USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 20
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ship. near Cologn postoffice, this being in the spring of 1878, and in 1890 in Gaston, Indiana, later spending eight years in Muncie, Indiana, and returning subsequently to Gaston, where he has been continuously since.
On August 23, 1863, Dr. Eastes was united in marriage to Miss Sarah C. Zedekar, born in Summitville, Indiana, March 16, 1846, and the daughter of John M. and Catharine (Noland) Zedekar. The father was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1808, and died at the age of sixty-seven years ; the mother was born in Ohio in 1812, and passed away at the age of eighty-four years. They had ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom five are living at the present time : Mary Jane, Sarah C. (wife of the subject), Philip A., James N. and William D. Mr. Zedekar was a carpenter by trade but devoted the latter part of his life to farming in Madison county, Indiana. He was a member of Alexandria Lodge No. 235, of the Masonic order, and in politics was a Republican.
Dr. and Mrs. Eastes are the parents of nine children and ten grand- children, the following being the names of their children in order of birth : Ida V. wedded William L. Cory, who was one of the successful teachers in Indiana for twenty-five years. Arthur T., was educated at Danville Normal and was a teacher in Delaware county. He is assistant money order and stamp clerk in the Muncie postoffice and has held this position for twelve years. He is secretary of the Examining board of the Civil Service, a most efficient official, and the U. S. Department of the Civil Service gave him this praise,-that he was the only secretary in the United States who had invariably made immediate report of his examinations. He wedded Mrs. Nellie ( Upton) Lane, a native of Wisconsin. They reside in Muncie, Indiana. Dora A. wedded A. C. Davis, who was also educated at the Dan- ville Normal. He was an efficient teacher in Indiana for fifteen years. He is an architect in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Drusilla J. wedded Isaac N. Miller, who is one of the successful farmers and stockmen of Washington township. Carrie E., wedded Norman E. Lesley, who is one of the successful merchants of Gaston, Indiana, a dealer in grain, coal, hay, seeds, wool, etc. He received a good business education in the Winchester public schools. Bessie A. wedded George T. Thorpe, one of the leading attorneys at law of Muncie, Indiana. Hattie E. wedded Andrew Grogard, who is a telegrapher and for eighteen years in the employ of the Texas & Pacific railroad at Fort Worth, Texas. Apphia M. wedded O. A. Shaw, who is in the employ of the U. S. mail department at Muncie, Indiana. Lydia E. wedded Samuel Taylor, who is foreman in the large glass factory of the Ball Brothers at Muncie, Indiana. Of this family six of the daughters and the son, Arthur, as well as the father, Dr. Eastes, were teachers, having taught sixty or more terms of school.
Dr. Eastes is a member of the Universalist church at Muncie, and belongs to the New Corner Lodge of the I. O. O. F., and the Red Men Council at Matthews, Grant county, Indiana. He is independent in his politics. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
CHARLES W. McINTOSH was born at Marengo, Crawford county, Indi- ana, March 15, 1857, and is a son of George W. and Eliza ( Wood) McIn- tosh, both natives of Crawford county, and now residents of Sheridan, Indiana. George McIntosh is a farmer and nurseryman and was a soldier in the war of the rebellion. The great-grandfather of our subject was an English soldier conscripted by his government to fight for the subjugation of the American colonies. He was captured by colonial troops, and coming to be better acquainted with the nature of the colonial struggle for freedom took the oath of allegiance to the United States and became an American citizen and a soldier. His birthplace was near Inverness, Scotland.
Our subject received his education at a private school at Marengo, Indiana, and was under the tutorship of Professor J. M. Johnson. At the age of eighteen he began teaching school at Grantsburg, Indiana, and for two terms followed that vocation in the public schools of Crawford county. In the autumn of 1877 he removed to Orange county, teaching school during the winter, and canvassing for his father's nursery in the summer months. For three years immediately following 1890 Mr. McIntosh taught in the city schools of Paoli, Indiana. Having had a more or less intimate acquain- tance with the editors of local papers in Orange county, he decided to go to Gaston, in Delaware county, and found a country newspaper. The first number of this paper, the Gaston Gazette, was issued September 2, 1897. The paper had entered a new field and was successful from the first. It has been doubled in size and now ranks among the best country papers in the state.
Mr. McIntosh is a Republican in politics, and has been postmaster at Gaston since September 1, 1903. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. since January 17, 1879, and of the Odd Fellows' Encampment since October, 1892, having represented both branches of the order in grand lodges. He has been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1876, and has acted in the capacity of Sunday school superintendent for many years.
On May 20, 1877, Mr. McIntosh was united in marriage to Miss Alice J. Paterson, of Marengo, Indiana, the eldest daughter of Dr. J. J. Paterson. This union has been blessed by four children, three of whom died in infancy. The oldest child, Frederic B., is associated with his father in the publication of the Gaston Gazette.
SAMUEL E. MARKLE, engaged in the drug business in Gaston, comes from one of the sterling old pioneer families of Madison county, the name he bears being indissolubly connected with its early annals and subsequent prosperity. The ancestry is traced to Scotland, from whence John Markle, the great-grandfather of Samuel E., came to the United States before the Revolutionary war, and for seven years served as a soldier in Washington's army during that conflict, being twenty-one years of age when independence was declared. John D. Markle, a son of this Scotch highlander, was born
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in the state of New York, from whence he removed to Darke county, Ohio, later to Wayne county, Indiana, and thence to Madison county, this being a very early day in the history of the county and the town of Markleville was named in his honor.
John D. Markle, Jr., a son of the above, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, near Milton, December 18, 1829. and he became a prominent and successful farmer of Madison county, this state, whither he removed on the 17th of January, 1868, and purchased eighty acres of land three miles east of Alexandria. The county was but a wilderness at the time he took up his abode within its borders, and his first home was a little log cabin, but gradually he transformed his farm into fertile and well cultivated fields and added to its acreage. His death occurred on the 5th of May, 1891, dying in the faith of the Baptist church, of which he had been long a member, and he was a Jackson Democrat in his political affiliations. Near Markleville Mr. Markle was united in marriage to Sarah J. Adams, who was born in Madi- son county, Indiana, February 13. 1835, and her death occurred June 21, 1888. Thirteen children were born to them, of whom the following nine are now living : Henry H., David J., Samuel E., Charles C., Thomas B., Daniel C., Noah M., Luie B. and James A.
During the early years of his life Samuel E. Markle assisted his father in the work of the home farm during the summer months, and in the winters attended the district schools until twenty-one years of age, after which he was employed at carpenter work for a time. His first knowledge of the drug business was obtained by studying pharmacy. He was associated with N. W. Edwards at Fairmount, Indiana, for a while. He then engaged at the carpenter's trade, at the same time keeping up his study of his chosen profession. He then entered the employ of Jesse S. Munsey at Gaston in 1898, with whom he was associated from the Ist of October until the 6th of February, following, the date of his employer's death. Mr. Markle then had charge of the business until the stock was purchased by Powers & Company, who retained his services until December 5. 1900, Mr. Markle then purchasing the business. He entered upon his proprietorship with but a small amount of money, but prosperity has attended his well directed efforts and the Markle drug store is now one of the leading establishments of its kind in Gaston. Mr. Markle is a practical pharmacist, having learned the details of the profession by actual practice.
The marriage of Mr. Markle was celebrated on the 21st of November, 1885, when Emma F. Painter became his wife. She was born in Madison county, Indiana, July 17, 1862, the daughter of William B. and Sarah J. (Smith) Painter. The father, who was born in Henry county, Indiana, near Middletown, October 13, 1838, became a prominent and well known farmer of Madison county, this state, his death there occurring on the 28th of June, 1863. He was honored by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, and was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was identi- fied with the Republican party. Mrs. Painter was born in Clinton county,
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
Ohio, February 5, 1835, and died October 16, 1891. Mrs. Markle and William M. were the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Painter. Four children, three now living, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Markle,-William E., S. Iva, Virgil T. and Anna F. Mr. Markle was made a Mason in Alex- andria Lodge No. 235, from which he was transferred to Lake City Lodge No. 73, at Warsaw, Indiana, and in the spring of 1907 was demitted to Delaware Lodge No. 46, at Muncie. The Democracy receives his political support and cooperation.
WICKLIFF B. HOLSCLAW engaged in the livery business in Gaston, was born in New Castle, Henry county, Kentucky, January 12, 1853, a son of Joshua and Zerelda (Caplinger) Holsclaw. The father was born in Penn- sylvania December 25, 1825, and learning the saddle maker's trade he fol- lowed that occupation in Oldham county, Kentucky, from whence he removed to Louisville, that state, in the early 'cos. During the three or four years in which he was engaged in work at his trade in that city he made his home in Orange county, Indiana, from whence he later removed to his farm in Bedford, this state, but his last days were spent in Orleans township, Orange county, Indiana, passing to his final reward on the 20th of March, 1865. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist church, in which he served as a deacon for many years, and his political affiliations were with the Democratic party. Mrs. Holsclaw was born in Kentucky October 21, 1820, and died in Chicago on the 23d of November, 1901. Both she and her husband lie buried in Paoli, Orange county, Indiana. They were married in Ballardsville, Kentucky, in 1843, and of the eleven children born to them four are now living, namely : Wickliff B., the subject of this review ; Thomas P., who married Elizabeth Muller; Eliza, the wife of Emil Bruzenwitz, of Chicago; and Laura A., the wife of J. G. Straub, living in Pennsylvania.
Wickliff B. Holsclaw was but a lad of fourteen years when his father died, and he thereafter worked out as a farm hand until the 3d of August, 1872, the date of his enlistment for services in the U. S. Regulars, becoming a member of Company I, Eighth Regiment of United States Infantry, enter- ing the service for five years. He was mustered into the ranks under Colonel Dunham and went with his regiment to Fort Carman, Utah, where he remained for about two years, going thence to Fort Grant, Arizona, and was mustered out of service June 9, 1877, as corporal of his company. Mr. Holsclaw then re-enlisted in Company K, Ist Regiment Infantry, U S. A., July 30, 1879, at St. Louis, Missouri, for five years, entering the ranks as a corporal. Going to Fort Mead, Dakota, he was there from September I, 1880, until May 10, 1881, when he was ordered to Fort Davis, San Antonio, Texas, and two years later to Holbrook, Arizona, to quell the Indian. trou- bles. He was promoted to provost sergeant of his regiment at Fort Whipple, February 7, 1883, serving as such for about two and a half years, wnen he received his discharge at Fort Whipple July 29, 1884. Returning thence to West Baden, he served as a police officer there for about one year, and
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in 1889 embarked in the teaming and contracting business in that city, thus continuing until 1895. In that year he sold his business, and on the 18th of October of the same year bought the livery business in Gaston which he has ever since conducted with such good success. He is also extensively engaged in the buying and selling of horses, and was formerly a director in the Gaston Oil and Mineral Company.
Mr. Holsclaw married Miss Nellie J. Wilson September 29, 1887. She was born near West Baden in Orange county, Indiana, October 8, 1860, a daughter of Nuby and Elizabeth (Reel) Wilson, both also natives of this state, the father born near West Baden September 6, 1830, and the mother near Marengo, Crawford county, March 25, 1832. They were married in Orangeville township, Orange county, Indiana, in 1856, and became the parents of seven children, but only six are now living: John H., who mar- ried Belle Stackhouse and is living near West Baden; Nellie J., the wife of Mr. Holsclaw; Mary F., the wife of John T. Johnson, of Orange county ; Albert, who married Emma McFarlin and also makes his home in Orange county, and Wilbert, twins, and the latter married Jennie Frazier and is liv- ing in Orange county ; and Della, the wife of William Cook, of French Lick, Indiana.
Mr. Wilson, the father, is the son of John H. Wilson, who was born in North Carolina but came to Indiana in a very early day in its history and became a pioneer resident of Orange county, where he bought his land from the Indians. Mr. Nuby Wilson erected for his first home a log cabin, in which all of his children were born, and he transformed his farm from its primitive state of a wilderness to its present high degree of cultivation, and here he is spending the declining years of his life. He enlisted in Com- pany C, Ninth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers for three years or during the war, and served his full term of enlistment. He now holds pleasant relations with his old army comrades by his membership in Decker Post, G. A. R., at West Baden. He was reared as a Quaker, but is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his political affiliations are with the Republican party. Mrs. Wilson died on the 5th of July, 1907.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Holsclaw, Fred H., Maud E., Lucy C. (who died in infancy), Elmer C., Emmett P. and Hollis M. Mr. Holsclaw is a member of Paoli Lodge, K. of P., and his political affilia- tions are with the Republican party.
JOHN W. FOSTER was born in Washington township, Delaware county, Indiana, January 22, 1862, and is of German descent. His father, Henry W. Foster, was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, April 10, 1832, and is now living a retired life in Fairmount, Indiana. In 1852, when twenty years of age, he came with his parents, Thomas and Margaret Foster, to Wash- ington township, Delaware county, where he secured fifty acres of wild and unimproved land in section 12, but in time he cleared the land of its dense growth of timber and erected a hewed log house, which later was super-
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seded by the frame dwelling in which he resided until the spring of 1907. He at one time was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, but gave ninety acres of this to his children, leaving him the possessor of seventy acres at the present time. He built him a home in Fairmount in the spring of 1907, and there he is now living retired from the active cares of a business life, enjoying the rest which former years of earnest labor has brought. At her father's home in Washington township Mr. Foster was married to Mary Ann Hazelbaker, who was born in this township on the 17th of June, 1842, and her death occurred on the 16th of November, 1896, after becoming the mother of twelve children, ten now living : John W., of this review ; Harriet L., the wife of James M. Lewis; William H., who married Emma Bennett ; Clarencey, the wife of H. Mack Hazelbaker ; Nancy E., the wife of David Paine; Lenora, the wife of Charles Jones ; Fred A., who married Estia Cole ; Jesse O., who married Nellie Sells; Eva, the wife of Joseph Zeller; and Mary. Mr. Foster married for his second wife, Mrs. Sarah J. Ice, nee Lewis. He cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and has since remained a stanch supporter of Republican principles, but has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. He is well known and highly esteemed throughout Washington township, where his name is en- rolled among the early and honored pioneers.
The boyhood days of John W. Foster were spent in assisting his father to clear and improve his farm, and soon after his marriage he engaged in agricultural pursuits for himself. In 1888 he removed to Middletown, Ohio, residing there until 1896, when he returned to Washington township, and has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1896 his fine mod- ern home was erected, and in 1903 the homestead was further improved by the erection of a commodious barn, his farm being one of the attractive places of the township, surrounded as it is by many shade and fruit trees.
On the 14th of October, 1886, Mr. Foster married Sarah H. Corcoran, who was born in Blueball, Warren county, Ohio, June 17, 1861, a daughter of Thomas and Mary ( McCune) Corcoran, both of whom were born in County Mayo, Ireland, the father born in 1824 and the mother in 1836. They were married in Middletown, Ohio, and became the parents of nine children, the three now living being: Sarah H., the wife of Mr. Foster; Margaret, the wife of John Sibold, of Middletown, Ohio; and James, also a resident of that city.
Mr. Corcoran lost his father by death when he was a lad of twelve years, and one and a half years later he was made an orphan by the death of his mother. Being the eldest of their six children, the support of the family fell upon his young shoulders. He left Ireland when twenty years of age with his youngest brother, starting on the voyage to this country on a sailing vessel, but the brother died en route and was buried at sea. Alone, a stranger in a strange land, Mr. Corcoran landed at New Orleans after a voyage of seven weeks, and after spending a short time in that city he came up the river to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he secured employment as a pork 11
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packer. Later on he removed to Middletown, where his marriage occurred, and there he also worked at pork packing. In that city he spent the re- maining years of life, dying on the 6th of August, 1906, while in the employ of the Sorg Manufacturing Company. He deserved much credit for the success which he achieved in life, and not only did he care for himself and family and rise to a position of affluence, but he also cared for his brothers and sisters and sent them all money with which to come to the United States. He was a member of the Roman Catholic church, and affili- ated with the Democratic party. Mrs. Corcoran came to this country with her parents when but six years of age, and her death occurred in the year 1892.
Mr. Foster has fraternal relations with the Masonic order, affiliating with Mathews Lodge, and he is a stanch Republican in his political views.
HENRY SWEANY. Numbered among the progressive and prominent agriculturists of Washington township, Delaware county, Henry Sweany was born within the borders of the township February 6, 1842, a son of Samuel and Nancy ( Hazelbaker ) Sweany, natives of Ohio. In their native commonwealth they were also married, and their union was blessed with nine children, four of whom are now living: Henry, of this review; Daniel living at Summitville, Indiana ; John W., who makes his home in Mathews; and Sarah, the wife of George Acker, of Marion, Indiana. Mr. Sweany, the father, came overland with team and wagon to Washington township, Delaware county, Indiana, in 1839, where he entered eighty acres of land in the dense wilderness. With the aid of his sons he succeded in clearing his land and placing it under an excellent state of cultivation, and there he spent the remainder of his life, dying at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. During his early life he was a Jackson Democrat in his political affiliations, but afterward voted with the Republicans. He was loved and honored by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, for he was one of the grand old pioneers who assisted in paving the way for civilization in Delaware county.
Henry Sweany was born in the little log house which first sheltered the family on their arrival in Washington township, and during his boyhood days he assisted his father in clearing the homestead farm, his educational training having been received in the neighboring district schools, which he attended during the winter months. After his marriage he began farming for himself, and he is the owner of a fertile and well improved farm .n section 19, where he is extensively engaged in general agricultural pursuits and the breeding of a good grade of stock.
Mr. Sweany was first married to Nancy C. Jones, who was born in Delaware county, the daughter of one of its early pioneers, Jacob Jones, whose birth occurred in Ohio. The following children were born of this union : John W., who died at the age of twenty-six years; Jacob W., who married Sarah Hendricks; Emery E., who married Miss Gertrude
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
Hendricks ; Charles, who died when just past twenty-one years of age ; Arlie Otto, who married Bertha Grimes; Thomas E., who married Ethel Glass ; Belle, who died after attaining to mature years; and Bessie, who died in infancy. On the 28th of September, 1903, Mr. Sweany married Sarah Jones, who was born in Salem township, Delaware county, Indiana, January 24, 1852, a daughter of David W. and Vesta ( McLanahan) Jones.
David W. Jones was born in Fayette county, Indiana, March 6, 1824, and died on the 25th of May, 1893, aged sixty-nine years, two months and nineteen days. He was a son of James M. and Mary Jones, the former of whom was born on the Ist of May, 1779, and died December 10, 1845, and the latter, born March 10, 1783, died December 31, 1873. They came from the Carolinas to Franklin county, Indiana, in March, 1809, and in 1811 they removed to Fayette county, the birthplace of their son David. On the 6th of February, 1831, they arrived in Delaware county, where they lived on a farm during the remainder of their lives. David W., the youngest of their nine children, came with his parents to Delaware county in 1831, and on the 4th of January, 1846, he married Jane Kepper, who died April 15, 1848. On the 21st of April, 1851, he married Vesta McLanahan, who was born in Randolph county, Indiana, August 20, 1826, and died June 20, 1900. They became the parents of twelve children, of whom four are now living : Sarah, the wife of Mr. Sweany; Nettie, the wife of William Rozelle; John N., who married Louisa Fleming, now deceased; and Willis E., who married Ellen Duff. Mr. Sweany is a member of the Christian church, and his political affiliations are with the Republican party.
JOHN M. HARRIS, one of the most prominent farmers and stock raisers of Washington township, was born in Madison county, Indiana, on Fall creek, January 1, 1838, a son of Samuel and Nancy E. (Copeland) Harris, both of whom had their nativity in the southland of North Carolina. They were married in their native commonwealth, from whence with their two oldest daughters they journeyed in a two-wheel cart to Indiana, where the husband and father entered three eighty-acre tracts of land from the govern- ment in Fort Wayne, he having had to blaze his way to that city so he could find his way back to Madison county, where he had established his home. The first home which he erected was a little cabin of round poles, but later on he built him a hewed log house, which continued as his home during the remainder of his life, dying in Van Buren township at the age of thirty-five years. His wife survived him many years and died in that township at the age of seventy-two years. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Harris four are now living: John M., the subject of this review; George W., Delila and Martha. Mr. Harris was a Jefferson Democrat in his political affiliation.
John M. Harris in early life became inured to the arduous labor of clearing and improving a new farm, he having assisted his father in the work of the old homestead from an early age, attending school only about
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