William Eakin

Article summary

William Eakin (June 14, 1828 – March 14, 1918) was a farmer and political figure in the Northwest Territories, Canada. He was a member and speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. He was born at Markham Township in 1828, the son of a wagon maker and merchant. After attending school, he joined his family business, remaining there until purchasing and starting businesses of his own: a carriage making company and later a planing mill where he made a variety of items, along with his brother. Eakin later sold his plant and moved west to homestead and farm near Crescent Lake. Here he involved himself in local affairs, eventually winning election to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories for the district of Saltcoats, serving from 1894 to 1902. His term involved negotiations with the Government of Canada for provincial status for the Northwest Territories. For the latter three years of his term, he was selected to serve as speaker of the assembly, serving until his retirement in 1902 at the age of 73. After his retirement he eventually moved to Saltcoats, where he died in 1918 at the age of 89.

Key claims

1. date of birth: 1828 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of birth: 1828-06-14 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of death: 1918 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. date of death: 1918-03-14 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
5. date of death: 1918-09-09 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
6. date of establishment: 1887 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
7. date of foundation: 1890 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of birth is "1828". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of birth is "1828-06-14". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of death is "1918". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the date of death is "1918-03-14". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. The record states that the date of death is "1918-09-09". What evidence would count against this claim?
7. The record states that the date of establishment is "1887". What evidence would count against this claim?
8. The record states that the date of foundation is "1890". What evidence would count against this claim?
9. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
10. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1350520236