History of the Easterday family

HISTORY

EAvSTERDAY FAMILY

RESERVE

STORAGE

COLLECTION

L. l\ M. BASTERDAY

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HISTORY

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EASTERDAY FAMILY

BY

L. F. M. EASTERDAY

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LINCOLN. NEBRASKA

"So teach us to number our .days that wo may apply
our hearts unto wisdom."

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COPYRIGHT, 1908

BY L. F. M. EASTERDAY

ALL EIGHTS RESERVED

JAM 20 1908

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CONTENTS OF PART FIRST. %,

Introduction 3

Traditional Beginning 4

Early History of the Christian Easterday Family 4

Family Record of Same 6

Quotations from Letters 7

Who the Writers Quoted Are 8

The Quotations Discussed 9

The Easterday Grave Yard 10

The Writer's Visit to Same 11

The Old Family Bible etc. 12

The Will of Christian Easterday 12

A Study of the Will 16

Early History of the Martin Easterday Family 18

Family Record of Same 22

Quotations from Letters 20

Homes of the Martin Easterday Family 22

The Ohio Easterday Home 23

A Letter Quotation 24

A Study of the Fourteen 25

Connecting Visits 26

Connecting Correspondence...... 27

The Blessing Connection.*.^.: 28

Patriotism 29

The Closing of Part First 30

Aid Solicited 31

Recapitulation of Easterday Men 32

A Few Descendants 32

HISTORY

OF THE

EASTERDAY FAMILY

PART FIRST

Introduction.

The writer, L. F. M. Easterday, of Lincoln, Nebr., begins
the compiling of this history under date of November 20, 1907.
lie recognizes with satisfaction that in the great country of
our adoption one can make little use of the credit of his ances-
try, titled as that ancestry may have been. However, he
heartily accords in this old saying: "Other things being
equal, we prefer to trust the man who has had a grandfather. ' '

More than forty years ago the writer became interested
in securing historical facts relative to -his people. Since that
time he has written very many letters of inquiry, and has
received many responses. As would be supposed, the inquiries
very much outnumber the responses. These written responses
and traditions, handed down orally, are depended upon for the
history. And, whilst they are meager enough, the writer feels
that no other one has in haDd so much material needful in
the task of compiling a reliable history as is now in his pos-
session. He feels, too, thtat such compiling has become neces-
sary in order to preserve that which is within his reach. Rela-
tives appreciating these facts have urged him to perform this
duty. The expression of their desire renders an arduous task
more pleasing to perform.

HISTORY OF THE

The Traditional Beginning.

A story goes that in the long ago a baby boy was found
in the Fatherland of Germany on the morning of Easter Day.
A conspicuous package was discovered on the door-step of a
great church building when the worshipers were convening
"upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning."
The package was opened and the smile of a comfortable baby
boy at once captured the hearts of the increasing company,
The conduct of the parents in disposing of the son may almost
be forgiven when their interest in his welfare is so clearly
evidenced by the careful selection of time and place for the
deposit of the treasure.

The day of the finding of the boy — Easter Day, the Chris-
tian Easter Day — suggested for him a beautiful name. He
was cared for by good people, grew to manhood and became
the ancestor of the hosts who bear the name of Easterday. It
may here be stated that the given name, Christian, has been
used freely by the family in all succeeding generations, and
it may be added also that the type of their Christianity has
been indicated by the similar use of the name Martin, the given
name of the great reformer, Dr. Martin Luther.

Early History of Christian Easterday and His Family.

How many generations of Easterdays preceded those to
be named in this history cannot now be stated. To the interested
reader the more important fact is that about the year 1750
a man known as Christian Easterday and his bride, whose name
had been Julia Blessing, came from Germany, leaving there
many relatives and friends, and located temporarily in Vir-
ginia, near the southwest corner of that state. There is some
reason for believing that they were accompanied by George
Blessing and Julia Easterday, another groom and bride, Mrs.
Blessing being the sister of Mr. Easterday, and Mr. Blessing
being the brother of Mrs. Easterday.

The part of Germany from which they came was prob-
ably Saxony, although Alsace has been mentioned as their
former home. Possibly a preceding generation had moved

EASTERDAY FAMILY 5

from the former to the latter part of Germany, the sojourning
in Alsace being temporary. In case there be in Saxony a town
or place bearing the name of Elsass or Elsace, the confusion
would be relieved.

It is very certain that the family name in Germany was
Ostertag or Osterdock, and that this was translated to Easter-
day after their arrival in America. A statement made in a
letter at hand is that the name was Easterclay before they
left Germany. This is very doubtful. A curious fact is that
the will of the Senior Easterday was signed Christian Osterday
under date of October 29, 1804.

The first location of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Easterday in
southwest Virginia is n^t very definite. It was probably about
250 miles west of Jamestown and about the same distance
southwest of Harper's Ferry. Their first son, Christian, was
born in Virginia on November 27, 1752. Indian troubles drove
them from their Virginia home, or homes, and they went to
what is now known as Frederick County, Maryland, locating in
the beautiful Middletown Valley probably in the spring of
1753 or 1754. In this journey of nearly 250 miles, which was
probably not continuous, but broken into two or three parts,
they passed almost directly northeasterly along the Blue Ridge
Mountains, crossing the Potomac River a few miles below and
east of Harper's Ferry.

The first lodging place north of the Potomac River of
this family of three was under a large oak by the side of a
spring of clear, cold water, and this providentially was des-
tined to fix their permanent home all the remaining days of
their lives. This determined the location of the Easterday
farm, which is one and a half miles west of the town known
as Jefferson, Frederick County, Md. On this beautiful farm
these parents lived, reared a large family, acquired very con-
siderable property, died and now lie buried. They had seven
sons and four daughters, one daughter dying in infancy.
Every one of the ten grew to maturity, married and raised
families. Following is the list, some of the dates appearing
having been secured by long continued effort.

HISTORY OF THE

Family Record of

Christian Basterday and Julia Blessing, married in Germany,
probably in Saxony, about 1750.

Christian Easterday, born in Virginia November 27, 1752,
died in Frederick County, Maryland, May 28, 1835.

Lewis Easterday. second son, born in Frederick County, Mary-
land, died probably in Kentucky, dates unknown.

Daniel Easterday, third son, born in Frederick County, Mary-
land, November 12, 1762, died in Georgetown, D. C, Sep-
tember 25, 1833.

Conrad Easterday, fourth son, born in Frederick County, Mary-
land, March 4, 1769, died in same place October 14, 1825.

Francis Easterday, fifth son, born in Frederick County, Mary-
land, July 18, 1770, died in same place December 3, 1841.

Jacob Easterday, sixth son, born in Frederick County, Mary-
land, November 20, 1772, died in same place August 30,
1840.

Abraham Easterday, seventh son, born in Frederick County,
Maryland, March 20, 1777, died in same place December
30, 1823.

Catherine (Tabler), born in Frederick County, Maryland,
place of death and dates unknown.

Phoebe (Tabler), born in Frederick County, Maryland, place
of death and dates unknown.

Julia (Blessing), born in Frederick County, Maryland, May
30, 1765, died probably in same place October 3, 1824.

The order in which the one son and two daughters with
unknown birth days came in the list the writer has not been
able to determine. Probably they all came in the ten years
between Christian and Daniel. Certainly the second son came in
this space. Very probably Abraham was the youngest child,
he having been twenty-four years and four months younger
than the oldest child. It may here be noted that the father
died November 15, 1805, and the mother December 5, 1804.
The birth years of these grand old fruitful pioneers are un-
known to the writer, but may now be guessed at by the reader.

EASTERDAY FAMILY 7

Quotations From Letters.

Judge Joseph Easterday, the son of Jacob of the foregoing
list of seven brothers, at the age of fifty years, under date
of March 10, 1864, from his home near the old farm with its
famous spring, wrote as follows: "My grandfather's name
was Christian Easterday. He emigrated to this country from
Germany before the Revolution and settled on the Holston
Eiver between North Carolina and Tennessee. He must have
come in a ship bound south. The Indian troubles compelled
him to come further east, and he settled in this county when
Maryland was a province under King George the Third, and
accumulated a fortune before he died. He was a man of
energy and enterprise and of a good education in the Ger-
man language. He had seven sons and three daughters. Two
daughters married in this county, the other in Virginia, near
Martinsburg. All are now dead. Lewis emigrated to Gallatin
County, Kentucky, and certainly has grandchildren living.
My father's name was Jacob. He died in 1840. and 1 own a
portion of his land. My grandfather died in 1805. They are
all interred in the family cemetery. ' '

Kate A. Easterday, a maiden lady of fifty-eight years,
whose father's name was Conrad, and whose grandfather's
name was Conrad of the foregoing list of seven brothers, under
date of March 18, 1884, Ellerton, Frederick County, Maryland,
not far from Myersville, in the northern part of Middletown
Valley, wrote as follows: "My great grand lather, Christian
Easterday, married Miss Julia Blessing in the Kingdom of
Saxony, and started on a wedding tour for America. The
exact date I do not know. They landed safely in Virginia.
There they settled three times, and every time the Indians
routed them and put them to flight. They were compelled to
leave some of their property. How long they lived in Virginia
I do not know, but their first child was born in Virginia. The
last time the}' were routed the Indians compelled great-grand-
father to turn his own grinstone to grind their tomahawks.
They took horses and what few things they could get and lied
for Maryland. Great grandmother rode horseback and carried
her son. Christian, on her lap. Nine miles below or east of

8 HISTORY OF THE

Harper's Ferry they crossed the Potomac River into Maryland,
which they found a vast, howling forest uninhabited. After they
crossed the river they travelled six miles due north, and came
to a never-failing spring of water. There they stopped, lived
and died and were buried. They arrived there in the spring
of the year and in the evening of the day. They ate their sup-
per and spread their bed on the ground .under an oak tree.
Tired and weary they lay down to rest. In the morning they
rose refreshed and encouraged and viewed their home. That
home was in our now beautiful, fertile, famous Middletown
Valley. Great grandfather Easterday built the first house that
was built in Middletown Valley. This was prior to the year
1748, in which year Frederick county was organized. At the
same time and place that Christian Easterday married Julia
Blessing, George Blessing married Julia Easterday. Julia Eas-
terday was great grandfather's sister and George Blessing was
great grandmother's brother. They emigrated together. Short-
ly after great grandfather Easterday settled in Maryland,
great uncle Blessing settled near by him. Hence the Blessings
and Easterdays are all related."

Who the Writers Quoted Are.

Judge Joseph Easterday was born in 1814 and died in
1882. He was a grandson of the Senior Christian Easterday,
who died in 1805. His letters indicate that he was a scholarly
man. In the early part of 1864 the writer noticed the name
of Rachel A. Easterday as a subscriber to the Lutheran Ob-
server, and applied to her for Easterday history. In response
she wrote a beautiful letter in a beautiful hand. In it she
said: "Father will write and give you the history of his fam-
ily from the time they emigrated to this country from Germany,
which is, I think, very interesting. My father has filled sev-
eral public offices, such as Judge of the Orphan's Court, Dis-
trict Judge, etc. Consequently he goes by the familiar name
of Judge Easterday." Her letter was elated March 10, 1864.
Her father, Judge Joseph Easterday, under the same date,
wrote the letter from which the foregoing quotation is made.

Kate A. Easterday was born in 1826 and died in 1884,

EASTERDAY FAMILY 9

less than four months after the date of her letter. She was
a great granddaughter of the Senior Christian Easterday. She
had been mentioned to the writer as everybody's "Aunt Kate"
who knew everything from awaj' back.

The Quotations Discussed.

The testimony of the two witnesses is very valuable, and
yet there are discrepancies. These, however, are not great,
and they show that the witnesses were not in collusion. The
information reached them by tradition and orally, but the
facts as to when and where are established in a manner very
satisfactory to one who has long puzzled over them.

Joseph Easterday refers to the Ilolston River between
North Carolina and Tennessee, and Kate Easterday refers only
to Virginia as the first location of the Easterday family. Now
the Holston River flows southwest through the northeastern
part of Tennessee, emptying into the Tennessee River. Its
three branches, the North Pork, the Middle Fork and the South
Pork, all take their start in southwestern Virginia, from about
twenty to fifty miles north and slightly east of the northeast
corner of Tennessee and the northwest corner of North Caro-
lina, no part of them apparently passing within fifteen miles
of North Carolina. Considering then the Holston River, men-
tioned by Judge Joseph, and Virginia, mentioned by Kate A.,
we conclude that the first location was probably in southwest
Virginia, about forty miles northeast of the adjoining north
corners of North Carolina and Tennessee, and in or near that
which is now Bland County, Virginia.

Again, Joseph E. refers to their settlement in Maryland
when that was a province under King George the Third. Now
the thirty-three years reign of George the Second ended in
17<i(» ami the sixty years reign of George the Third began in
17<i(). Kate E. says they reached Maryland with their infant
son before the year 1S48. This son. however, was born in
1752. The probability is that Joseph got his Georges mixed,
and that 1753 or 17f>4 is near the date of the Easterday entry
into .Maryland.

It may seem that their first location for so earlv a date

10 HISTORY OF THE

was far from the Atlantic. Let it be remembered that James-
town had then been in existence over 140 years, and a western
movement of less than two miles a year would cover the case.
Also let it be remembered that the Jamestown end of the Chesa-
peake bay was much more easily reached by a European vessel
than was the Baltimore end. Hence, the reference of Joseph E.
to the ship bound south is not fully appreciated.

The Easterday Grave Yard.

The following is quoted from Kate A. Easterday 's letter:

"There is a beautiful stream of water flowing through the
entire length of our valley called the Cotoctin Creek. The
Easterday family grave yard is on the east of the creek; and the
Blessing grave yard on the west of the creek. Both are on a
hill, and not a quarter of a mile apart. There is also a grave
yard there where they buried their colored people."

"All the seven brothers but two owned farms, married,
lived, died and were buried in the Middletown Valley. These
are Christian, Conrad, Jacob, Francis and Abraham. They
were all buried with their parents in the Easterday grave yard
on great grandfather's home farm. Lewis died in the west.
Daniel died in Georgetown, D. C."

"Ten years ago (in 1874) my uncle Lewis took me to the
Easterday grave yard. It is near the spot where my great
grandparents lodged the first night they lived in Maryland.
Great grandfather and mother lived to old age. The time of
their death is on their tomb stones, but not their ages. Great
grandfather Christian died Nov. 15, 1805, and great grand-
mother Julia died Dec. 5, 1804. Their oldest son, Christian,
lies close beside them. I cannot describe my feelings at that
time. My eyes overflowed, my heart welled up with emotion.
I could not help but bow upon their graves and pray, 'Oh Lord,
Thy Will be Done.' The graves are all visible and have plain
marble slab tomb stones. It was snowing or I would have taken
a copy of the inscriptions. The date of the birth of great uncle
Christian is on his tomb stone. If I live and can, I will again
go to the cemetery of my ancestors and take a registry from
the tomb stones." This dear Aunt Kate Easterday died in
less than four months a Tier writing the above.

EASTERDAY FAMILY 11

The Writer's Visit to the Easterday Grave Yard.

The writer visited this most interesting Easterday grave
yard in October, 1903, and he heartily sympathized with the
tender feelings of the dear old maiden Kate, experienced by
her twent3r-nine years before. He then made a complete list
of the inscriptions on the tombstones. He noted that, if Kate
A. had read the 1852 as the birth year of the Virginia born
Christian, she would not have *put him into Maryland as a
baby boy prior to 1848.

But what a wonderful thing is here! Parents and five
sons (with the wives of some of them) all fathers of. families,
all buried in a plat less than fifty feet square ! The first death
indicated by the inscriptions was that of the mother, who died
Dec. 5, 1804 ; the second was that of the father, who died Nov.
15, 1805, less than six years after the death of George Wash-
ington ; and the last was that of Francis, who died Dec. 3,
1841, and was buried by Rev. Dr. S. W. Harkey, who in later
years became the dear old friend and teacher of the writer at
Springfield, 111. Under date of May 3, 1864, Rachel A. Easter-
day wrote: "The Mr. Easterday that Dr. Harkey had refer-
ence to when he spoke of preaching a funeral sermon, was not
my grandfather, Jacob, but a brother of his, Francis Easter-
day." Francis was the grandfather of George E. Easterday,
who now resides one and a half miles southeast of this ceme-
tery and who delightfully entertained and accompanied the
writer at the time of his visit to this inl cresting and sacred
locality four years ago. This George Easterday was a little
less than three years of age at the time of the funeral of his
grandfather, Francis, and he fancies that he retains a dim
recollection of being at the grave yard on that occasion.

At the time of this visit the writer also stood reverently
at the grave of Judge Joseph Easterday at the Lutheran church
in Jefferson, and at the grave of Kate A. Easterday at St.
John's Lutheran church, about two miles north of Myersville,
on Church Hill. The former had then been at rest twenty-one
years, and the latter nineteen yens.

The location of the Easterday grave yard, so fundamental

12 HISTORY OF THE

in this history, is in Frederick comity, Maryland, about half
a mile southwest of the old Easterday home by the spring,
about one and a half miles west of Jefferson, about nine miles
west of Frederick City, about twelve miles northeast of Har-
per's Ferry and about twenty-five miles southeast of Hagers-
town.

The Bible, Education and Religion.

Kate A. Easterday wrote further: "Great grandfather
Easterday is said to have been a short, stout, heavy man, his
head was very white and he was very old before he died. He
gave all his children an education. I had the Bible that he
brought with him from Saxony. We kept it in a chest with
other German books upstairs, and one day mother's grand-
children were playing, and took those books to play with, and
they tore up the Bible that we were keeping for a precious
and holy relic. The loss of it has been a source of great grief
to me. That Bible was the first and, for a time, the only Bible
in Frederick county, and it was used and studied a great deal.
Great grandparents worshipped the Triune God and taught
their children the precepts of the Bible. My ancestors were
Lutherans, and the greater part of the Easterdays were and
are Lutherans."

Joseph Easterday wrote further: "You say you are
proud of the name Easterday. "Well you may be. I glory in
my name. The word Easterday, as you know, is derived from
the German Oasterdock, meaning the day of the resurrection
of Jesus from the Grave — that name that charms our fears
and bids our sorrows cease. Who that would not love the
name? Who so base as to bring that name into disrepute?
The Easterdays in our country are all Lutherans and love their
church."

The Will of Christian Easterday, Senr.

In the name of God Amen I Christian Osterday Senr. of
Frederick County & State of Maryland being in perfect health
of body and of sound and disposing mind memory and under-
standing considering the certainty of death and the uncer-

EASTERDAY FAMILY 13

tainty of the time thereof and being desirous to settle my
worldly affairs and thereby be the better to leave this world
wdien it shall please God to call me hence do hereby make and
publish this my last will and testament in manner and form
following that is to say:

First and Principally T commit my soul into the hands of
Almighty God and my body to the earth to be decently buried
at the discretion of my executors hereinafter mentioned and
after my debts and funeral charges arc paid I devise and be-
queath as follows :

1. — Item I devise and bequeath thai the part of the tract
where I now live laying on the south side of the road leading
from Frederic ktown to Harpers Ferry and that field on the
north side of the above road where the new tobacco house
stands be sold to the highest bidders provided no stranger be
allowed to bid but the family shall buy the above mentioned
tract of land among themselves

2. — Item I devise and bequeath that all my slaves shall
be sold in the same manner as the above mentioned tract or
parcel of land

3. — Item I devise and bequeath that the house clock be sold
as the land and the negroes above mentioned

4. — Item I devise and bequeath to my son Francis Oster-
day all that part of the tract of land on which I now live lying
on the north side of the road leading from Predericktown to
Harpers Ferry — except that field where the new tobacco house
stands to him & his heirs forever and also fifty pound current
money of Maryland to be paid him by my executors hereinafter
mentioned in two equal annual payments

5. — Item I devise and bequeath to my son Conrad Osterday
the tract of land he now lives on as divided between him and my
son Christian Osterday provided lie pay to my executors fifty
pound Current money in two annual payments without inter-
est to him and his heirs forever

6. — Item I devise and bequeath to my son Jacob Osterday
all that tract or parcel of land which 1 bought of Beler to him
and his heirs forever and fifty pound current money to lie paid

14 HISTORY OF THE

him in two annual payments without interest.

7. — Item I devise and bequeath that the purchaser of the
land ordered to be sold shall pay the money in three annual
payments without interest

8. — Item I devise and bequeath to my son Daniel Oster-
day two hundred pounds current money to be paid him in three
annual payments without interest.

9. — Item I devise tnd bequeath to my son Lewis Osterday
two hundred pounds current money to be paid him in three
annual payments without interest

10. — Item I devise and bequeath to my son Abraham Os-
terday two hundred pounds current money to be paid him in
three annual payments without interest

11. — Item I devise and bequeath to my daughter Catherine
Tabler two hundred pound current money to be paid her in
three annual payments without interest

12. — Item I devise and bequeath to my daughter Phebe Tab-
ler two hundred pound current money to be paid her in three
annual payments without interest

13. — Item I devise and bequeath to my daughter Julia Bles-
sing two hundred pound current money to be paid her in three
annual payments without interest

14. — Item I devise and bequeath to my grandson Adam
Tabler twelve pound current money

15. — Item I devise and bequeath to my grandson William
Tabler twelve pound current money

16. — Item I devise and bequeath to my son Christian Os-
terday one shilling sterling

17. — Item I devise and bequeath that my executors shall
sell my house and lot in Georgetown upon the following terms
to-wit, one third of the purchase money to be paid upon the
day of sale and the balance to be paid in two annual payments
with interest from the day of sale and I hereby authorize and
empower my executors to convey the above mentioned lot to
the purchaser or any other real property ordered to be sold

by this testament

18. — Item I devise and bequeath my wearing apparel to
be equally divided between my following children, viz. Chris-

EASTERDAY FAMILY 15

tian Osterday, Francis Osterday, Jacob Osterday, Conrad Os-
terday, Lewis Osterday, Daniel Osterday and Abraham Oster-
day share and share alike

19. — Item I devise and bequeath to my three daughters
Catherine Tabler, Phebe Tabler & Julia Blessing all my chitchon
furniture to be equally divided share and share alike

20. — Item I devise and bequeath to my daughter Phebe
Tabler one bed and furniture

21. — Item I devise and bequeath to my daughter Julia
Pressing one bed and furniture

22. — Item I will and devise that there be no quarreling
among my children after my death but that they may settle
with my executors amicably or without i aw suits

23. — Item I devise and bequeath that the remainder of
my estate real and personal be equally divided among my seven
following children, viz. Lewis Osterday, Jacob Osterday, Fran-
cis Osterday, Abraham Osterday, Catherine Tabler, Phebe Tab-
ler and Julia Blessing share and share alike

24. — And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint Wil-
liam Tabler, Christian Osterday and Jacob Osterday executors
of this my last will and testament revoking and annulling all
former wills by me heretofore made ratifying and confirming
this and none other to be my last will and testament. In testi-
mony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix my seal
this 29th day of October Anno Domini one thousand eight hun-
dred and four

CHRISTIAN OSTERDAY. (Seal.)

Signed, sealed, published and declared by Christian Os-
terday Senr. the above named testator as and for his last will
and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in
his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto —

JESSE MATHEWS
THEODORE MITCHELL
THOMAS HAWKINS.

True copy Test :

(Signed) CHAS. E. SAYLOR
Register of Wills for Frederick County.

16 HISTORY OF THE

A Study of the Will.

This is a most interesting document. It is the will of a
Christian gentleman. In it an aged man, twelve and a half
months before his death, gives evidence of remarkable sound-
ness of mind. A hard working, careful, thrifty, Christian man
had reared a large family and accumulated very considerable
property. Every one of the seven sons and three daughters
is mentioned in the will. Thus all were known to be living
some years after the parents had passed their golden wedding
anniversary. Each is remembered kindly, all are exhorted ten-
derly by the grand old man.

The items are numbered for the convenience of the writer.
Nos. 1, 2 and 3 provide that no stranger shall be allowed to
disturb in the bidding on property of the estate and that the
old clock and the .slaves shall be kept among those who would
properly care for them. The following quotation from Rachel
A. Easterday's letter of May 3, 1864, may here be admitted:
"Grandfather Jacob Easterday was, in his life time, a large
slaveholder. Father, too, has owned eight or ten, but we have
only four left. We have one old servant named Harry who
belonged to my great grandfather, Christian Easterday. He
speaks the German language very well, as it was taught him
by his old master, and I believe he says his prayers in German.
Is not he a perfect wonder?"

No. 4 refers to the bequest of the old home farm to his
son Francis. This includes the field in which the old grave
yard now is, and in which the grave of Francis seems to have
been the last one made. As noted before, Francis was the
grandfather of George E. Easterday now residing one and a
half miles southeast of this place.

No. 6 refers to the bequest of land to his son, Jacob, who
was the father of Judge Joseph E. The Judge's letter states
that he OAvned a portion of his father's land.

Nos. 8, 9 and 10 are bequests in money alone. Daniel had
gone to Georgetown, Lewis had gone west to Gallatin county,
Kentucky, and Abraham is said to have "kept a tavern near
Fredericktown. " It may be noted that 200 pounds was nearly
$1000.

EASTERDAY FAMILY 17

A disposition to be equitable appears strikingly in Nos.
8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 1;J. In this connection note also 19, 20
and 21. Catherine evidently was not in need of an additional
bed.

No. 17 refers to property in Georgetown originally pur-
chased, no doubt, through the influence of the son Daniel, who
later purchased the same from the estate.

No. 18 is interesting. Every one of the seven sons is
named. The articles of wearing apparel must have been rather
numerous and of value. It has been remarkable to the writer
that the listings of the seven sons never follow the same order.
However, Christian invariably stands first and Abraham last.
The daughters usually appear in the order Catherine (Tabler),
Phebe (Tabler) and Julia (Blessing).

No. 16 shows that Christian was not overlooked. He is
referred to incidentally in No. 5. He had doubtless been equit-
ably provided for previously. That no slight was intended by
the bequest of one shilling is evidenced by the fact that he
was appointed one of the executors of the will.

The grandsons, Adam and William Tabler, referred to in
Xos. 14 and 15, are either brothers or cousins, the sons of Cath-
erine or Phebe or both.

No. 24 constitutes as executors of the will, William Tab-
ler, Christian Easterday and Jacob Easterday. The writer has
as yet learned nothing of the Tabler families, and he wonders
who is this William Tabler heading the list? Christian was
then fifty-two years of age.

The grandson, William, named in No. 15, was compara-
tively young. However, if his mother was horn in the early
part of the space between 1752 and 1762, formerly referred to,
he might have been thirty years of age at that time. It is also
possible fliat one of the sons-in-law of the maker of this will
was William Tabler.

From our record of dates it appears that the aged wife,
unmentioned in this will, was yet alive, living, however, only
five weeks after its execution. II may be noted that the men-

18 HISTORY OF THE

tioning of her name might have complicated the settlement
of the estate, and the husband had no fear in regard to her
care in the possible event of her outliving him.

The writer is as yet unable to account for the peculiar
spelling of the name in this will. In answer to inquiry the
commissioner of the Maryland land office at Annapolis, under
date of April 29, 1902, wrote the following: "We find but one
grant between 1680 and 1800 — 'Good Luck', patented to Chris-
tian Easterday, May 16 ,1760, lying in Frederick county on the
side of a hill on Killowkin Creek, near the wagon road to Har-
per's Ferry." This furnishes conclusive evidence of the
full translation of the name more than forty-four years before
the will was made. Aside from this, the record presents an
interesting description of a tract of land.

In answer to the writer's inquiry the following written
under date of Frederick, Maryland, Dec. 16, 1907, by Wm, B.
Cutshall, Reg. Wills, has been received: "Your copy seems
to be correct. As to the executors, he does not describe them
as sons or grandsons. He just names them as executors. The
will is written in English, but signed in German, Christian Os-
terday. ' '

A most fitting and suggestive ending of the discussion of
this interesting will is found in No. 22, which begins: "I will
and devise that there be no quarreling among my children
after my death."

Early History of Martin Easterday and His Family.

It is with a tinge of regret that the writer must now turn
somewhat from the story of the family of the Senior Christian
Easterday in order to trace his own immediate ancestry. This
comes down through Senior Martin Easterday, a brother of
Christian.

In some manner communication seems to have been kept
up between the brothers, Christian in Maryland and Martin
in Germany, during the few years after Christian's coming,
and Martin was induced to follow. Christian with his bride
came about the year 1750. Martin with a small family of
little children came about the vear 1760. in both families the

EASTERDAY FAMILY 19

first born son was named after his father. Martin Easterday,
Jr., was the great grandfather of the writer.

A story goes that this Martin, all through his life, could
remember how the passengers of the vessel teased him on the
long trip by tramping upon his toes. The tomb stone of Mar-
tin Easterday, Jr., in the cemetery of the Lutheran church
of Bowling Green, Jefferson County, Ohio, frequently visited
by the writer, indicates that he died on Dec. 11, 1840, at the
age of 84 years, 1 month and 25 days, having been born in
Germany, therefore, on October 16, 1756 (N. S.) The assump-
tion that the long trip was made in 1760 would make his age
at that time about four years. Prom such age he might re-
member the teasing referred to.

Compare for a moment these first born sons and first
cousins. Christian was born in Virginia in 1752. Martin was
born in Germany in 1756. From 1760 for thirty-six years, as
single and married men, they lived neighbors in Frederick Coun-
ty, Maryland. In 1835, at the age of 82 1-2, Christian was
buried in Maryland. In 1840, at the age of 84, Martin was
buried in eastern Ohio. Very probably, however, Christian,
Sr., was older than Martin, Sr., and presumably their father,
who lived and died in Germany, bore the name of Christian.
As noted before, the names Christian and Martin have always
been favorites in the family.

A moment's return must be made in order to note the
interesting circumstances attending the landing of the little
Easterday family from the vessel at Baltimore. For some
reason they found themselves unable to pay their fare and keep-
ing during the long voyage now at its end. According to a
custom then prevailing vessel passengers were subject to be
sold into bondage for the sum required, the bondages to last
till the purchaser might be amply remunerated by the ser-
vices of the parties purchased. Martin's brother, Christian,
who in later life exhibited so much of greatness and goodness,
came to the rescue. He satisfied the master of the vessel, and
the loving families held a delightful reunion at the new, but
fruitful, Easterday farm in Frederick County, Maryland. The
foregoing story had been handed down orally through the

20 HISTORY OF THE

Martin Easterday family. It came to the writer in rather a
misty form, and he has sought eagerly for its confirmation by
the Christian Easterday family. We will hear again from
our two valuable witnesses.

Quotations from Letters.

Judge Joseph Easterday, under date of March 10, 1864,
wrote: "I am of the opinion that you are a descendant of a
brother of my grandfather, Christian. I have noticed your
name in the Lutheran almanac, and in the list of graduates in
Springfield, 111., in which the name of yonr brother also ap-
peared, and was at a loss to know the relation that existed.
But we are relatives, for my father in his lifetime corresponded
with a Martin Easterday, then residing in Ohio, and said he
was a relative of his. I was then but a boy. I am now fifty
years of age." These correspondents were Jacob and Martin,
first cousins, both of whom died in 1840, the former being
Joseph's father, the latter being the writer's great grand-
father.

Kate A. Easterday, under date of March 18, 1884. wrote:
"After some years a brother of great grandfather and his
wife emigrated here too. He went to Kentucky. I have al-
most forgotten his name.. I think it was Lewis, but I may be
mistaken. Perhaps I can find out what his name was. Father
has a sister living yet, the only surviving one of father's broth-
ers and sisters. Her name is Mary Easterday Maught. She
is in her 92nd year." This Mary Maught was the daughter of
Conrad of the seven brothers. She was born Nov. 1, 171*2,
thirteen years before her grandfather, Christian Easterday, Sr.,
died. In the above Kate Easterday got the brother mixed
with the son, Lewis, who went to Kentucky.

In the same letter Kate Easterday wrote further of the
coming of this brother and his wife: "They went from Saxony
over to England, and there they paid their fare to America.
After a long, perilous and dangerous voyage, they arrived at
Baltimore, Maryland. On their way to America 'they wen-
robbed of all they had, and when they arrived here the ship-
master demanded that they pay their fare again or be sold into

EASTERDAY FAMILY 21

slavery. Great grandfather Christian paid their fare and re-
deemed them. They had a rough and tough reception when
they first got here. I have been told that great grandfather
and great uncle Blessing both had a considerable sum of
money. ' '

Again, under date of April 21, 1884, Kate wrote: "I think
I can correct a mistake T made in my last letter. Ten years
ago I spent a week with Aunt Maught and then she told me that
the name of the great uncle who was redeemed by her grand-
father at Baltimore was Martin. [ told it when I came home,
and my brother John says he remembers me telling that Aunt
Maught said his name was Martin. Aunt says that her great
uncle had three sons and she thinks two daughters, but she
is not certain about the daughters, and that the name of one
of his sons was Martin. She says she was twelve or thirteen
years old when her grandfather, Christian Easterday, died."

"Aunt Kate's" report is very pretty, but another story
comes floating through the mist along the Martin family line,
which should not be overlooked. It is that the Senior Chris-
tian, being the oldest son, inherited all his father's property,
coming to America with considerable wealth. Needing as-
sistance in his early undertakings, he negotiated with his less
favored brother, Martin, who came to Baltimore with his little
family and was formally purchased into bondage by his bro-
ther, according to previous agreement. It is further related
that the debt was fully paid in labor, Martin, Jr., about four
years old on their arrival, remembering himself to have aided
in completing the burdensome contract. The following comes
down as a literal quotation from this Martin, Jr., the writer's
great grandfather: "Boys, you need not look to Germany for
a fortune, for your ancestor was sold to pay his passage to
America." Now the writer, as a representative of the Martin
branch of the family, siezes upon this opportunity to express
gratitude to the Christian branchvfor favors received, and also
to remind them that the debt has been paid in hard and faithful
labor and the account balanced. It is hereby admitted, how-
ever, that, in case of the Senior Martin Easterday, evidence is
wanting as to his ever owning slaves or his ever executing a
will.

22 HISTORY OF THE

Family Record of

Martin Easterday and wife, maiden name unknown, married
in Germany about 1755.

Martin Easterday, born in Germany October 16, 1756, N. S.,
died December 11, 1840, buried in Bowling Green Ceme-
tery, Jefferson County, Ohio.

George Easterday, born in Frederick County, Maryland, about
1765, died in 1850, buried in Chester Church Cemetery, two
and a half miles south of Chesterville, Morrow County,
Ohio.

Jacob Easterday, born in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1774,
died December 31, 1824, buried at Bowerstown, Harrison
County, Ohio.

Margaret (Eberhart). born in Germany before 1760, or in Fred-
erick County, Maryland, after 1760, died, date and place
unknown.

The dates of the births and the dates of the deaths and the
places of burial of the parents are unknown to the writer.
He especially regrets that he has been unable to locate the
grave of the Senior Martin Easterday. For many years he
was within ready reach of his grandfather, Christian, who
was the grandson of the Senior Martin, and the son of the
Junior Martin, but he neglected to secure that which is now
so desired and so out of reach.

The Homes of the Martin Easterday Family.

Carroll's Manor is named traditionally as the Maryland
home of this family. Its location is a short distance southeast
of the old Christian Easterday home, and in the lower part of
Frederick Valley, which joins Middletown Valley on the east.
The family seems to have resided at or near this place from
the time of their arrival, about 1760, to about the year 1796.
Quite probably the parents died and were buried at this place

EASTERDAY FAMILY 23

near the close of the period of the thirty-six years of the fam-
ily's residence in Frederick count}'.

Martin Easterday, Jr., who is known to have been a bright,
active, strong man, both mentally and physically, seems now
to have become the natural and recognized leader of the fam-
ily. About the year 178:5 he married Barbara Bauer, probably
changed later to Bower and Bowers. Under his leadership
all the descendants of his parents and part of the Bowers
family are understood to have removed from Maryland to
Red Stone, Payette County, Pennsylvania, on the Mononga-
hela River, about sixty miles south of Pittsburg, in the year
1796. They seem to have been preceded by members of the
Bowers family. In the spring of 1800 apparently the same
company, with Martin as their leader, in the hope of bettering
their condition, placed their goods upon a flat boat, floated
down the Mononghela to Pittsburg, then down the Ohio River
landing at a point a few miles above Steubenville, Jefferson
County, Ohio. This trip ante dates steamboat travel by more
than ten years, and Steubenville could not then claim an age
greater than three years.

The Ohio Easterday Home.

Pushing his way westward from the Ohio River through
a wild, dense forest, Martin, Jr., found his ideal location. This
is about five miles from the river, about one miles west of that
which sixteen years later became Knoxville, and two miles
east of that which is now known as Bowling Green, all in Jef-
ferson County, Ohio. It may be noted that, for many years,
Osage has been the name of the postoffice at the latter place.
Here Martin Easterday lodged and made his home on a beauti-
ful plat of land at the side of a grand old spring of water.
Here for forty years he lived and thrived and here he died.
At this place in a most remarkable manner Martin, Jr., dupli-
cated the experience of his uncle Christian in Maryland. This
lasted more than forty years and that more than fifty. The
interesting periods lapped over each other from the spring of
1800 to the fall of 1805. The distance east and west between
the places is about one hundred and eighty miles.

24 HISTORY OF THE

The dear old Ohio Easterday farm and spring and "sugar
camp" the writer will never forget. The writer's father, Dan-
iel, labored much upon this farm for his grandfather, Martin.
His father, Christian, the oldest son of Martin, resided on this
farm for several years after the death of his father. The
writer, born three miles distant from this place, and one year
before the death of this his German born great grandfather,
thus received his earliest and most delightful impressions of
the new world into which he had been ushered when, under the
protection of his parents, he visited the old "sugar camp."
"Why, then, should he not repeat his visit to this dear old
place at every opportunity?

Those who came to Ohio with Martin Easterday located
at convenient distances from this place. The Penna. home
was about one hundred and twenty miles west and somewhat
north of the Maryland home, and the Ohio home was about
sixty miles, in a straight line, northwest of the Penna. home.
The distance by boat, north to Pittsburg from Red Stone, and
southwest from Pittsburg to their landing place, was nearly
one hundred and fifty miles.

A Letter Quotation.

Eli** S. Easterday. of Nokomis, 111., is the youngest brother
of the writer's father. After he secured a home of his own
his parents continued to live with him. Following are quota-
tions from letters written by him in 1902, responding to ques-
tions put to him by the writer: "I lived with my parents o vet-
forty years, and I heard some things repeated one hundred
times. One was that our folks came to Jefferson County in
April, 1800. Another was that my grandfather, (Martin Eas-
terday, Jr.,) lived on Carroll's Manor, Maryland, and from
there he went to Red Stone, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
where he lived three years and a half. Red Stone is a creek
where my grandmother's brother, Joe Bowers, had a mill.
I do not think Marl in Easterday, Sr,, ever left Maryla d.
The Easterdays went to Red Stone because some of the Bowers
people were there. There were probably three families in the
same boat coming from Pennsylvania. I have heard my father

EASTERDAY FAMILY 25

say what one of his uncles, George or Jacob, did when one
of the sheep jumped overboard when they were landing
the boat. Grandfather (Martin, Jr.,) had a wagon, but
he could not use it to haul his goods out from the Ohio
River, as there was no road. So they took two poles and made
shafts for each horse, letting the poles extend some distance
behind. On these they pinned cross pieces. On these slides
they hauled all their goods about five miles. As it was then
planting time they could not stop to build a house, but built
a camp — a three-walled shack with one side open and a fire
in front. Then they went to clearing ground for corn, flax,
etc. After it was too late to plant they built their first cabin.
Then grandfather went back to Red Stone to harvest a crop
of wheat he left there. When winter came grandfather again
went back to thresh his wheat. After that he had it ground
and brought the flour down the river with him."

A Short Study of the Fourteen.

It now appears that at the beginning of the 19th century
most of the seven sons and three daughters of Christian Eas-
terday, Sr., were still residing in Maryland. Three sons and
one daughter of Martin Easterday, Sr., were residing in eastern
Ohio. These fourteen were all born between the years 1750
and 1780, one or two having been born in Germany, one in
Virginia, and at least eleven in Frederick County, Maryland.
And all the fourteen seem to have died between the years
1820 and 18o0. No name in the two families of children is
repeated except that of Jacob. It may here be stated that
Jacob, the son of Martin, Sr., married, but died childless. In
following generations several names have been frequently re-
peated, greatly increasing the chances for confusion in tracing
the history of the family. Notably among these are Christian,
Martin, Daniel, David, George, Conrad, John, Jacob and Lewis.
Note that the ten children of Christian E., Sr., and the four
children of Martin E., Sr., are first cousins. The children of
these respectively are second cousins. The children's children
are third cousins, and so on. thus connecting children only of
the same generation. To aid in avoiding confusion, the child-

26 HISTORY OF THE

ren of Christian E., Sr., will be referred to as "the seven
brothers" and "the three sisters," and the children of Martin
E., Sr., will be referred to as "the three brothers" and "the
one sister," and the children of both Christian, Sr., and Mar-
tin, Sr., will be referred to as "the fourteen children."

Connecting Visits.

In 1884 the writer addressed the following to Kate A.
Easterday, Frederick County, Maryland: "My father, Daniel
Easterday, tells me that in 1823 when he was a boy ten years
old and plowing for his grandfather, Martin, in eastern Ohio,
a Conrad Easterday came from Maryland to visit his cousin,
Martin Easterday. He says that this Conrad and his grand-
father came out to the field where he was at work, and he
heard them speak of being cousins. He thinks his grandfather
was then about sixty-three years old, and that the visiting
cousin was considerably younger. He says his grandfather
was about six feet tall, and Conrad was shorter. Now was
this Conrad your father or your grandfather ? Does your Aunt
Mary Maught remember that her father visited relatives in
Ohio when she was about thirty years old? Or was it her
brother, your father, Conrad? If she remembers, can she tell
how this Conracl was related to the Ohio Easterday?"

Before quoting from the response of Kate A., the writer
may state that he did not then understand the relationship
as he does now. He was then feeling for facts many of which
he has since grasped with certainty. The reader may now
aid in reconciling the personality of the visitor and the date
of the visit. In 1823 Martin, Sr., was sixty-seven instead of
sixty-three, and Conrad Easterday, the cousin, was 54. Con-
rad, the son of Conrad of the seven brothers, was twenty-six
in that year.

Kate A. answers: "Aunt Mary Maught says her father
never vent west, but my father, her brother Conrad, went west
in 1820 or 1821 to see his uncle Lewis Easterday and he also
went to Ohio to see relatives. She says my father was a bache-
lor and went alone. My father. Conrad Easterday, was born
Jan. 22, 1797. 1 remember very well my father telling about

EASTERDAY FAMILY 27

his visit to Ohio and Kentucky. He related many instances
about his travels. He rode all the way horseback. He rode
whole days through woods thickly timbered and no road.
Many nights he could hardly get a place to lodge. After father
returned from the west he bought a farm and moved on it
and kept bachelor's hall nearly two years. He got married
March 22, 1823."

Now for the study. The cousin must have been the son
of a cousin. The writer's father, Daniel, born Oct. 19, 1813,
must have plowed at the age of eight years. Conrad, Jr., the
bachelor visitor was only 24. The name and time are now
satisfactorily settled. To the boy of eight the rough rider of
twenty-four may have seemed the bachelor of considerable age
as the scene in the field was recalled sixty-three years later.

The writer is of the opinion that this was the last visit
between representatives of the two original families when the
exact relationship was understood by the participating parties
until the writer, of the family of Martin, visited with mem-
bers of the family of Christian near the old Maryland home
in 1903. The exact relationship then existing between the vis-
itor* and the visited was known to the visitor and gracefully
accepted by the visited. This visit the writer will ever remem-
ber wtih very great pleasure. The visit of Conrad to Ohio in
1821, which was witnessed by the writer's father, was thus
returned by the writer eighty-two years later, and the members
of the two branches of the family are again "on speaking
terms. ' '

Connecting Correspondence.

The following is quoted from a letter from Kate A. Easter-
day, written in 1884 : ' ' Thirty years ago a young Easterday
.that was a school teacher in Illinois corresponded with me for
a while. He and his parents were born in Ohio. He gave me
the names of his parents and ancestors, but 1 have almost for-
gotten how they run. Perhaps he was one of your father's
brothers. His mother's first name was Anne Maria."

The writer can discuss this was assurance. The Illinois
school teacher was the writer's uncle Martin. The time was
the winter of 1851 and 1852, thirty-two years before the date

28 HISTORY OF THE

of the letter quoted. The teacher Avas born in Ohio but his
parents were not. The date of his birth was Aug. 29, 1825.
He is now spending the evening of his life at Steilacoom,
Wash., by the side of Puget Sound. This Martin was twenty-
seven years of age and Kate A. was twenty-six years of age
at the time of the correspondence. Their grandfathers were
first cousins, but they then had no correct idea of the relation-
ship existing between them.

Probably the next correspondence between representatives
of the original families was that of 1864, between the writer
and Rachel A. Easterday and her father, Judge Joseph Easter-
day. The tracing of the relationship here began to take shape.
Then followed a brief but pleasant correspondence in 1869
with Milton Easterday, now dead, then a student of Selin's
Grove, Pennsylvania, and a brother of George E. Easterday,
who entertained the writer in 1903. The next leap was into
the year 1884, when the extended correspondence with Kate
A. Easterday occurred just before her death. Some inaccur-
acies in her answers have appeared, but her letters are of great
value. In all they consist of eighteen pages of letter paper
very closely written. These letters very largely have been
responses to questions asked by the writer, and, therefore, they
are very disconnected, and now rather difficult to discipher.
Quotations have been made freely from them, and there are
more to follow. It was after the correspondence was com-
menced with her that the story of the Easterday family in
America was fully figured out. Very many additional letters
having to do with the latter history are in hand, but the ear-
lier facts presented or confirmed by Kate A. Easterday just
before her death, if lost, could never be regained.

The Blessing Connection.

Kate A. Easterday stated: "If you are of our race of
Easterdays, you are part Blessing. Aunt Susan Easterday
Blessing, one of father's sisters, (who was born Aug. 9, 1802),
died Feb. 3, 1884, about six weeks ago, in the eighty-second
year of her age. ' '

Kate is wrong in her first statement here. The descen-

EASTERDAY FAMILY 29

dants of Martin Easterday, Sr., are not part Blessing, bnt they
are related to all the Blessings because all the Blessings are
part Easterday. This for the reason that the wife of the
Senior Blessing was Julia Easterday. It is true that all the
descendants of Christian Easterday are part Blessing, for
the reason that his wife was Julia Blessing.

The husband of Aunt Susan Easterday Blessing referred
to above by Kate was George Blessing, who was born Feb.
15, 1794, and died Dec. 17, 1873. Because of very heroic acts
performed by him in defense of his neighborhood at the time
of our civil war this George Blessing became well known in
the last ten years of his life as the "Hero of the Highlands."
The Highlands are at the northern end of the Middletovvn
Valley.

The earlier intermingling of the Blessing and Christian
Easterday families by marriage has been a matter of tradition
and comment. It is a remarkable fact that the fathers of the
George and the Susan, above referred to, each married the sis-
ter of the other. Thus George Blessing and Susan Easterday
were doubly first cousins before their marriage, the father of
Susan being Conrad of "the seven brothers," and the mother
of George being Julia of "the three sisters." The maiden
name of Susan's mother was Barbara Blessing. The first
name of George's father is unknown to the writer. The only
honor claimed by the writer in this connection is that his grand-
father, Christian, and the ' ' Hero of the Highlands ' ' were second
cousins, the grandfather of the one and the grandmother of
the other being brother and sister.

Patriotism.

It may here be noted that in 1776 the oldest of "the seven
brothers" was twenty-four years of age and the oldest of "the
three brothers" was twenty years of age, but the writer has
been unable to find evidence of record indicating that any one
of the name was in active military service during the Revolu-
tionary War. It* is known, however, that to Martin of "the
three brothers" was applied a military title by his neighbors
in eastern Ohio. That all were loyal, patriotic, law-abiding

30 HISTORY OF THE

and peace-loving from their earliest history has never been
questioned.

The Closing of Part First of Easterday History.

That which may be considered as Part First of this history
has been prepared by very great effort on the part of the
writer. Many conflicting statements have been presented for
his consideration. The larger number of these have been dis-
posed of with ease. Many have been very puzzling. Some have
furnished amusement. Among the latter is a statement of a
grandson of one of "the seven brothers" to the effect that his
grandfather was born in Ireland and lived to be one hundred
and twelve years of age and that the Easterdays are all full
blooded Irish ! The fact is that this grandfather, born in Mary-
land, died before he was forty-seven years of age. Of course
many good people know very little about their grandfathers,
and it is often the case that a man may give to his grandfather
any reputation that his imagination may suggest without fear
of successful contradiction ! With apologies to all Irish friends,
this witness is called down.

Whilst our Part First is fundamental and may be con-
sidered the most difficult to prepare, the work having now
reached to the starting out of "the fourteen children," that
which is to follow will be difficult enough, and will furnish a
never-ending task. Intentionally there has already been a
reaching down among the descendants of several of the four-
teen, which will act as a sort of skeleton for that which may
follow, yet, so far, there has been no regular tracing from any
one of these fourteen. Very considerable material as touching
some of them is in hand, but very little as touching others.
The descendants of the fourteen yet to be attached to the
family tree are now very numerous and very scattered, and
they include a large majority of the Easterdays of our coun-
try. In advance of the systematic arrangement of the names
at hand and within reach, the writer gives it as his opinion
that the descendants of Conrad of "the seven brothers" and
of Martin of "the three brothers" will present the largest
crowds. Kate A. Easterday is a grandchild in the former and
the writer is a great grandchild in the latter. Descendants of

EASTERDAY FAMILY 31

eight of the ten men are clearly in evidence, but the writer
seems now to have in hand very little relating to the offspring
of Christian, the oldest of "the seven brothers," and it is well
established that Jacob, the youngest of "the three brothers,"
died a married man, but childless.

The writer has already found much pleasure in introduc-
ing Easterday relatives to each other. This, too, has been
gratefully received and acknowledged by those introduced. It
is a fact, however, that letters are in hand which relate to
Easterdays in America whom the writer does not expect to be
able to attach to this tree which he is cultivating. The rela-
tionship may include all, and probably does, but some have
evidently emigrated from Germany in later years. These later
emigrants also include those who still cling to the name Oster-
tag.

"»•

Aid Solicited.

The aid of all members of the Easterday Family is earnest-
ly solicited in the preparation of Part Second of this history.
With the aid now attainable decided success is possible.
There is danger in delay. One hundred years ago Part First
might have been written with comparative ease. Such earlier
writing would now furnish delightful reading. The present
writer, however, confesses that the existence of the early record
would have deprived him of the privilege of solving some intri-
cate problems, a sort of service always fascinating to him ;
but he Would gladly exchange this pleasure for that of the
reading of the record made in the long ago.

Following is a recapitulation of names of the prominent
Easterdays of a century ago. The Easterday reader is re-
quested to aid in determinmg which of these is his ancestor.
The final list of a few of their descendants, who reside in
various parts of our country, is intended to be a help in this.
Ordinarily, if the one seeking his place in the family can give
the first name of his grandfather Easterday, and a hint as to
the time and place of his birth, the writer will be enabled to
place him with certainty. Such aid as suggests itself to the
interested reader is anxiously and hopefully awaited.

1.

2.

3.
4.
5.
6.

1.

2.
3.

Recapitulation of Easterday Men.

Sons of Christian Easterday.
Christian— 1752— 1835.
Lewis

Daniel— 1762— 1833.
Conrad— 1769— 1825.
Francis— 1770— 1841.
Jacob— 1772— 1840.
Abraham— 1777— 1823.

Sons of Martin Easterday,
Martin— 1756— 1840.
George— 1765 (?)— 1850.
Jacob— 1774— 1824.

A Few Descendants.

Of Lewis: James W. Easterday, Carrollton, Ky., John D.
Easterday, San Jose, Calif., Mrs. L. A. Spitzer, San Jose,
Calif.

Of Daniel: George J. Easterday, Washington, D. C, John S.
Easterday, Charleston, W. Va., A. P. Easterday, Mena,
Arkansas.

Of Conrad: Martin V. Easterday, Myersville, Md., Miss Sybil
U. Easterday, Mayfield, Calif., Miss Pearl Easterday, How-
lands, Ind., Luther Reck Easterday, Indianapolis, Ind.,
Bradley Easterday, Sumpter,* Okla.

Of Francis : George E. Easterday, Jefferson, Md.
Of Jacob : Miss Virginia Easterday, Prairie Ave., St. Louis,
Missouri.

Of Abraham: H. W. Easterday, Unionville, Mo., Alvin W.
Easterday, Eustis, Neb.

Of Martin : Melancthon Easterday, Cairo, 111., David A. Easter-
day, Chewelah, Wash., Martin V. Easterday, Steilacoom,
Wash., Elias S. Easterday, Nokomis, 111., T. R. Easterday,
Sault St, Marie, Mich.

Of George: John Easterday, Leesville, 0., S. R. Easterday,
Toledo, O., Win, Easterday, Albion, Ind.