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Giles County, Tennessee
Eslick Biographies
U.S. Congressional Representatives
Edward Everett and Willa McCord Blake Eslick
Willa McCord Blake Eslick
Courtesy
U.S. House of Representatives
EDWARD EVERETT ESLICK, son of Merritt and Martha Virginia ABERNATHY Eslick, was born near Pulaski, Giles County, Tennessee on 19 Apr 1872, attended public schools and Bethel College in Russellville, Kentucky. He studied law under William H. McCALLUM, and was admitted to the bar in 1893, following which, he commenced practice in Pulaski. Edward also engaged in banking and agricultural pursuits, and served as the Government appeal agent for Giles during World War I. He was elected as a Democrat to the 69th Congress and to three succeeding Congresses, serving from 4 March 1925 until his death on 14 Jun 1932 in the Capitol building in Washington D.C. while addressing the House. He was buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Pulaski.
Edward had married, on 6 Jun 1906, in Birmingham, Alabama, Willa McCord BLAKE Eslick, and following his death, she filled his seat, serving as a representative from 4 Aug 1932 to 3 Mar 1933. Willa McCord BLAKE, daughter of Dr. George W. and Eliza McCORD Blake, was born in Fayetteville, Lincoln County, Tennessee on 8 Sep 1878, attended private schools, Dick White College and Milton College in Fayetteville, Fayetteville, Winthrop Model School and Peabody College in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, and the Metropolitan College of Music and the Synthetic School of Music in New York City. She had been a member of the Tennessee State Democratic Committee prior to her husband's death. She attempted to run for re-election for the 73rd Congress, but was deemed ineligible due to "not having qualified for nomination as required by the State law" [???]. She died in Pulaski on 18 Feb 1961, and was also buried in the Maplewood Cemetery.
The following is a pre-Congressional biography of Edward Everett ESLICK:
EDWARD EVERETT ESLICK. For many years Edward Everett Eslick has been known and regarded as one of the strong
lawyers of Tennessee, and especially as an advocate and trial lawyer. He was born in Giles
county, April 19, 1872, the fourth son of Merritt and Martha Virginia (Abernathy) Eslick. His
paternal grandfather was Levi Eslick, a native of North Carolina, and Daniel Abernathy was his
maternal grandfather. Merritt Eslick, his father, was born in Lincoln county, Tennessee, in 1830,
and moved to Giles county in 1856, where he died July 10, 1904. Martha Virginia Eslick was born in 1840 and died March 26, 1900. Edward Everett Eslick has one deceased and three living brothers: John M., deceased; Dan L. Eslick, for many years county court clerk of Giles county; W. S. Eslick, now in the United States mail service; and Mark Eslick, assistant cashier of the Peoples Bank of Pulaski.
Mr. Eslick's early education was obtained in the county schools, and later he attended Bethel College, Russellville, Kentucky, for three years. He was deputy county court clerk under his brother for two and a half years. Meanwhile he read law under one of the truly great lawyers of Tennessee, William H. McCallum, and was admitted to the bar on his twenty-first birthday, and immediately after being sworn in as a practicing attorney began the trial of a hard fought lawsuit, and for thirty years has been one of the busiest men in Middle Tennessee.
In politics Mr. Eslick is a democrat and a firm believer in loyalty to party organization. For many years he took an active part in public affairs and was looked to as one of the leaders of his party. At the age of twenty-four he was district elector, and four years later, in 1900, as well as in 1904, he was an elector for the state at large on the democratic ticket. For twenty years in every campaign he was on the stump for his party nominees wherever his services were demanded, but his business interests made such demands upon his time that in recent years he has taken but little interest in matters political, except to put aside business long enough to make a fight for some friend in whose success he was interested. In addition to his professional work he has extensive business interests—farming, banking, etc. He is president of the Peoples' Bank of Pulaski. Fraternally, Mr. Eslick belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Junior Order of American Mechanics.
In Birmingham, Alabama, June 6, 1906, Mr. Eslick was married to Miss Willa McCord Blake,
daughter of Dr. George W. and Eliza McCord Blake, formerly of Fayetteville, Tennessee, but then
residing in New York city. Mrs. Eslick is a woman of much charm, culture and refinement. She is a
leader among women; intellectually capable and a student of books and affairs; she has long
been identified with the Women's Federated Clubs, and was of the small band of determined
women who made the fight for woman's suffrage, and saw Tennessee ratify the amendment
making woman legally the equal of man.
(Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923, Vol. 2, John Trotwood Moore and Austin P. Foster, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1923, pp. 430-1)
BENNETT ESLICK. One of the prominent young attorneys at the Giles county bar is Bennett Eslick, who is engaged in practice in Pulaski. He was born in Giles county, on the 2d of November, 1892, a son of Dan L. and Inez (Bennett) Eslick. The maternal grandfather, W. O. Bennett, was born in Tennessee. He served throughout the Civil war in the service of the Confederacy. His wife was Ann Bennett. The paternal grandfather was Merritt Eslick, and his wife was Martha Virginia Abernathy. Dan L. Eslick, who was born March 18, 1866, is well known as an agriculturist. He has also won prominence in public life, having served as county court clerk for four years, and he was active in financial circles, being cashier of the Commercial Bank & Trust Company. His wife was born June 25, 1873.
Bennett Eslick attended the common schools of Giles county and in due time was graduated from
the high school at Pulaski, the Abernathy Preparatory School and the Massey School.
Subsequently he became a student at Bethel College, Russellville, Kentucky. He remained
there from 1911 to 1912, in which latter year he enrolled in the legal department of Cumberland
University at Lebanon, which institution conferred the LL. B. degree upon him in 1913. He
immediately returned to Pulaski and established offices for the practice of his chosen profession.
His legal career was interrupted, however, by the entrance of the United States into the World
war. On March 1, 1918, he enlisted at Washington, D. C., in the ordnance department of the legal
division and he was sent to the Officers Training School at Camp Hancock. He remained there
three months and was then transferred to the Field Artillery Training School at Camp Taylor. He
received his honorable discharge at Camp Taylor, on the 6th of December, 1918, and immediately
returned to Pulaski and resumed his professional activities. He is enjoying an extensive and
representative clientele and occupies a prominent position among the leading members of his
profession in the town, county and state.
At Pulaski, on the 18th of January, 1919, Mr. Eslick was united in marriage with Miss Frances Medearis, a daughter of H. D. and Betty Medearis, natives of this state and prominent residents of Pulaski. Mr. and Mrs. Eslick are the parents of two children: Brooks Breckenridge, whose birth occurred January 20, 1920; and Edward Medearis, born August 31, 1921. Mrs. Eslick is a young woman of much personal charm and she takes a prominent part in the club and social affairs of the community.
The political allegiance of Mr. Eslick is given to the democratic party and the principles for which it
stands. His religious faith is that of the Christian church and he is identified with all civic
organizations that have for their purpose the development and improvement of the community.
He likewise maintains membership in the Junior Order of American Mechanics, belonging to Sam
Davis Council at Pulaski. Mr. Eslick enjoys great personal popularity and a most successful
professional career is assured him. (Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923, Vol. 3, John Trotwood Moore and Austin P. Foster, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago)
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