Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1907-12-31
Died in Louisville Saturday
Of Cancer of The
Face.
FIFTY-NINE YEARS OLD.
Was For Is Years A Physi-
clan in The Western
Asylum.

DR.. Benjamin F. Eager died in
Louisville Saturday morning after
an illness of two years, of cancer Of
the face. DR.. Eager left this city in
<fY04 to become Superintendent of
Beechurst Sanitarium and a year
later developed the disease that
caused his death. More than year
ago his condition became such That
he could not continue longer in his
profession, and he had been patient
ly awaiting the end that wss newt
able.
The body was brought to this city
t;atNrday night and Sunday morning
1880 O'Clock funeral services
e held at the Baptist church.
Nv. Willard A. Jenkens offered
r and read a part of the fourth
err of Thessalonians. He then
iuced Rev. w. L. Nourse, who
nt'g told of the high esteem in
wl DIR. Eager was held by the
~ Z of the city, of all denomina-
N. Rev. J. N. Prestridge, a for
pastor of the church and life
ga friend of DR.. Eager, conducted
short and appropriate service,
dwelling upon the strong traits of
DR.. Eager's character cleanliness,
unseIfshness, fearlessness and loyal
~.
The burial took place in Riverside
Cemetery about noon. DR.. Eager
Twas born in Jefferson county, Miss,
July IS, 1848. He was educated in
the school, of his native state and
graduated from the Ohio College of
!. Dental Surgeons in 1872 as valedic-
torian Of his class. He decided
though to become a doctor of medi-
cine and in 1877 graduated from the
Louisville Medical Cege. Motto
ing his name in the lisyof graduates,
DR.. ]. D. Clardy, of Newstead,
wrote to him telling him. that his
neighbor1ood needed a doctor and
asking him to come to Newstead.
/ This he did and lived in DR.. Clardy's
, home for four years and soon built
up fine practice.
In 1881 he removed to Hopkins
vile and three months later became
second assistant physician in the
Western Asylum of which DR.. Jas.
Rodman was Superintendent. In1889
he became first assistant under DR..
B.W. Stone and held that position
until 1896. His connection with the
asylum covered a period of Is years.
Upon retiring from the asylum. he
re-entered general practice in Hop
kinsville for eight years, part OF
the time in partnership with DR.. 7.
w. Blakey. He was married June
Dn,21, 1883, to Miss Carrie Downer, a !
'1sister of Mr.. j. w. Downer. of this
1 city. and she survives him with
three ehildren--Benjamin F. Jr.,
Louise and Henry d. Eager.
Three brothers and two sisters al
$50 survive him. These are Rev, Geo. |
B. Eager. of Louisville; Rev. John
H. Eager, Baptist missionary IN
Italy: Prof. Eager, of Clinton, Miss:
Mrs. L. p. Trotter, Of Hattiesburg,
Miss; and Mrs. JIM. Joiner. Of cisco.
Tex. i
DR.. Eager was member Of the
baptist church here for % years and
for many years was a deacon. AT the
time he removed to Louisville hewas
chat pan of the board of deacons
and in every respect a recognized
leader in church work. In his daily
life he was a living complication
of the highest type of Christian char
Alter. his piety deep and consistent,
his kindness of heart a part of his
natare; he was generous and loyal
Ia his church and his friends he was
bnsQbnaad upright in all his deal