The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-30
A SKETCH OF
 JAMES A. EASTIS
----------- By ". K. TERRY


 On sunday morning, September 23,
 capt. James A. Eastis died, as the result or an operation. The thought of his death will cause sadness to many hearts,
 for he had many friends in Jefferson county. He was born, reared and lived his whole life in this county, and it may
 De well said of him that he was typical ! of the well-to-do, successful Jefferson :; county native. For the last 2S years of his life he was in the employment of the Woodward Iron company. and was one of l it's most trusted and highly esteemed en-
 ployes.
 IL IS related of him that when he first 1 came to Woodward he rode horseback rom his old home at Irondale, with a horn slung around his shoulders. a. shot
 gun across his saddle, and about 20 mounds following at his horses heels and 1t is true, no doubt, for he loved the chase. He was a great deer hunter of the old days of the county, when Suuaw shoals was the deer hunters paradise lie and Dr. George Morrow and the
 smiths and others Of his associates went 10 Squaw shoals on many deer drive the "reminiscences and recollections of which will live for many day. On one or these drives. 1t is said, one of the party who had been on a stand for hours without luck, inquired of a passing
 farmer If he had seen or heard of any deer, who replied That he had not seen
 any but he heard Jim Eastis blast away
 twice back there in the woods and he
 reckoned he had one or maybe two. be- cause he hardly ever failed to kill when
 he fired" And so it was, in those days,
 he knew nearly every foot of ground in
 the county and knew and was known
 py nearly every farmer even to the re-
 port of his 10-bore deer gun. He en- Joyed the comradery of camp life and
 the out of doors to the last and spent
 few weeks just before his death at the
 Woodward fishing camp on the Warrior.
 East Lake or Ruhama. as it used to
 De called, was the place of his birth,
 which occurred on the 30th of Septernb CT, lS4S, so that at the time of his death
 he was 69 years old, lacking a few days.
 lie attended Ruhama college, near the
 spot where Howard college now stands,
 but his college training was cut short
 by the Civil war. He was then only 16
 years of age. but did his bit for his
 country. It was when Forrest was en-
 gazing Wilson's raiders in battle in this
 country that General Forrest sent Jim
 lsastis, lad of Is. across the country to
 try to get there ahead of Wilson's raid CTS and give warning that the raiders were coming. and he made the daring ride on Jumping mule in an effort to carry the message, but was captured and
 made a prisoner by the raiders
 In politics he was a democrat of the old school, purified in the faith, by the stirring days of reconstruction when 1t was only through the Ku-Klux that life in the south was safe for white peo- pie. He bore his part in those days like the calm, brave hero he was. Those were grievous times, it is true, but they pro- duced men whose like and kind are hard to ind and such man was Jim Eastis
 On December Is, 1888, he was married to Nancy Elizabeth Moses, who survives hlm, and whose parents then lived near the line of Shelby and Jefferson. Nine children were born to them of whom only four are living. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and one of the founders of the Presbyterian church at Brighton.
 In fraternal orders he favored the Odd | f'cllows and Masons, and was a member of both orders. He was charter mem- | per Of the Blue Lodge of Masons at Brighton and was regular attendant | upon their meetings. He was also mem- per of the Shrine He loved to believe | the most and best of his fellowman. This | was so complete and broad in him that | It touched all sides of humanity It | vas manifest in a kindness and regard | mat Keep their silent record in many orivate hearts; in a hand ever open and ! 'eady to help; in genial smile that | was pleasing to see; in one of the kind .st faces ever worn by man. He was 1, not tired of life. He was happy and | 'ontented and enjoyed life He lived well | md loved his friends. He had made a | 'uccess. had made good and there was 1othing disappointing in life to him. It s a pity that he Is gone, for such men ,ne does not meet every day.