The M. L. Earle Family

By Edna Earle Chaney

Martin L. Earle was born May 16, 1856, on a farm five miles west of Jacksonville in the Earle's Chapel Community. He was the third child of James C. and Matilda Earle and the grandson of Elijah Earle. He attended one-room schools, worked on his father's farm and, as a youth, labored at a sawmill nearby.

Interested in law at an early age, he read every book available concerning property rights, land titles and surveys. He left the farm and moved to the new town of Jacksonville in 1881, where he took room and board at Mrs. Melvina Chessher's hotel. He first worked for McKinney & Brown Dry Goods for about one year and then with the Brown & Dixon Dry Goods Co., where he was employed when he married Kate Slaughter of Mississippi in 1883. Three children were born to this union—two sons, Allen and Carl, who are both deceased and a daughter, Edna.

He went into his own business on Main Street selling groceries in the front and establishing his insurance office in the rear. Later, he discontinued the grocery business and made his career selling insurance. His newspaper advertising never carried his name, just his picture. He had a continuous record of 46 years in the fire insurance business. During this time he continued his study of law by reading and, because of his interest in land boundaries, he began drafting the first map of Jacksonville. His 1914 city map was still in use at the time of the centennial in 1972.

Mr. Earle always was interested in the history of this area and, at the time of his death in 1932, he was regarded as an outstanding authority on land titles, having written more deeds and settled more estates than perhaps any other man in Jacksonville. He had a keen interest in city government and served as alderman for several years. He was elected mayor first in November, 1905, and served until 1911 and again from 1913 to 1919. During his administrations many improvements were effected in the city. One of his favorite projects was the beautification of the city park. With the help of other citizens, trees and flowers were planted, sidewalks put in, a bandstand built and park benches made available so that the townspeople could attend the band concerts given weekly by the local musicians.

He worked tirelessly to improve water and sewer systems which were started in 1910 and completed in 1914.

Another project which has been so meaningful to our city was his project of the correct numbering of homes and businesses, with street signs to correspond with his accepted map of the city. He inspired other citizens in city government and many civic-minded women's groups to make Jacksonville a more beautiful place in which to live.

M. L. Earle was a man of strong convictions and believed in honest and fair dealings. He was a brilliant public speaker and conversationalist concerning history, literature and memories of "Old and New" Jacksonville. He was the Master of Ceremonies at the 1922 Jacksonville 50th Anniversary program in City Park. A firm believer in "pay-as-you-go," he was proud of his tenure as Mayor as he left office with the town as free of debt as possible. He was a wonderful family man and an inspiration to his children, friends and neighbors. His home was his pride and joy. In later years, he named it: "Whomsoever Will, May Come." Many came and enjoyed the hospitality of the fine home he had built for his beloved wife, Kate, and family. He discouraged suggestions that he run for Congress as he said he had everything he ever wanted right here. He loved Jacksonville and had a deep satisfaction in having been a part of its growth.

The M. L. Earle's daughter, Edna, lives in Tulsa with her husband, Homer L. Chaney. They have two children, Joanne and Larry. Mrs. Flora Earle, widow of Allen, lives in Silver Spring, Md., with her son, Dr. Kenneth Earle, who is chief of neuropathology of the U. S. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D. C, and is world renowned for work he has accomplished in his field of medicine. Flora's daughter, Helen Johnson, has a highly specialized job with Eastman Kodak in California.

M. L. Earle about 1909 when he was Mayor of Jacksonville.

Kate Slaughter Earle about 1900.

The Earle home on South Ragsdale Street. Built in 1908 of heart pine lumber, the family moved a few months before Edna was born.