Edward Rutledge Eager

    Edward Rutledge Eager, who has been a prominent resident of Canton for many years, is a descendant of one of the old New England families, as noted by Savage in his "Early New England Names."  His first ancestor in this country was William Eager, who came to Plymouth, Mass., in the thirties of the seventeenth century.  In 1654 William married Ruth Hill, of Malden, Mass. and in 1684 he removed with his family to Marlboro, Middlesex County, Mass., where he became one of the proprietors of the Ockoocangansett plantation, purchased from King Philip, and which was afterward the homestead of the family. Zerubbabel, son of William and Ruth (Hill) Eager, born June 8, 1672, married on March 23, 1698, Hannah Kerley.  Their son Uriah, born April 4, 1700, married Sarah Bingham, March  14, 1727.  Their son Uriah, born February 5, 1740, married March  29, 1764, Tryphosa Bush.  Their son Moses, born October 30, 1772, married Sarah Stratton, December 29, 1793,  Their son Moses Edward, born November 16, 1797, married March 25, 1827, Harriet Durant, and by her became the father of the subject of this sketch.

    Edward Rutledge Eager was born November 9, 1830, in Cambridgeport, Mass., where the earlier years of his life were spent.  In 1850 he came to Canton, accepting a subordinate position with the Kinsley Iron and Machine Company.  Having won the confidence of his employers by his trustworthiness, in the short space of five years he was made treasurer of the company, and afterward served the firm as manager and treasurer for forty consecutive years, resigning in the fall of 1895.  He has since removed to Boston, where he is a director of the Everett National Bank and of the Hollingsworth & Whitney Paper Company, and a trustee of the Whitney estate.  While in Canton Mr. Eager took an active part in local affairs, serving as Selectman for a number of years, and for two years representing the town in the State legislature.  He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, having taken the thirty-second degree, and being the oldest Past Master of the Blue Hill Lodge of Canton, of which he was the second Master.  He is a member of the Congregational Church of Canton, in which he was formerly a zealous worker and for many years the superintendent of its Sunday-school.

    Mr. Eager has been twice married.  His first wife, in maidenhood Miss Sophia L. Jenkins, to whom he was united in 1856, died in 1857, leaving one child, Charles H. Eager, now of Canton, born December 28, 1856.  By his second marriage, which was contracted October 16, 1862, with Miss Mary H. Talbot, of East Machias, Me., there are two children, namely: Jones Talbot Eager, born November 16, 1863, who is the cashier of the Everett National Bank of Boston; and Caroline D., now the wife of William M. Chase, of Brookline, Mass.  Charles H. Eager applied himself to his studies in the public schools of Brookline until sixteen years old, when he en­tered the crockery store of Abram French & Co., of Boston, with whom he remained until 1876.   He then entered the office of the Kinsley Iron and  Machine Company,  of which his father was the manager and treasure at the time, and has since remained in their employment. He is a Republican in politics and for many years has been Town Auditor. He was made a Mason in Blue Hill Lodge of Canton, in which he is Worshipful Master. He is now a member of Mount Zion Chapter, R. A. M., of which he is Excellent King: the Master of Ceremonies of Hyde Park Council of Royal and Select Masters for some time: a member of Crprus Commandery, K. T.: Aleppo Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Boston; and of the Society of Sons of the American Revolution.

From BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Volume XXV.
Containing life sketches of leading citizens of Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Pub. Boston, Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1898
All biographical information is provided by the subject or family member, reviewed and edited by them before going to print.