Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-12-20
BRIEF SKETCH OF HIS CAREER,
Baptist Church,

James p. Eagle. one Of the best
known men in the state. died this
morning at 6:3O O'Clock al his hon"
in Little Rock after an illness OF seF-
ara1 months. Death was due to a
complication of diseases and gen
eral breaking down of the system, as
Mr. Eagle was quite an old man and
had been in delicate health for mnay
wears. Ex-Governor Eagles last mo
mepts were peaceful and he died
easily without a struggle Only
few friends were at his bedside. al
though death was not unexpected.
He was confined to his bed a few
weeks ago and gradually grew worse,
6espite the efforts of the physicians
who attended him. His last visit to
Pine Bluff was made at the time thai
the Arkansas Baptist state convention
met here last month and he seemed
to enjoy meeting old friends during
- stay here. The funeral arrange
ments will be announced later on.
James p Eagle was born in Maury
county, Tenn, August In. 1871, and
was brought to Arkansas by his pa
rents. who settled northeast of Little
Rock. In 1911 they moved Ia point
on the military road east of the state
capital. The early life OF Mi Eagle
was spent on farm and he first at
tended colleep after he was thirtY
years of age having served through
the civil war. In the course OF
events he became d Baptist minister
as we'll as farmer and planter and
much of his life work was devoted to
the work of his church, Though he
never made his living by preaching.
When but small boy he enlisted
in the Confederate army and served
with distinction. He entered The
army as private in the ranks and al
fhe close of the war was a lieutenant-
colonel. He was seriously wounded
at Atlanta in 1854 and was surrender
ed with Johnsons army in North
Carolina in April l>'i3. Ills record
during the whole of he war was one
of which any man might be proud.
In 1878 he was chosen to represent
Prairie county in the legislature anu
also served through the extra session
of 1874 and that year was delegate
to the state constitutional conVeh'
ton. He took a firm stand Tor purify
of politics in Arkansas, and Was CON
sLicuous in The Democratic party dur
ing the dark days of the reconstruc-
ton, standing firmly for what he con
siGered right He represented Lonoke
county in the legislature in 1917 and
again in 1855, when he was speaker
z OF the house of representatives.
In 1888. when he was fifty-one years
old. he was elected governor OF the
state after a memorable campaign
; He was the sixteenth governor OF
Arkansas and his record in the gov
ernor's office has not been surpassed
nv any governor the state ever had.
His every act bore the stamp OF an
honest man and fearless chief ex-
ecltivc.
The latter years OF Ex-Governor
Eaele's life we're devoted to his husl-
ness affairs and the affairs OF ms
church. He became possessed Oh
large plantation holdings and was
considered a rich man. He was for
twentv-four years president OF the
Arkansas Baptist state conVentloh'
living down the gavel at the last
meeting. which was recently held N
Pine Bluff. after refusing TO serve
longer. He was president OF the
Southern Baptist convention for three
wears and every honor that could he
conferred upon him by the BaptIs'
church was gladly done by those WhC
knew and loved him. Although a
minister Of the church for years, ht
contributed more perhaps, than any
other man in the state to the sup
mort Of the church He was instru
mental in the building of many