Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-23
EATON THE MISER.
Remarkable Story Of Compe-
tence and Perjury,
WINDING UP WITH A NOVEL WILL.

A Man of Fine Education, Strict Meth
odist, and Gifted Preacher Lives . Life
OF wretchedness That He May Lay Up
Treasure on Earth and Give it to .
Peculiar Charity-The Will Likely tc
Fail of It's Benign Purpose.
ANGOLA, Ind, Oct 23.-Lucien B. Eaton
died in this county Feb "a last leaving
property valued at $40, 900, which is now
tied up in lawsuit, and the story
of his life and death is a remark
able one. He came to Steuben
county at an early day from the state Of
New York, and settled upon a farm few
miles west Of the village of Fremont He
was at once recognized by those with whom
he came in contact as an eccentric man. He
was Of more than ordinary intelligence, a
devoted attendant and member of the Meth
odist Episcopal church, a preacher gifted
with considerable power of oratory, his ser.
mons and conversation hearing evidence OF
careful mental discipline and thorough cd.
ucation, yet withal So groveling, misery and
penurious in his habits and in s manner OF
living so greedy for wealth, as to provoke
very general adverse criticism
His Wife Was n Match for Him.
Within few years IRON the time he set
tied in Steuben county he YVES married The
woman o. his choice was seemingly DOS.
srssed Of many of the pecuiiarities of her err
ratio husband and together they lived. OF
at least managed TO survive, in a wretched
and dilapida ted old hut through which the
Wind coursed without restraint Old hats
bits Of rag carpet and straw were made &c
supply the place of missing window panes.
A broken cook stove, an old discarded square
stand, two or three dsmem bered chairs, and
collection of rags and sheet skins for bed
clothing constituted all :he house furnish
ings, and with these miserable surroundings
they practiced the most rigid s.f-deni al and
deprivation, being at times in absolute want.
until the year 1870, when the old lady died
of pneumonia no doubt the result of self
imposed starvation and exposure to the rig.
orOus winter weather.
Miser's DeIusion.
The chief delusion of the old mans mind
was his apprehension of coming to want of
which he was constantly complaining. At
the time of his wife's illness his nsighbors
urged him to kill a cow and have some of his
wheat made into -four, to provide the means
or sustaining life, but the old gentleman
drew himself up and with solemn impressive
not for poor people, but were only intended
for the wealthy, for the kings and potentates
OF the earth" After the death of his wife
the old man lsved in a state of wretchedness
and squalor that would rival that of the most
degraded savage. His house falling to piecss
for want OF repair. he dug hole in the
grcund and lived there for two years Then
be lived in a sort of kennel followed out of a
haystack, and the last few years of his life in
an old log hut Notwithstanding the hard.
ships and exposure he endured, be lived to be
n years old.
His Estate and Curious WILL
He died on the eth of February last,
leaving an estate valued at 81, 900, consist
ing PRINCIPALLY OF land, of which he owned
over 1000 acres. This, with the excepti on
Of forty acres decided TO his son. he devised
10 the board of county commissioners in
trust, by his will directing them to sell the
unimprovei lands ami to divide the i'm
proved portion into hve-acre lots, and with
the proceeds derived from the sale of the
wild lands erect on each lot sdwelliny house
lox24 feet, a chicken coop and COW stable,
all TO be under the control of the commits
sioners and TO be known as the Eaton
Home" and to be open for occupancy only
to INDECENT mai1ens and widows over IS
y
resided in Steubsn county for SIX months
Immediately preceding their application for
admission
The Inevitable Lawsuit
Suit was instituted by Isaac Eaton who is
the son and only heir, to have the will de-
clared void on account of the insanity and
mental incapacity OF the old gentleman
when he executed IT In this suit the board
of commissioners appeared and disclaimed
any intention of accepting the trust and the
judge appointed trustees in order that the
validity OF the will might lie tried 1t is
doubtful, in the event the will is sustained,
IL any person can be found who will accent
the trust and perform the provisions of the
will without compensation, as the will itself
specially provides. Aside from what has
already been stated the will made no other
disposition of his property except a small be-
quest to Isaac, the son, and to provide that
plain marble slab be erected at his gave
with his name, date of birth aud death in
scribed thereon