Sacramento County
Biographies
THOMAS
BENTON EAGLE, M. D.
THOMAS BENTON EAGLE, M. D., physician to the State Prison at Folsom, was born in the town of Loudonville, Ashland County, Ohio, July 24, 1841, son of Edward and Eliza Eagle, the former a native of Ashland County, Ohio, and the latter of Tioga County, New York. They now reside in Franklin County, Kansas. Edward Eagle has most of his life occupied, some public position, being a member of the State Board of Equalization, of the board of county commissioners, etc. Dr. Eagle was reared in his native town, on a farm until he was of sufficient age to attend high school, and he took a course at the academy at Loudonville. In 1859 he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Drs. Fuller & Scott, his preceptors. After remaining with them a little over three years, he completed his course in the medical department of the University of Buffalo, New York, graduating in March, 1862. He went before the State Medical Examining Board of Ohio, passed examination and was commissioned by the Governor of the State as Assistant Surgeon. He was first sent to the army of the Potomac and then promoted as Surgeon, being first attached to the command of General Lew Wallace, who at that time had his headquarters at Baltimore; after that he was transferred to Fort Delaware, about thirty miles back of Philadelphia, where he did guard duty for a number of prisoners. Thence he was ordered to Hilton Head, South Carolina, and was at the headquarters of General Foster. From there the detachment with which he was connected was transferred across the country to Jacksonbille, Florida, and then in succession to Washington, New York, Columbus, Ohio, New Orleans, Madison, Indiana, Franklin, Tennessee (for the battle there), and finally to Columbus, Ohio, again, where he was mustered out, in July, 1865. When his term of service expired he went before the regular army board, passed examination and was assigned to duty in the Fourth Artillery, stationed at Vicksburg. This commission, however, the Doctor refused, and he returned to his home in Ohio and engaged in private practice, residing there three years. He then went to Dakota Territory and received the appointment of physician to the Yankton Indian Agency, and in that capacity was stationed at different posts along the Missouri River until 1876. Coming then to California, he practiced for four years at Princeton, Colusa County. In 1883 he received the appointment as physician at the San Quentin Prison, filled that position four years, and since then he has had his present place. He has also considerable private practice. He is a member of the State Medical Society; of Colusa Lodge, No. 142, F. & A. M.; of Springfield Lodge, No. 7, I. O. O. F., in Dakota; he was the first noble grand of the first lodge chartered by the Grand Lodge of Dakota; was also grand marshal of the Grand Lodge when he left that Territory; and he also belongs to Folsom Lodge, No. 109, A. O. U. W. Dr. Eagle was married in 1865 to Miss Emma C. Stout, a native of Dansville, Livingston County, New York, and they have one daughter, named Stella E.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Page 699. Lewis
Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.