Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Vol. 2. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 64. STEWART BATES EAKIN The late Stewart Bates Eakin, one of the really representative men of Lane county, contributed in a very large degree to the material and civic advancement of this locality, while his admirable qualities of head and heart and the straightforward, upright course of his daily life won for him the esteem and confidence of all who knew him. He was, in the truest sense, the architect of his own fortune, for, through the strength of his own personality, ability and fidelity, he advanced from a humble beginning to a place of large influence and great responsibility, becoming identified with some of the most important business interests of Eugene. Mr. Eakin was born in Rutland, near Elgin, Kane county, Illinois, on the 28th of August, 1846, and was a son of Stewart Bates and Katherine (McEldowney) Eakin. The father was born in Ireland of Scotch-Irish parentage, and the mother was a native of the United States. In 1840 the former came to this country, where he was married June 12, 1844, and established the family home in Illinois. Tin-parents lived there until 1866, when they made the long, arduous journey across the plains, driving a mule team, and after four months arrived in Lane county. They located three miles northwest of Eugene, where they spent their remaining days, the mother dying November 5, 1866, and the father, March 12, 1892, at the age of seventy-six years. They were the parents of the following children: Martha, deceased, who was the wife of John McQueen; Stewart Bates; Judge Robert Eakin, of Salem, Oregon; Jane Paul, the widow of Calvin Hannah, of Eugene; Herbert, of Cottage Grove, Lane county; Mary C., the wife of John McQueen, of Portland; Judge James A., of Astoria, Oregon; and Walter, also of Astoria. After the death of his first wife, the father married Mrs. Nancy (Rates) Leslie, who died November 29, 1896. Stewart Bates Eakin, Jr., received his education in the public schools of his native state and at the age of twelve years began working in his father's store before and after school hours, usually sleeping in the store building. He was twenty years of age when the family came to Lane county and he spent the first year here on the home farm. In April, 1867, he began clerking in the Peters & Parsons store, where he had charge of the postoffice, the telegraph service and kept the firm's hooks. Leaving that position at the end of three years, he engaged in the sheep business for about a year, and then entered F. B. Dunn's store, where he clerked for three years. In the spring of 1874, without solicitation on his part the republican party nominated Mr. Eakin for sheriff of Lane county, which was strongly democratic, and he was elected by a majority of one vote. So eminently satisfactory was his conduct of the office, that he was reelected in 1876 and again in 1878, serving six years with ability and credit to himself. On retiring from the office, Mr. Eakin returned east for a six months' visit and on again coming to Eugene he formed a partnership with T. G. Hendricks and engaged in the banking business, under the name of the Hendricks & Eakin Bank, Mr. Hendricks being president and Mr. Eakin, cashier. This enterprise was conducted with marked success until February 27, 1886, when they secured a charter for a national bank, establishing the First National Bank of Eugene, which began business on March 9, 1886, with a paid-up capital of fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Eakin served as cashier of this bank until April, 1899, when he became vice president, which position he held until his death on February 12, 1912. He was also one of the organizers and a large stockholder in the Eugene Water Works Company, and he had extensive property interests elsewhere in this state. A man of keen business sagacity and foresight, his opinions in practical affairs were valued highly by his associates, and he was regarded as a man who was absolutely dependable and trustworthy under all circumstances. On September 27, 1871, Mr. Eakin was united in marriage to Miss Eliza J. Hadley, who was born about ten miles from Eugene, in Lane county, September 12, 1852, a daughter of Henry G. and Loretta Cox (Clark) Hadley. Her father was a native of Portland, Maine, and her mother was born in Sandusky, Ohio, but their marriage occurred in Illinois. In 1851 Mr. and Mrs. Hadley came to Lane county, Oregon, where the father acquired two thousand acres of land, ten miles southwest of Eugene. He became one of the largest sheep raisers of this section of the state, his flocks eventually amounting to seven thousand head, and he increased his land holdings until he had four thousand acres. This was in marked contrast to the strained financial circumstances in which he was placed when he first arrived here. When the time came to prove up on his land, it was necessary for his wife to sell her watch in order to pay the costs, and Mr. Ladd, of Portland, advanced him the money with which to secure a peddler's wagon, which he operated for some time. However, he was energetic and persistent and prosperity soon came to him, and from that time on he enjoyed distinctive success, becoming one of the most prominent and influential men of his community. He was active in public affairs and was one of the first representatives in the legislature from Lane county. He was the first justice of the peace in his locality and sometimes held his court in the shade of an old oak tree in Eugene. In his later years he retired from active affairs and moved to Eugene, where his death occurred, April 2, 1906, when he bad reached the advanced age of ninety-one years. When he came to this locality there was but one other white man here, Eugene Skinner, and thus he was a witness of and participant in all of the early events in his section of the county. His wife died July 12, 1904. They were the parents of four children: Eliza ]., Charles, Frank and George. To Mr. and Mrs. Eakin was born a daughter, Georgia Myrtle, who died at the age of seven months. In his political views Mr. Eakin was a stanch republican and was in close touch with public affairs, on which he held well defined opinions. In the spring of 1882 he was elected a member of the Oregon legislature, being the only republican elected from Lane county, and in 1888 he represented the county in the state senate, being the first republican senator from the county in eighteen years, and he bore the record of never having been defeated in any election in which he was a candidate. He was an earnest member of the Presbyterian church, to which he gave generous support, as he did to all worthy benevolent causes. He was interested in all measures for the advancement of the educational interests of his community, and for several years he handled the funds for the University of Oregon, while he also served as a regent of the normal school at Monmouth. A man of sterling integrity and the highest sense of honor, he at all times commanded the confidence of his fellowmen, while his kindly and affable manner endeared him to a host of loyal friends throughout the county. Mrs. Eakin, who still lives in Eugene, is well educated, having attended St. Helen's Hall at Portland, and is a lady of attractive personality and gracious manner, having the esteem and affection of all who know her. She is also a member of the Presbyterian church. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2016 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.