W. H. Eddleman, Banker, Ex-Indian Fighter, Dies

William Harrison Eddleman, 81, who fought warring tribes of Comanche Indians in Parker County before he started a career as rancher, merchant and banker, died Thursday at 4:30 a.m. at the home of his daughter Mrs. Carrie Eddleman McFarland, 1110 Penn Street.

Mr. Eddleman had been in ill health for about six years and had not been active in business for more than 15 years. He began his mercantile and banking business in Weatherford about 1880 but transferred most of his interests in Fort Worth in 1905, when he came here and organized the Western National Bank, of which he was president. At that time he was associated with about 17 banking institutions in Texas.

The son of a Methodist minister, Mr. Eddleman was born "somewhere between Georgia and Texas." His parents were traveling by covered wagon from their home from Georgia to the West. His parents estimated the place of his birth as Arkansas.

Mr. Eddleman's parents settled in Parker County in 1851 and young Eddleman was reared on a ranch in a section continuously threatened by the world Comanches. As soon as he was old enough to ride a mustang and fire a rifle, he joined the Indian fighters and spent a number of adventurous years trailing and punishing Indians. He later joined the first Oliver Loving expedition.

Mr. Eddleman acquired ranches in Parker and Tarrant counties and was interested in the cattle business until he disposed of his holdings 14 years ago. His first business venture was as the senior member of Eddleman & Ross, mercantile firm in Weatherford. Later he became associated as vice president with the First National Bank of Weatherford.

In 1900 he organized the Merchants and Farmers National Bank of Weatherford. The bank is still in operation as the Merchants and Farmers State Bank. In 1905 Mr. Eddleman cane to Fort Worth and organized the Western National Bank. Mrs. Eddleman died about 10 years ago and later he married Miss Winnie Griffith. She is seriously ill at Lexington.

Besides his wife and daughter, Mr. Eddleman is survived by a brother, Dudley Eddleman of Longview, who is too ill to attend the funeral, and his son-in-law, F. Hays McFarland.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 3 p.m. at the McFarland home. Rev. Halsey Werlein Jr. will officiate. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be H.L. Brevard and J.O. Tucker of Weatherford, O.C. Littleton of Gainsville, and W.L. Tucker, J.T. Tucker, J.J. Johnson.