DAVID JOHN EATINGER

EATINGER, CUMRINE, HANK, RIVENBAUGH, SPENCER, LIKENS, COLEMAN, REED, BATIE, BLANCHARD

Posted By: Norma Nielson (email)
Date: 5/15/2004 at 19:13:47

"David John Eatinger was for many years successfully engaged in farming in Orient township, and his friends still cherish his memory although thirteen years have come and gone since he was called to his reward. A son of John and Christine (Cumrine) Eatinger, he was born in Portage county, Ohio, December 3, 1825. He grew to maturity there and there received his education. On starting out on his independent business career he turned his attention to farming and stock-raising and in 1863 was attracted by the splendid opportunities offered by the western country and located in Illinois. Two years later he came to Adair county, Iowa, and for nine years farmed a tract of land which now practically covers the northern part of the city of Greenfield, which was then, however, but an insignificant hamlet. At the end of that time he took up hhis residence upon a farm on section 27, Orient township, and during the remainder of his life followed agricultural pursuits there, raising the usual crops and also many head of stock. He was industrious, understood well the various phases of agriculture and as he managed his financial affairs well it was natural that he should gain more than a competence. He lived to see a marvelous development in his adopted county and was always willing to cooperate heartily I any movement seeking its advancement. When he and his wife came to this county they made the journey in a covered wagon, shipping their goods to Pella, which was then the nearest railroad point. Their land was unimproved and it was necessary to erect buildings, the lumber for which was hauled from Des Moines. That city was also the market where they secured the greater part of such provisions as they could not raise upon their land.

Mr. Eatinger was married on the 25th of August, 1855, to Miss Elizabeth Hank of Lacon, Marshall county, Illinois. She was born at Ottersheine, Rhinefalls, Germany, August 18, 1832, a daughter of Stephen and Rachel Hank. When a young woman of twenty-two years she emigrated to America, making the journey on the sailing vessel Waldron, which took twenty-three days to make the trip across the Atlantic. On the 18th of August, 1914, she celebrated her eighty-second birthday but still takes a keen interest in the events of the day. To Mr. and Mrs. Eatinger were born eleven children, seven of whom survive, namely: Mrs. Mary Rivenburgh, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Mrs. Elizabeth Spencer; Mrs. Christine Likens; Mrs. Barbara Coleman; David John, Jr.; Conrad Joseph; and August Charles. Mrs. Clara Reed passed away in 1904, Mrs. Rachael Batie in 1885, U. S. Grant in 1881 and Albert Blanchard in 1902.

Mr. Eatinger voted for whom he considered the best man, regardless of party ties, and never sought to hold office. He was one of the best known pioneer settlers of the county and also one of the most honored, and his demise, which occurred on the 16th of March, 1902, was the occasion of much sincere grief. He was buried in Orient cemetery. The present prosperity of the county and its high state of development is due primarily to the courage, perseverance and foresight of such men as he – men who patiently and determinedly conquered the wilderness and developed in its place a prosperous farming community."

Source: The "History of Adair County Iowa and its People," Volume II. (Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company) 1915.