The Russellville Democrat., 1888-04-12
HON. j. r. EAGLE.
Ringing Endorsement and
Sketch of a Prominent Can
didate for Governor.


| A recent number Of that staunch
democratic journal, the Lonoke Dem
ocrat, which is published at the home
of Hon. j. p. Eagle, now prominent
ly before the people for governor.
contained the following unqualified
endorsement Of him for the exalted
position, and which we present to
our readers for their careful consider
alton:
1--WE take pleasure in presenting to
the people Of Arkansas the name of
distinguished citizen of Lonoke for
the position of governor, subject to
the action of the democratic state
convention, Col. James P. Eagle,
successful farmer, gallan. soldier, a
christian gentleman, and an unwav
ering democrat, who has ever been
ready to respond to the call and 20
to the assistance of his friends or the
state.
with the spotless record he has,
we can safely call upon the people to
make him governor of the state OF
Arkansas, without any mIsgiviugs
as to the result. In every position,
IN an eventful life, in which he has
been placed he has proven himself
vlgllant. energetic and trustworthy,
rejecting credit upon himself and his
friends. He is emphatically man
of the people, from the great farm
ing class, who knows their necessi
ties, and is in full sympathy, with the
agricultural interest of the state,
with views broad enough to take in
the material interests Of all classes
of citizens, and we confidently com
mend him to the consideration of the
democracy of the state as a man fit
to be governor.
HOW HE HAS SERVED US.
"Col. Eagle was born in Maury
county, Tenn, in 1897; came to Ar.
kansas with his father. James Eagle,
in 1889, and settled in Pulaski coun-
ty, afterwards Prairie, now Lonoke;
grew up on farm, where be had to
work six full days in week from
sunup to shutdown. In his sixteenth
year his father moved to Richwoods,
a heavy timbered country, where he
took the lead in clearing aud open
ing up for cultivation large and val
liable plantation, and worked as Ia
borer; in 1861 was deputy sheriff
under j. NJ. King. He entered the
states service as private In Capt.
Gaunts company. Col. Cross regi
ment, Fifth Arkansas. When they
were transferred he returned home
and remained three days, then went
to Missouri and joined Capt. j. NJ.
Kings company, Col. McIntosh's
Second Arkansas mounted regiment,
with which he remained until the
close of the war. Much might be
said Of his services on the battle field
and We might give a score of battles
in which he was actively engaged,
but suffice to say that his war record
was that of brave soldier, faithful
throughout to the cause for which he
fought; and with the official rank of
lieutenant-colonel, he surrendered in
1865, at jamestown n. G. On return
ing home he found his houses de
stroyed and his fences gone, he went
manfully TO work to repair his loss
with his own hands, and for several
years followed the plow, scraped cot
ton and did all kind OF farm work,
until through his manual labor, in.
dustrY, economy and management,
he has accumulated competency.
"In 1870, feeling the need of bet
ter education he attended a school in
Lonoke for several months and then
went TO Mississippi college where he
I remained until his health failed, thus
preventing Lis graduating, when he
returned home where he has cOntiun-
ed his studies and is still pursuing
them.
ain 1872 lac was elected TO the
Legislature, as a democrat from Pra-
RE and Arkansas counties Though
largely in the minority, the little
band Of democrats prevented much
bad legislation. In that session he
passed the bill creating Lonoke coun-
ty. He was also IN the extraordina.
airy session that called a eonstitu
tional convention. and was elected
member of that body. He was also
a member and the speaker of the
legislature of 1885.
"ln 1874. when the trouble came
up between Brooks and Baxter, he
gathered together 100 good and true
men Of Lonoke and went to the res
cue OF the jeopardized interest of the
people, on the first alarm g.vea by
Baxter and it is in great measure.
to this promptness that we are a free
people to day.
A state numerously inhabited, but
not on the maD-the state of sua