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Below is a family biography included in History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott, published by Iola Register, 1901.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOHN WORTH EAGLE is one of the early settlers and farmers of Eminence township, Woodson County, where he located in 1869, taking up his abode upon a farm on section 26, but for twenty-one years he has resided upon a valuable farm on section 30, of the same township, his country seat being one of the attractive and desirable farming properties in this portion of the state. He came to Kansas from Ashland County, Ohio, where he was born August 16, 1847. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Eagle, was a native of Southern Ohio and his people were from Virginia. They followed farming pursuits and were ordinarily successful. The family is of English lineage, the grandfather being a third cousin to old John Bull. John Eagle, the father of our subject, was also a native of Ashland County, Ohio, and died upon the farm where his birth occurred, being sixty-five years of age when called to his final rest.

John Eagle spent the greater part of his life in Ohio, but for ten years was a resident of California. He made his way to the Pacific coast in 1850 and during the succeeding decade was engaged in prospecting over the state. He married Jane Haughey, a daughter of Robert Haughey, who was of German lineage, but the family was founded in America at a very early period in the development of this country and its representatives through many generations were identified with agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Eagle died at the home of her son, J. W., in 1899, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Her children were as follows: Robert P., who is now living in San Francisco, California; Thomas, who makes his home in Topeka, Kansas; Martha, wife of W. M. Zimmerman, of Ashland County, now deceased; Mary E., who became the wife of L. Potter, and after his death married E. P. L. Dowe, now of Oklahoma; and George B., who died while serving in the Union army.

The other member of the family is J. W. Eagle, whose name introduces this record. After acquiring a common school education he turned his attention to farming upon the old homestead and was thus engaged until twenty-one years of age when he started out in life on his own account. Boarding a westward-bound train he then came to Kansas, leaving the cars at Ottawa, whence he proceeded by wagon to Woodson County, arriving here in 1869. This was at an early period in the development of the county when much of the land was in its primitive condition and the work of progress seemed scarcely begun. Mr. Eagle secured a tract of railroad land which he improved somewhat and then sold, after which he purchased the farm belonging to his brother. Robert F., and has since made the Eagle Gap farm one of the finest in this portion of the county. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 19, Eminence township and one hundred and thirty-five acres on section 30.

In April, 1868, occurred the marriage of Mr. Eagle and Miss Matilda Maurer, a daughter of George Maurer, who died in the Federal army during the war of the Rebellion. Her people resided at one time in Ohio, but came from Pennsylvania-German stock. Mrs. Eagle was born in Ashland County, Ohio, in 1852, and by her marriage became the mother of three children: Jennie, now the wife of David Hall, of Woodson County; Albert, of the same county and Cyrus P. In the early days the members of the Eagle family were Democrats, but the present generation renounce the political faith of their forefathers and Mr. Eagle of this review has throughout his entire life been a staunch Republican. He has never sought office but has given his attention to his farm work.

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This family biography is one of 204 biographies included in History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott, published by Iola Register, 1901, Iola, Kansas.  For the complete description, click here: Woodson County, Kansas History and Genealogy

View additional Woodson County, Kansas family biographies here: Woodson County, Kansas

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