Biographical Sketch of W. F. Eastman


Text from Haynes, Nathaniel S. History of the Disciples of Christ in Illinois 1819-1914, Cincinnati: Standard Publishing Company, 1915. Pages 504 - 505. This online edition © 1997, James L. McMillan.

Born: New York. 1847.
Died: Illinois, 1909.

Mr. Eastman received a liberal education in his native State and was for a time a schoolmaster there. He was well read and versatile. He became a Disciple from intelligent conviction, and throughout his life was as true to his ideals as the needle to the pole. In him, gentleness and firmness were united so as to remind one of his Master. His estimable wife was an earnest Congregationalist, so that his church life was lived alone. In a modest but becoming manner he always showed his colors. Every one that knew him knew that he was a member of the church of Christ.

He was the prime mover in the formation of the church at Sterling. Thereafter, he went West, and, by a mistake in judgment in business, he lost not only the means he had accumulated, but was left heavily involved. He then came to Moline, Illinois, and engaged in the newspaper business. This paper he made one of the most influential in northern Illinois. Again he took his own place in planting a church of Christ in that city as its sustaining force. He was serving as postmaster there in 1909. As the end approached, he took $500 from the bank and paid the last dollar of indebtedness that he had unfortunately incurred more than twenty years before that time. Then he said, "I will never have a home on this earth, but will have to wait for a mansion in heaven."


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