Obituary: Rock County, Wisconsin: Almeron EAGER ************************************************************************ Submitted by Ruth Ann Montgomery, June 2005 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ OBITUARY Mr. Almeron Eager Mr. Almeron Eager died at his home in this city early Wednesday morning, Oct. 15, 1902, after an illness of but a few weeks. Almeron Eager was born in Sangerfield, Oneida County, N. Y., March 14, 1838. He was from a family of nine children. His mother died when he was twelve years old. In the fall of 1854, he came west with his father, locating in the town of Union; his father died in 1861. The deceased was reared on the Oneida county farm, and obtained his education in the district school. He came to Rock county and bought 80 acres in the town of Union, which he improved and afterward sold and then purchased a trac of 200 acres lying east of Evansville. In 1868 Mr. Eager moved into this city and in partnership with W. S. Smith opened a store of general merchandise under the firm name of Smith & Eager, where they carried on business about fourteen years. After disposing of this business they dealt in leaf tobacco for some time. In 1883 a company was formed to build a tack factory and Mr. Eager was elected secretary, holding that position until the company dissolved. In 1873, he with several others, organized the Baker Mfg. Co., to engage in the manufacture of windmills, pumps, etc. Since 1885 he has been president of this large and prosperous company. He has always been a staunch republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. His sterling character always won him local honors. He was town treasurer and a member of the village board for many years and member of the county board of supervisors for the past ten years. He was elected assemblyman for the 2nd District of Rock County in 1900. He was a member of our first library board and was instrumental in rolling up the first subscription and up to the time of his death was an interested member of the finance committee of that body. Mr. Eager was greatly interested in great social and economic questions and was fond of travel. He found his way into every state of the Union. The summer of 1899 he spent in Alaska, and the following year he made an extensive tour in Europe. Mr. Eager was married to Miss Olive Boyce on Nov. 26, 1863, and has had four children, the youngest only survives. He was a member of Union Lodge No. 32, A. F. & A. M., Evansville Chapter No. 35 R. A. M., and Janesville Commandary No. 2, K. T. The funeral occurred from the M. E. church, Friday afternoon, Rev. Churm officiating, and the Masonic Fraternities assisting, and was one of the largest gatherings of the kind ever seen in this city. October 18, 1902, The Badger, p. 1, col. 4 , Evansville, Wisconsin Mr. Almeron Eager aged 64 years, departed from this life at his home on W. Main Street, Wednesday morning, at 4:30 o'clock. The deceased was born in Sangerfield, Oneida county, N. Y., March 14, 1838. He came to Wisconsin in 1854 and purchased 80 acres of land in this township, which he improved and sold and then purchased 200 acres two and one-half miles east of this city, where he resided until 1868 when he moved into this city and engaged in the mercantile business with his brother-in- law, W. S. Smith, under the firm name of Smith & Eager. He continued in this business fourteen years, after which he engaged in the purchased of leaf tobacco for about three years. In 1883 a company was formed for the manufacture of tacks, of which Mr. Eager became secretary which position he held until the company went out of business. In 1873 he became a charter member of the Baker Mfg. Co.; of which he has been president since 1885. On Nov. 26, 1863, Mr. Eager was married to Miss Olive Boyce; the fruits of which were four children, Clarence and Gertrude and two who died in infancy. Clarence died when one year and nine days old, leaving Mr. Eager with but one child, an only daughter, who survives him. He was a member of Union Lodge, No. 32, A. F. & A. M.; Evansville Commandery, No. 2, K. T. He has always been a staunch republican casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, in which he took great pride. He was town treasurer for several years; a member of our city board for many years, and president of it for three years, and a member of the county board for the past ten years. On Nov. 6, 1900, he was elected to the state assembly, in which his services were prominent and most creditable. He had traveled through every state and territory in this union and Alaska, and in 1900 he traveled through Europe, visiting Germany, Holland, Belgium, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales; witnessing the noted Passion Play during his absence. Certainly Mr. Eager's life has been a busy, profitable one, not only to himself but this entire community in which he so long resided. Evansville could not have lost a more valuable man, especially in its public councils; always conservative and far seeing, keeping a check on what might prove extravagencies in public affairs, which if not always with the majority was a valuable corrector of remarkable sound judgement, whose place this city will find hard to replace. By his frugality and good management he had accumulated a comfortable fortune, every dollar of which we believe was honest gain. In short, Evansville has lost one of its very best citizens, which we all regret very much. Apparently Mr. Eager was an unusually strong, robust man up to a few weeks since. At least, if he suffered no one, aside from his immediate family, was aware of it until he started out with Mr. Myron Kyes in July. It was said in hopes to recuperate his health, which gradually grew worse until he went into a hospital in Chicago, where his disease puzzled the most expert and learned physicians who were unable to name it; as he gradually grew worse he was brought home in a very feeble condition about three weeks since, and has gradually failed until he peacefully passed away. He leaves a wife, daughter and grandson of the imemdiate family to mourn their sad loss of a grand, good husband and father. The funeral was held at his late home this Friday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock and at the M. E. church at 2 o'clock, of which he was always a regular attendant; Rev. James Churm, resident pastor, officiating; under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity, whose services were rendered at the grave, where all that was mortal of Mr. Eager was laid to rest in our city cemetery. The large number who followed his remains to this place testify to the high esteem in which he was held by all. October 21, 1902, Tribune, p. 3, col. 7, Evansville, Wisconsin LEFT A LARGE ESTATE The Will of the Late Almeron Eager In the death of ex-Assembly Eager of Evansville, the county has lost one of its most respected and most substantial citizens. Mr. Eager was a modest unassuming man, and so free from ostentation, that his most intimate friends were surprised at the amount of property he had accumulated. The will, which was read to the relatives last Friday evening was characteristic of the man. It was prepared by Mr. Eager himself in September, and after he was appraised of the fact that the hand of death was upon him. His estate, amounting to about $175,000, consisted of all kinds of property, and his sick room was converted into an office, and debtors by the score called on him for final settlement. His mind was clear and active and the same courteous consideration that had won a place for him in the hearts of the people, endeared him more closely as he arranged the last details of business before leaving them for the long journey. When all his affairs were settled he made his will, and its provisions were so remarkable that the people of Evansville will long have occasion to perpetuate his memory. About thirty legacies of $1,000 each, to be paid in five years, were left to relatives, and many of them were in recognition of service, or some little deed of kindness, rendered many years ago and long since forgotten by the donor. One bequest read, "I bequeath to my sister, Mrs. ...$2,000 and 30 dollars a month for 5 years, because she is lame and needy." Another read: "I bequeath to .... one thousand dollars because he helped me when I was a young man." and so along down through the will, the character of the man stood out strong and vigorous. One thousand dollars was left to Lawrence University at Appleton. Two tousand dollars to the Methodist church at Evansville, the interest to apply on the pastor's salary. Ten thousand dollars was bequeathed to the city of Evansville for a free public library building to be known as the Eager library. A life sized statue of the donor to be placed at the entrance. One thousand dollars was appropriated to park improvements, the money to be spent for evergreens. The will also provides for a monument that will cost five thousand dollars, similar tot he Bowen monument at Brodhead. Allen S. Baker, Geo. L. Pullen and Robert D. Hartley were appointed the executors and trustees and the income of the estate for fifteen years is to go to his widow and daughter, and at the expiration of that time to be equally divided. The people of Evansville will long cherish the memory of Mr. Eager and many of them realize that they never knew him until he was taken from their midst. -- Janesville Gazette. Reprinted in the Badger, October 25, 1902, p. 1, col. 5, Evansville, Wisconsin