THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Eleanor M. Castle; Born: 28 Jan 1867.

FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready; Eleanor Castle: A brilliant, auburn-haired Irish schoolteacher who, in later life, had a home with her granddaughter Dawn up the river from the Unity.

1900 U. S. Federal Census; Calumet Township; Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Film Roll No. 285; Page No. 285; SD No. 1; ED No. 986; Sheet No. 12; Ward of City: 31; Enumeration Date: 13 June 1900; Enumerator: Ernest E. Ellington; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 24 May 1999: Elenor Castle; Residence: 99th Street, Dwelling 133: Relation to head of family: Boarder: Color, white; Sex; Female; Month of birth: January; Year of birth: 1867; Age at last birthday: 32; Married: 1* year; Mother of 2 children; Number of these children living: 2; Place of birth: California; Place of birth of father: New Hampshire; Place of birth of mother: New Hampshire; Occupation: Nothing listed; Can read, yes; Can write, yes; Can speak English, yes. (*All but 5 married residents living in this dwelling list the number of years married as 1 year.)

MEMORIES, MEMORIES--DAYS OF LONG AGO chronicled by Marie McCready with participation by Lovelle McCready: Eleanor Castle, a brilliant Irish ex-teacher from Chicago, gave lectures in a rustic, temporary thatched booth that the Unity used at the first fair, which was held in Tampa (Date of the fair, approx. 1904).--Page 80.

THE FLAMING SWORD; Community Current Events by Max E. Arendt; June 1936: "Mrs. Eleanore Castle, and granddaughter, Dawn, arrived from Chicago, Illinois, May 8, to make their home in Estero, where Mrs. Castle has purchased a home. She and Dawn are welcome additions to the community, and she should find many friends of former years to make her residence her a pleasant one."

THE FLAMING SWORD; Community Current Events by Rose Gilbert; August 1941: "The death of Mrs. Eleanore Castle occurred at her home in Fort Myers, Florida, July 4, 1941. She was a teacher for many years in Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Castle was connected with our organization for several years and was a valued contributor to THE SWORD."

Notes from Evelyn Horne: Eleanor Castle
"She joined the Koreshans in Chicago where she was a college professor. She wrote religious writings for Dr. Teed, and they were printed in "The Flaming Sword." Eleanor did lecturing to large groups in different halls around Chicago on Koreshan science and religion. She was a beautiful kind and loving person--a real lady.

She married and had one son. When she returned to Estero in about 1937 for her retiring years, bringing a teenage granddaughter, Dawn, she bought property and her home on the Estero River across from Koreshan friends, Jennie Campbell and Edith Trebell. Dawn attended Fort Myers Senior High School and graduated with the class of 1939. Eleanor died July 4, 1941. Dawn married at Fort Myers to Ernest Barwick and had one daughter."

THE AMERICAN EAGLE; Vol. 79; April 1993; Page 3: "The beautiful Planetary Court residence, so named for the seven planets then known to exist, still stands proudly in the Koreshan settlement. It was built in 1904 to house the original seven Koreshan women charged by Koresh to manage the affairs of the Unity. Each had her own bedroom, and the eighth room, on the main floor, served as their council chamber or meeting room. These Stellar Women Were : Virginia Andrews, Berthaldine Boomer, Evelyn Bubbett, Eleanor Castle, Rose Gilbert, Ella Graham and Etta Silverfriend. ELEANOR CASTLE. Sister Castle was a professor of languages at the University of Chicago when she joined the Koreshan Unity. With her mental acumen and understanding of Koreshan principles, Eleanor wrote and lectured extensively in both the Chicago area and in Florida. She helped set up the educational programs of the Koreshans, and although she left the settlement, married and had a son, in about 1937 she returned to the Koreshan fold to live out her retirement years. She brought with her a granddaughter, Dawn, who attended Fort Myers High School and married a Fort Myers boy. Eleanor died in July 1941."