"The Strange Hermit" story rebuttal by James Monroe Eoff's son Demetrius Eoff

Newspaper clipping - Fayette, Arkansas, October 1955

RESIDENT HERE REPLIES TO MAGAZINE STORY
Refute Statements in Publication Regarding Father

A story, "The Strange Hermit of Crooked Creek," - appearing in the October
issue of Coronet, concerns the life of James Monroe Eoff, who according to legend lived in solitude for 45 years and no one ever knew why.

The author, Virginia Holmes, states that "Monny" Eoff was the victim of measles soon after the birth of his twin sons in 1870. He was advised by his doctor to spend the following two months in darkness, but according to the author, the two months extended into years ending only at his death.

During these years, legend began growing, the story relates. "Monny" refused to see his children, grandchildren, friends and other relatives. Mrs Eoff took care of her farm and the children without the assistance of her husband who remained in the darkened lean-to shed which adjoined the cabin in Crooked Creek Valley near Harrison.

Laziness and perverted heroism are theories for his mysterious seclusion offered in Virginia Holmes' story.

Dispelling some of the statements, D. R. Eoff of Fayetteville, one of "Monny's" twin sons, states that there are only four truths in the Coronet story. He writes:

"James Monroe Eoff was my father. Twins were born to the J. M. Eoffs,
March 13, 1871, and I am one of the twins. He did have measles and was in the dark for 35 years and died 40 years ago. These are the only truths in the story except maybe he did marry the 'Belle of Crooked Creek Valley".

"Father was not old enough to enter the service. He was born November 10, 1847. He married when he was 23 and Mother was 22. He was in perfect health as far as I know. He was a fairly successful tobacco farmer, had built a special tobacco barn and was doing well.

"When Father was 26 years old he had measles. Exposure afterward caused a relapse. The case became complicated and he never fully recovered. It affected his optic nerves. For several years he wore a veil over his face and would ride over the farm directing the farm work. He kept a man on the farm until we were able to take over and help Mother. The men he had during this time were Tom Braden, Jim Long and Vane Hiten. Father was not a lazy man. He finally gave up and took to his bed, directing work of the farm from his bedside.

"He was one of the best informed men in the community. Mother was an excellent reader and took great pleasure in reading to Father. Books were few at our house. We had what I remember as The Missouri Republic newspaper, which my Mother read. Father very much liked war stories and could name almost all the Civil War battles, giving the results of each. He did not like Lincoln and like many Southerners, blamed Lincoln for the Civil War.

"Father like for the neighbors to come in and chat with him. He liked for his
children to sit around the fire at night and try to sing for him.

"No one ever tried to take him out and make him work as the story states.
He was not a lazy man. Neighbors who knew him in his well days used to tell what a worker my Father was.

"Father had a stroke and lived 47 days without food. He died after 35 years of confinement, in April of 1915. Dr Jim Fowler, a brother of Dr W A Fowler of Fayetteville, was his doctor".