Plot 2 Lot 4
The Eaton family mausoleum is one of Toronto’s most striking memorials, a testament to a dynasty that transformed Canadian retail. Its founder, Timothy Eaton, was born in Ballymena, Ireland, in 1836. After apprenticing as a merchant, he emigrated to Canada in 1854, seeking opportunity in a new land. By 1869, Eaton had opened his own dry goods store at Yonge and Queen Streets in Toronto where he introduced revolutionary policies: fixed prices and cash-only sales. At a time when haggling and credit were the norm, these ideas changed shopping forever.
Eaton’s vision didn’t stop there. In 1884, he launched the Eaton’s catalogue, creating one of the country’s first mail-order empires and bringing goods to rural Canadians. The company started other innovations as well, like early store closures on Saturdays, foreign buying offices and company-owned manufacturing, setting standards for modern retail.
When Timothy Eaton died in 1907, his funeral procession drew thousands. Today, the family mausoleum holds multiple generations, including Sir John Craig Eaton, knighted for his philanthropy, and John David Eaton, who led the company through the mid-20th century. The Eaton legacy lives on as a symbol of entrepreneurship and progress, etched in stone at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Sources:
• Dictionary of Canadian Biography – “Eaton, Timothy”
• The Canadian Encyclopedia – “Timothy Eaton”
• Find a Grave – “Eaton Family Mausoleum (Mount Pleasant Cemetery) ”
• Mount Pleasant Group – “Timothy Eaton”
Photos courtesy of Mount Pleasant Group
