Conrad "Coonrod" Eagle

A grandson, John Orville Eagle said ,"Grandfather Eagle died in 1937." Nicholas Co was in WV when Conrad Eagle was born in 1847 Conrad Eagle a son of Enoch Eagle, Sr., 1802-1880 & Cynthis Lilly, 1810-1894 Conrad Eagle married Marion E. Wheeler 21 April 1873 in Clay Co WV

After the death of Marion Conrad married Melvina F. 'Mile' Holcomb

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT NAME THE SECOND "C" REPRESENTS IS THE NAME?

SOURCE OF OUR EAGLE LINE: Private e-mail to Karen EAGLE Moman in 2009 FROM: NELL EAGLE LAMANTIA I got a note from the Eagle group on family tree DNA They tell us we have a match to someone in England. Our family story has always been that the Eagles were from Suffolk County England.

My information came from a document sent to me by a Mr. Lawrence Eagle in Sioux Falls SD. It ties Timothy and Edward together with William Eagle of Smoke Hole Virginia.

Additionally since communicating with you, I have had a DNA test done on a 2nd cousin and he is a match to an Oren Eagle who I understand is a descendant of Edward Eagle. I have the book Mr. Eagle published and there are many names in it, as I recall, descendants of the Revolutionary War Soldier William Eagle of Smoke Hole, VA (William Eagle of Smoke Hole , VA a brother of YOUR EDWARD EAGLE-father OF ENOCH EAGLE, SR)

6 March 2009 Karen EAGLE Moman Hi Nell, Yes, Thank you so much

Oren Joe Eagle, b. 13 June 1923 died 5 Jul 2002 was a son of: Joseph Sethas Eagle, 1880-1947 & Louisa Mae Davis , 1892- 1978

Joseph Sethas Eagle a son of: C. Conrad 'Coonrod" Eagle, 1847-1935 & Marion (several spellings) E. Wheeler, 1844-1897

C. Conrad Eagle a son of: Enoch Eagle 1802-1880 & Cynthia Lilly, 1810-1894

Enoch Eagle a son of: EDWARD EAGLE b. c. 1774 and died before his will was executed 4 June 1804 Kanawha Co., VA/WV. EDWARD EAGLE (S) married Malinda 'Lindsay' Foster b. 5 Mar 1780 & died 1814 Bend of Gauley, then Nicholas Co VA. After Edward Eagle(s) died Malinda married Capt George Fitzwater, 1766-1829

Edward EAGLE(S) a son of: TIMOTHY EAGLE(S) (TEMOTHEUS) (REV WAR SOLDIER), b. c. 1750 died 1795

C. CONRAD "COONROD" EAGLE

"TALE OF THE ELK" By W. E. R. Byrne Page 294-296 Coonrod was described as a man who would make a stagger at anything any other fellow could do, and much that nobody else tried to do. Now Coonrod Eagle was and has always been no common ordinary chap; he had a wider spread of accomplishments than almost any man of my acquaintance, and his versatility was a matter of common knowledge and general report. He was a blacksmith, carpenter, wheelwright, millwright, farmer, miller, boatman, canoeman, shoemaker, tanner, veterinarian, cabinetmaker, machinist, gunsmith, dentist, teamster, ox-driver, whipsawyer, stonemason, timber cutter, raftsman, cross-tie hewer, watchmaker, and clock fixer.

Coonrod , like many gentlemen of great diversity of accomplishment, was very thin skinned and sensitive to criticism-censure or unfavorable comment of or concerning his handiwork, or of any error or mistake however small on his part, was gall and wormwood to his soul, while ridicule directed toward him for a bone-head he might pull made him wear the shirt of Nessus.

(The Shirt of Nessus, Tunic of Nessus, Nessus-robe, or Nessus' shirt in Greek mythology was the poisoned shirt that killed Heracles. It was once a popular reference in literature. In folkloristics, it is considered an instance of the "poison dress" motif.

In Greek mythology, it is the shirt (chiton) daubed with the tainted blood of the centaur Nessus that Deianeira, Hercules' wife, naïvely gave Hercules, burning him, and driving him to throw himself onto a funeral pyre. Metaphorically, it represents "a source of misfortune from which there is no escape; a fatal present; anything that wounds the susceptibilities"[2] or a "destructive or expiatory force or influence. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirt_of_Nessus)

Coonrod "spicioned" Kes Gorrell and me for having in mind to go gigging that night, and put-at-us to go along. Being a splendid gigger, and give up to be the best gigmaker on Elk River-two most important qualities inadvertently omitted from the foregoing list-we were glad to have him. While Kes was busy at the mill, Coonrod and I busied ourselves making the necessary preparations, such as fixing for the light, hunting up the gigs, etc. We found two good gigs, both of the Coonrod Make, but the handle of one of them being broken or defective, Coonrod said he would go down to the mill and find a good piece of seasoned poplar, out of which he would make a new handle. We found the very piece we were looking for- an edging off of an inch and quarter board-square and sound, except a few inches of feather at one end which Coonrod said he would fix in a jiffy, by taking it to the cut-off table in the mill. This cut-off table was on the second floor of the mill building and the cutting was done by a large circular saw, which the operator, by means of a hand lever, pulled toward him while in motion, through a slot in the floor and likewise a slot in the table. Coonrod placed the stick carefully on the cut-off saw, while he, holding the other end at the proper place with his left hand, grasped the lever with his right, and drew the saw toward him. Now, whether it was the haste or the excitememt of the moment, or whether it was because he had not built or operated a sawmill or cut-off machine like that for a long time, that was responsible for it, I do not know, but Coonrod certainly didslip a cog when he placed his left foot over the slot in the floor where the saw traveled. I heard a queer buz-z-z down at the floor-Coonrod jerked his left foot, released the lever, and, as though to conceal his mishap, turned his back on me and stepped quickly around the end of the cut-off table, the blood spurting from the shoe.

I did not fully sense what had happened, and ask, "What's the matter, Coonrod? " "Oh, nothing, nothing! I tell you. " By that time I was around the table and could see what was wrong. I said, "Why man, you've sawed your foot off ! " "No, jist my toe-it don't make a bit of difference. " "Let's see, Coonrod--which toe is it? " "Oh, it's just the same old big toe the cow broke and the old sow bit off." I saw Coonrod a few months ago and asked him about that big toe, and Coonrod, always quick at repartee, came right back at me---" Still gone. "

Some data regarding the job titles of Conrad Eagle: whipsawyer: Unlike the low cost of a whipsawyer team or a splitter, whose cost involved only hand saws, axes, wedges and mallets,

Wheel·wright (hw?l'r?t', w?l'-) n. One that builds and repairs wheels.

Millwright One that designs, builds, or repairs mills or mill machinery.

hew (hy) v. hewed, hewn (hyn) or hewed, hew·ing, hews v.tr. 1. To make or shape with or as if with an ax: hew a path through the underbrush. 2. To cut down with an ax; fell: hew an oak. 3. To strike or cut; cleave. v.intr. 1. To cut something by repeated blows, as of an ax. 2. To adhere or conform strictly; hold: hew to the line.

black·smith (blksmth) n. 1. One that forges and shapes iron with an anvil and hammer. 2. One that makes, repairs, and fits horseshoes.

(History of CLAY CO WV VOL II, 1994, Clay Co Hist. Soc) Life Legend of Clay County WV People-Hickory & Lady Slippers Vol VII . Published by The Clay County High School Art Department. Jerry Dale Stover-Teacher.

Coonrod carried the mail, on horseback, in the Clay County area.

Coonrod was raised at Butler's Bend, or EAGLE BEND, as it was called later, on the river about two miles above Clay Court House (Later called Clay).

Regarding the name Conrad--Conrad as the name is writ--Coonrod as she is spoke.

VALLEY FORK POST OFFICE Valley Fork Post Office, Clay Co., WV

[This data was written in 1942-43, by Mark C. Kyle, and was published in the Clay County Free Press]

That section of Clay County, about half way between Clay and Newton, served by Valley Fork Post office, was thinly settled prior to and during the Civil War. These pioneers had no mail service until about the year 1875, when this office was established. James Alesus Rogers (later county surveyor) was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by A. M. Rogers (Alfred Morgan 'Uncle Morg" Rogers, b. about 1847, who married Sarah A. Summers, d/o Jehu Summers, Sr., b. about 1816, & Nancy Koontz--Another daughter of Jehu Summers, Sr., married Louisa B. Summers, was the first wife of married Charles Wesley Boggs, b. 1845. Charles W. Boggs' second wife, was Kesiah E. M. Davis, b. 1861 and the sister of Morris Gordon Davis, father of Louisa Mae Davis Eagle-wife of Joseph Sethas Eagle), who moved the office to his farm about one mile North of the original site which was just across from Richmond Schoolhouse. "Uncle Morg" as he was familiarly known, served until the office was discontinued.

The mail route supplying Valley Fork, with its mail for a dozen years or more, operated between Gauley Bridge, Fayette County, and Newton, Roane County, a distance of about 50 miles. Starting at Gauley Bridge, a round trip was made by the carrier, on horseback, three times a week. This round trip required two days of hard travel, over bad roads, and crossing the Elk River at the mouth of Big Sycamore. It was sometimes necessary, when there was a tide, in the river, to swim the horse across while the mail was ferried over. The carrier stopped enroute at the offices of Dixie, Lizemores, Waughs Mills, Yankee Dam, and Clay Court House (name later changed to Clay).

About the year 1888 this mail route was discontinued, the Post office Department deeming the business insufficient to justify the expense. This made it necessary to discontinue the Valley Fork Post Office, leaving a large section of the county within a radius office or six miles with no mail facilities nearer than Clay Court House or Newton, for a period of about five years.

In 1892, William S. Pierson, who had recently married Miss Sadie Hopkins, moved to the community. The following year, with the assistance of Attorney T. O. Horan, he succeeded in getting the post office re-estalished. Mr. Pierson was appointed postmaster. The post office was opened in his home until he completed his store building nearby when it was moved into this building where it remained for many years. The Post Office declined to pay a carrier a specific Sum for furnishing mail services to the office. But Rev. L. P. Rogers (who was also a teacher) (this might have been Levi Pet Rogers, b. about 1851 in Braxton Co., VA/WV and was married twice to Mary C. Hanshaw in 1877, and then Sarah A. Coger I 1884-both marriages in Clay Co., WV-Karen) agreed to carry the mail for the amount of the cancellation of stamps at the office. And a contract to this effect was accordingly made with him. (the office is now supplied with mail by the carrier, by the carrier, on the route between Spencer and Clay).

Mr. Pierson served as postmaster until he moved to Clay in 1914, a little more than 20 years. He was succeeded by. W. H. Spencer who served for about four years, when he was succeeded by Mrs. Vanetta Wayne. The office then moved about one mile south of its original location to the Forks of Laurel, where it is now located. This is on Road 36.

Some of the people served by Valley Fork Post Office when it was first established, and a few years afterward, included, Charlie Lewis, Harrison Summers, (s/o of Jehue Summers, Sr), S. B. Gros (Strother B. Grose), Samuel Martain, James Murphy, Elihu Brown, and A. J. Crookshanks, Sr. (Andrew Jackson Crookshanks, b. 1861 at Valley Fork, in what would become Clay Co., WV). In later years, as the community became densely settled, there were numerous others, including A. J. Crookshanks , Jr., A.C. Crokshanks, Wm. Belcher, J. S. Shamblin, Felix Francis, Henry Murphy, C.C. Eagle (C. Conrad 'Coonrod' Eagle), W. J. Legg, Tim cooley, Levi Steele, W. J. Hivley, L. P. Rogers, L. B and Calvin Rogers, Wm. Moore, J. K. Moore, James D. Hicks, John Donohoe, J. P. Wayne, P. H. Butler, and many others. There were Baarneses, Youngs, Fitzwaters, Johnsons, Hanshaws, Sampes, , Dawsons---but that community is too populous now for all its inhabitants to be mentioned in a sketch such as this. It numbers among its citizenry many of the county's finest--Church going, law-abiding prosperous and independent American citizens

I am indebted to my good friend W. S. Pierson and his daughter Miss Beulah for much of the data upon which this sketch is based) Source: "Hickory & Lady Slippers Life and Legend of Clay County People, EARLY HISTORY Volume VII." All the post office history originally written by Mark C. Kyle,b. 15 March 1871, s/o William Kyle. The Maysel, WV Post Office was named for Mark C. Kyle's daughter, Maysel.

Picture Legend: 1. Picture of "The Eagle's Nest" by Ella WALKER May -framed by Karen EAGLE Moman

2. Picture of Conrad Eagle- from Eagle Family framed by Karen EAGLE Moman Conrad Eagle , Mail Carrier, on the street of Ivydale, Clay Co., WV

3. Picture OF THE CHILDREN OF ENOCH EAGLE copied from an old tintype by Karen EAGLE Moman and framed Picture made Circa 1870 Children of Enoch Eagle, Sr., 1802- 1880 & Cynthia Lilly, 1810-1894 Conrad Eagle pictured on front row right Bottom: Circa 1903