Marshall Eastes was the son of Holman Eastes and Ruth Webb. He had red hair and blue eyes and was very freckled, a trait I have him to thank for. He was reported to have had a beautiful tenor voice until he lost his hearing. One of my father's fondest memories of his father was siting on his lap with his sister Elva and listening to him sing.

His children learned American sign alphabet and communicated with him in that way, it was also useful for passing messages in school and secrets at Christmas and for birthdays.

He was born in Buck Creek, Hancock County, Indiana. Most records say he was born in 1850. His Death certificate says he was born in 1849. I have a problem with both dates. He isn't in the 1850 census. Leonidas is too young to be Marshall. He is one month old in September of 1850, Jasper died in 1849, so he wasn't in the 1850 census either. I think 1851 makes sense, but I haven't any proof. The death certificate is an official document, so if people want to say May 29, 1849, I won't argue. If he was born in '49, then where was he in 1850?

In later years he lived in Grant County and Madison county before settling in White County, Kansas City Missouri, and finally Jasper County, Indiana.

He worked as a farmer, a dealer in patent rights, a Barber, and ran a boarding house, and sold food from a push cart.

He was married 4 times. His first wife was Elizabeth Jane Morris, daughter of Nicholas Closer Morris and Elizabeth Ringer. They were married Jan. 12, 1871. They had 3 sons. William Harrison, Frank Maridoth, and Walter Alonzo Eastes.

After the death of his first wife, he married Candace Eveline See, daughter of David M. See, and Clarissa Ellis Newall on Nov. 3, 1883. This marriage ended in divorce.

On Jan. 11, 1890, he married a third time to Ida R. Wheeler, daughter of Jasper N. Wheeler and Mary Butler. Mary was related to the Eastes family through her mother Ann Eastes, wife of James Butler.

His fourth wife was Ella Virginia McKillip, daugher of James McKillip and Elizabeth Fleek. They were married on Jan. 11, 1894. Their first child was stillborn in 1895. Followed by a daughter Elva Ethel Eastes born Oct. 31, 1896. Two more stillborn sons were born July 29, 1898, and July 21, 1899. Then a son, Lawrence Theodore Eastes was born Oct. 6, 1900. A daughter Violet was born about 1902, but she died about age 3. Their daughter Virginia Eastes was born Nov. 3, 1904.

The family moved to Kansas City Missouri where another daughter Golda May Eastes was born on Dec. 11, 1905. Another son was born about 1907, but he only lived a short time. Finally a son Clarence (Pete) Holman Eastes was born on Sept 13, 1909.

About 1911 the family returned to Indiana and settled in Remington, in Jasper County near the family of Ella. Ella's mother died in 1911, then Marshall, who had been ill for some time, died in 1912. His sons from his first marriage and his family with Ella were present at his funeral except for Lawrence. He had a new 1912 Remington Shotgun and had gone hunting. He was 11 years old. My brother, Bill still has Dad's old shotgun. Marshall's death certificate also confirmed he was buried at Remington Cemetery as my father had previously stated in a codicil to his own will.

Marshall's siblings include: Lemuel Franklin Eastes, Addison S. Eastes, Lucinda A. Eastes Ward, Dr. William Thomas Eastes, Sarah Jane Eastes Kelsey, Jasper Newton Eastes, Leonidas L. Eastes, Albert O. Eastes, Jesse Eugenia Eastes Ward, Meredith Pinkney Eastes, and Jerome S. Eastes.