William and his wife, Margaret Ewing, had nine children. Of these we need only mention George Ewing, progenitor of the Fannin County clan. He graduated from Union University in Murfreesboro, studied Hebrew and theology for some months under Dr. Issac Anderson and other reputable scholars. Unsatisfied, he studied for a year in Union Theological Seminary in New York City, graduating in the class of May, 1854.
Before carrying out arrangements earlier made with Ethlinda Foute, he spent a year preaching and teaching in East Central Mississippi and adjacent Alabama. The bride was the daughter of Colonel Daniel Davis Foute and Dorcas King. Ethlinda was born in Maryville on April 9, 1835. Her father had begun to acquire land, especially in Cade's Cove. Thus he bought Montvale Springs, and desiring to make it the "Saratoga of the South", built and operated a hotel there for two decades. Thus the Foute's associated with many of the prominent people of their time. The Colonel's operations including salt mines fostered the need for a post office, which he secured and operated a decade and a half. Meantime Ethlinda attended private schools in Maryville and in Greenville [ where she attended Miss Melville's Academy ] furthering her interest in reading, and preparing her to record and preserve, in her diary, "Stray Thoughts", glimses of life in Middle and East Tennessee during the decade and a half that preceded and included the Civil War.
Apparently preferring to work with rural churches and to conduct private schools, the Eagletons soon were working in Lincoln, Giles, and Marshall counties in Tennessee. But Lincoln's call for troops to crush opposition to his authority in the South, caused George on November 26, 1861 to volunteer to serve as a private in the Confederate army. Soon he was appointed to serve as Chaplain. Life in an army camp was more rigorous than George could endure, consequently, he was given an honorable discharge in June, 1862. The "Day Book" in which he recorded his daily thoughts and experiences from 1852 to 1892 is an enlightening record.
George soon accepted a call to the Church in New Market, East Tennessee. Clashes in that area between Confederates and Unionists soon made life for Eagleton even more hazardousthan that in the military service had been. Forced to leave the Unionist dominated area, the Eagletons found peace in western North Carolina, but after a few months there, he accepted a call to Mt. Holly, Arkansas, in 1868.
After fifteen years of preaching and teaching in that area, he yielded to an invitation to serve the "metropolitan" region of Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas. Soon after arriving there in January, 1184, he bought a dwelling in the "retired portion" of the town. Owning no house of worship, the Presbyterians raised funds for the building; the Eagletons contributed $500.00 of the $2,500.00 that was needed. George had charge of three other organized churches----Cooper, Honey Grove, New Hope, and several other "half-way" preaching places.

George and Ethlinda Foute Eagleton's Children

Davis Foute, 1861 - 1916 married Addie Christian Parker, Professor in Austin College, Sherman, Texas.
Author of Memoir: Rev. G.E. Eaglleton
Children:

Clyde married Virginia McKinney, Professor at NYU
Floy married Rev. M.L. Baker
Adele married J.H. Sullivan
Raymond married Dora Shugart
Grace married Lardner Moore, Missionary Japan 28 years
Elizabeth married George L. Landolt, past Vice President of Austin College.

Campbell Exile, 1863 married Emma Abernathy, Ladonia, Texas
Children:

Ewing killed in Germany, World War I
Nancy Ethie, First woman Professor in Texas A&M
E.C. married John Reid, teacher
Mary Ross, Graduate nurse
Marcus D. married Maggie Hood
Amelia married Dr. Charles C. Green, Houston, Texas
Foute married Burline
Marvin, Teacher

Minnie Elizabeth, 1866 married Arthur Moore Watts, Mt. Holly, Arkansas. Attended the New England Conservatory of Music Boston, Massachusetts.
Children:

Mary Emma married Rev. Henry McClelland
George Watts married Lula Mae Terrell
Minnie Lucile married Lawrence Ellis Lewis

Nancy Elizabeth, 1864, married W.O. Nunn, Ladonia, Texas. Attended the New England Conservatory of Music Boston, Massachusetts
Child:

Willnina married Frank Moring

George Winslow, 1869 married Anna Willnora Long, Ladonia, Texas
Children:

Winslow F. Eagleton married Bertha Heidler, Bonham, Texas
    Son, Walter married Sandra ????? Bonham, Texas

Elvie E. Eagleton married Ottis C. Skipper, Hubtsville, Alabama
     Daughter, Anna Lee Skipper married Alden B. Pearson, Jr. Huntsville, Alabama

Mary Pearl, 1871 married Bruce Fry, Ladonia, Texas
Children:

Benton Fulton married Ray Bloodworth
Beatrice S. married Captain C.H. Heiderick
Wesley Bruce married Goldie Ruth Brooks
Samuel Wallace married Ruth Thompson

Dovie Flora, 1873, married John Wylie, Ladonia, Texas
   Daughter, Mary George married Addie K. Yates, Bonham, Texas

" Stray Thoughts" edited by Elvie Eagleton Skipper, published in East Tennessee Historical Journal. Preface by Dr. Ottis C. Skipper. Journal No. 40, 1968 and No. 41, 1969.

"The Tragic Dilemma of a Border-Stste Moderate: The Rev. George E. Eagleton's Views on Slavery and Secession" by Alden B. Pearson, Jr. Published in Tennessee Historical Quarterly. Winter 1973.
Children: