John S. W. Eagles Explained

Office1:North Carolina House of Representatives
Term Start1:1869
Term End1:1870
Birth Date:1843/4
Death Date:1901
Party:Republican

John S. W. Eagles was a state legislator in North Carolina. He served in the North Carolina House of Representatives in 1869 to 1870. He represented New Hanover County and was African American.[1] He lived in Wilmington.[2]

Biography

Eagles was born around 1843/4 in North Carolina.[3]

He served in the American Civil War as a first sergeant in the 37th United States Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.)[4] [5] He was wounded at the Battle of the Crater by a bayonet.

He helped establish the Republican Party in New Hanover County and served as a police sergeant, registrar and election judge.[6] [3] His son Dr. John Eagles graduated from the Leonard School of Pharmacy at Shaw University in Raleigh and established a drugstore.[7]

Eagles served in the North Carolina House of Representatives after replacing representative Gen. L .G. Estes who resigned[8] and served from 1869 until 1870.[9] In 1870 he stood again as an independent candidate for a seat in the house but did not win.[10]

In 1884, Eagles was quoted telling fellow veterans "Why are over 50,000 colored soldiers laying beneath the sod today? Why are their bones bleaching in the dust tonight? For the privileges we are enjoying today. Civil rights, political rights, soldiers’ and sailors’ rights, and religious rights; and we propose to protect those rights, let come what will or may.”[11]

He was appointed as an enumerator for Wilmington for the 1890 United States census.[12]

Eagles died July 1901.[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. A History of African Americans in North Carolina Division of Archives and History, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources (1997) page 209
  2. Web site: Journal. North Carolina General Assembly. House. December 9, 1870. Google Books.
  3. Book: Foner . Eric . Freedom's Lawmakers: A Directory of Black Officeholders During Reconstruction . 1 August 1996 . LSU Press . 978-0-8071-2082-8 . en . February 4, 2023 . 68 .
  4. Book: Reid, Richard M.. https://academic.oup.com/north-carolina-scholarship-online/book/23483/chapter/184589524. Black Veterans in a Gray State. Freedom for Themselves . February 25, 2008. 297–322 . academic.oup.com. 10.5149/9780807837276_reid.12. 9780807831748 .
  5. The Banner . The Journal of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War . 112 - Number 1 . Autumn, 2007 . 18 . 5 February 2023.
  6. News: City Directory - Newspapers.com . 4 February 2023 . Newspapers.com . en.
  7. Book: Smith, John David. Black Soldiers in Blue: African American Troops in the Civil War Era. October 12, 2005. Univ of North Carolina Press. 9780807875995 . Google Books.
  8. News: Gen. L .G. Estes resigned his seat . 5 February 2023 . The Tarborough Southerner . 3 June 1869 . 3.
  9. News: The Election . 5 February 2023 . The Charlotte Democrat . 10 August 1869 . 3.
  10. News: Election Notice - John S. W. Eagles . 4 February 2023 . The Wilmington Morning Star . 26 June 1870 . 2.
  11. Web site: On Memorial Day, Reflecting on African-American History | National Trust for Historic Preservation. savingplaces.org.
  12. News: Taking the Census . 4 February 2023 . The Weekly Star . 30 May 1890 . 1.
  13. News: Negro Who Attained a Coveted Position Is Laid To Rest . 4 February 2023 . The Atlanta Constitution . 21 July 1901 . 2.

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