The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-04
His Life Ended by Paralysis at His
Home at Jones Lock, Lake
George, N. Y.
SKETCH OF HIM BY HIS SISTER
RELIGIOUS IN YOUTH AND A NOVEL
IST BY ACCIDENT.
His Most Popular story Written I'm
Weekly InstalIments for a Maga-
kline That He Edited.


due to paralysis. For the last year his
health had not been good. His last literary
work was of historical nature. Mr.. Eggles-
ton left widow, who is a daughter Of DR..
Samuel Goode, of Madison, Ind, and his
brother. George Cary Eggleston, novelist,
of Philadelphia.
The following sketch of Mr.. Eggleston
was written by his sister, Mrs. Jane Egg
lesion Zimmerman. few years ago:
Edward Eggleston was born in Vevay.
Switzerland county, Indiana, Dec. TO- 1881
Our father was a Virginian, a lawyer by
profession, and our mother was daughter
of George Craig. an early settler of Indi-
ana, from Kentucky. Her mothers father.
a Scotch Irishman. was a first cousin of
Robert Emmett. the Irish patriot.
Edward was the eldest OF four children,
delicate child, whose health never per-
mitted him to attend school a full term at
time, in all his life. He was an Unsuitable
reader Of books, however, our parents al
ways taking care that none but the very
best was accessible to their children. The
English classics. Prescott's histories,
Stevens's travels. United States exploring
expedition-all these 1 remember to have
been In the library, as well as Clark's COM
mentares, from which my mother, after
my fathers death, always read for pray
ers. using the explanatory notes.
Edward was rather dull. absent-minded
child up to the age OF ten. He had several
teachers before that time, but they were
all poorly fitted for the task Of teaching.
and failed to arouse any enthusiasm in the
boy.
At about ten years old he entered the
school of Rev. and Mrs. Hiram Wason.
They were New Englanders and natural
born teachers. From the day he entered
this school he never had a rival in any of
his mates of his own age.
The impression has been general among
readers of the "Hoosier Schoolmaster,"
his first, and still his most popular novel.
that the experiences of he"Hoosier
Schoolmaster were his own.
There is no foundation for this impress
sion., however. my brother never having
taught school in his life, although he has
had many and varied occupations. In the
''Hoosier Schoolboy," story for young
his first story he'd made him famous, the
prevailing type of village schools of fifty
years ago is drawn with absolute fidelity.
Thu severe Se, discipline, the lack Of sym
features of the schools of those days which
would not be tolerated now. In country
districts, ideas were still more crude con-
parents being that Of Pete Jones in the
"Hoosier Schoolmaster," mo lickin' no
larnin'."
..
totally different from these ordinary types.
and vastly superior. One other teacher of
my brothers did much toward developing
his taste for literary pursuits. This was
Mrs. Julia Dumont. an Eastern lady of Gull
ture, and writer of some local reputation.
Mrs. Dumont was one OF the pioneer liter
airy women of the West where she had re-
sided for many years. and took a deep in
terest In the intellectual tastes of this, her
favorite pupil.
A CHRISTIAN IN YOUTH.
When quite young my brother became an
earnest Christian. uniting with the Meth
odist Church. Among our pastors of that
early day were Thomas Eddy. Martin Ru-
| ter, 7. A. Goodwin and Allen Wiley Bish-
ops Simpson, Hamline and Ames, without
their later dignities, were also occasional
preachers in yevay during Edwards boy
| hood.
When about eighteen his health, never
good, began to fail alarmingly. He was a
boy OF exceedingly austere habits, never
eating meat and rising usually about 4
O'Clock In the morning. ! think the want
| OF a sufficient quantity of rourishing food
ure of his health AS his lungs seemed
much affected. my mother was advised to
send him to Minnesota, which trip he un-
dertook in the spring Of 1856 There being
no railroads running to Minnesota at that
| early day, the trip was made from Madi-
son. Ind, where we were then living to
Minnesota entirely by boat, down the Ohio
there on an upper Mississippi boat On
the way up every one with whom ne talked
urged him to return home, saying he was
too far gone in consumption to reap any
benefit from the Minnesota climate.
The summer of 1856 witnessed the great
rush of emigration toward the Northwest
and my brother found himself in the full
tide of II. He spent the summer knocking
about, carrying chain for surveyors, driv-
| ing oxen to break prairie, helping travel
ing photographer. and sleeping in the most
| promiscuous crowds of unspeakably dirty
| immigrants, having sometimes as many as
| eighteen roommates on hot summer night.
The treatment. heroic as 1t was proved
sweats thing of the past and thin limbs
took on flesh at surprising rate Through
all this rough-and-tumble experience, how
| ever. he still led a pious, pure, austere life.
In the early fall he set out to walk home,
and actually accomplished 1865 miles of the
| journey on foot.
The next winter he travelled an Indiana
circuit as junior preacher, riding through
mud and rain, holding revival services
studying theology, and preaching with un-
firing zeal. The next spring found him
| again broken down. Again he went 10 Min
| nesota. this time remaining till 1866.
In 1855. being then but little over twenty
years of age. he married young widow
Mrs. Elizabeth Snyder, native OF New
York city. This union. lasting thirty
years. was very happy one. Four chill
dren were born to them, the eldest, Mrs
Elizabeth Seelye. being the author OF sew
eral valuable chiidren's histories.
My brother joined the Minnesota confer
ence, serving most of the then principa
charges always greatly beloved and sue
cessful in his pastorates. Repeated hem
orrhages, however, compelled him 20 qui
preaching many times. In the intervals o.
preaching he tried many ways OF making
living, being Bible agent, insurance agent
and what not At one time he secured tn,
formula for making hard soap, and wen
to manufacturing "Egglestons Economi
Soap and a good soap II was
street church. ST. Paul. he had parish
toner's Mr. John Nichols and family. wh'
were such a tower OF strength In the Meth
odism of St Paul during that early period
Mr. and Mrs. Nichols were ever among hi
most cherished friends. their companionshil
and culture being especially precious wher
such friends were rare. Several others o
like refinement and intelligence were amonl
his warm friends.
| most effective work was In the Sundai
| school, although he was greatly esteeme
| as a preacher. He infused into his Sunda
schools a spirit and enthusiasm marvelou
to behold. Had the Epworth League bee
/ in existence at that time he would hav
| had the Invest chapter to be found any
where In his church. II was when he wa
| superintending his Sunday school. on on
occasion, that he asked the librarian Z
take a class. remarkins. Your duties ar
not very onerous. ! suppose, Bro. s. tn
| librarian felt greatly insulted. and said Z
. one of the teachers that he guessed hi
ONCE was just as 'honorous' as any o
Them"
Throughout all his work as frontie