John S. W. Eagles

John S. W. Eagles
North Carolina House of Representatives
In office 1869–1870
Personal details
Born	1843/4
Died	1901
Political 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.[6]

He helped establish the Republican Party in New Hanover County and served as a police sergeant, registrar and election judge.[7][3] His son Dr. John Eagles graduated from the Leonard School of Pharmacy at Shaw University in Raleigh and established a drugstore.[8]

Eagles served in the North Carolina House of Representatives after replacing representative Gen. L .G. Estes who resigned[9] and served from 1869 until 1870.[10][3] In 1870 he stood again as an independent candidate for a seat in the house but did not win.[11]

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.”[12]

He was appointed as an enumerator for Wilmington for the 1890 United States census.[13]

Eagles died July 1901.[6]

See also

• African-American officeholders during and following the Reconstruction era

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