Edgar Newton Eisenhower

Edgar Newton Eisenhower was born on January 19, 1889, in Hope, Kansas. He was the second oldest of seven brothers in the Eisenhower family, with six siblings surviving infancy. His family included Dwight D. Eisenhower, born in 1890, who later became the 34th President of the United States. Another brother, Milton S. Eisenhower, became a university president, and Earl D. Eisenhower served in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Initially, Edgar and Dwight planned to alternate working at a creamery to fund each other's college education: one year working and one year in school. However, this plan was discontinued after Dwight gained admission to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Edgar Eisenhower pursued higher education at the University of Michigan, earning a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree in 1914.

Following his graduation, Eisenhower practiced law in Tacoma, Washington. He also held director positions at various companies, including the St. Regis Paper Company, the Puget Sound National Bank (which later became KeyBank), and the Harmon FS Manufacturing Company.

In 1940, Eisenhower resided in a modest brick house on the west side of American Lake in Lakewood, Washington. His marital history includes three marriages: first to Louise Alexander Eisenhower in 1911; they divorced in 1946. His second marriage was to Bernice Thompson Eisenhower in 1930; they divorced in 1948. His third marriage was to Lucille Dawson Eisenhower, his legal secretary, in 1951. The couple divorced in 1967; Eisenhower cited "a burdensome home life" as a reason for separation.

Edgar Eisenhower had two children with his first wife. Their son, Merrill Jack Eisenhower, was born in 1916 and died in 1956. Their daughter, Janis Louise Eisenhower Causin, was born in 1922 and passed away in 2000.

He died on July 12, 1971, in Tacoma, Washington, at the age of 82. He is interred at Mountain View Cemetery in Lakewood, Washington.

References for further information include John D. McCallum’s "Six Roads From Abilene: Some Personal Recollections of Edgar Eisenhower," published in 2009. Additional resources include the Papers of Edgar N. Eisenhower at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and his biographical entry at Find a Grave.