Eastlack - Allen E. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Source: AW Bowen History of Montgomery County, Indiana (1913) p 923

Montgomery County, Indiana was especially fortunate in the character of her pioneers, who, save in rare instances, possessed the pluck, fortitude and genius of the true Anglo-Saxon, that race which appears to delight in difficulties, because thereby an opportunity is afforded to conquer them, which gives zest to their efforts and this trait, perhaps, more than any other, has been responsible for the fact that they have never been defeated by any other race, and have extended their civilization to all parts of the globe. The founders of Montgomery county and those who were instrumental in her later day development, active alike in public and private affairs were brave, strong-armed, far seeing, God-fearing, law-abiding citizens, patriotic and true to their native land, and conscientious in the discharge of their every duty toward their fellow men.

Of this worthy type of citizens was the Eastlack family, of which Allen Elwood EASTLACK, of Crawfordsville is one of the best known of the present generation. His parents settled here in the pioneer period and established the permanent home of the family, the reputation of which has ever been above reproach. Mr. Eastlack, of this review, was born in Crawfordsville oN June 18, 1843, and he is a son of Samuel and Catherine HAYNES Eastlack. The father was born in NJ and there he spent his boyhood years, coming to Crawfordsville in the early 30s when there was but a handful of houses here and country roundabout was but a dense forest in which were a few scattering log huts of white settlers. The elder Eastlack was a shoemaker by trade, which he had learned in the East and he at once began following the same here, his services being in great demand owing to the fact that he was a high grade workman and was honest in his dealings with his fellow men. He continued to follow his trade practically until his death. Politically, he was a Democrat and in religious matters a Methodist, and was known as a hard working, neighborly and honorable man. His death occurred in 1868 and that of his wife in 1867. They were the parents of 10 children and Allen E our subject is the only living one.

Allen E. Eastlack grew to manhood in his native town and here received a common school education and he was merging from boyhood into young manhood when the Civil War cam eon and on March 22, 1862 he enlisted in CompanY h, 11th Indiana Volunteer Infantry and served very faithfully until March 22, 1865 a period of 3 years, during which he saw much hard service and participated in a number of engagements. After the war he returned to Crawfordsville and has since followed the shoemaker's trade and in which he became an expert early in life, so that his services, like those of his father has ever been in great demand. He has spent most of his active career in his home town, however he followed his trade 3 years in Rushville, 3 in Noblesville and several years in Waveland.

Mr. Eastlack is a member of McPherson Post, Grand Army of the Republic at Crawfordsville. He is one of the leading members of the local Christian Church in which he is deacon and treasurer. Politically, he is a Democrat but has never been an office seeker. When he was at home on veteran furlough in April 1864 he was united in marriage to Ann Elizabeth Johnston, of Waveland, where she spent her childhood and where her family was long well known. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Eastlack, namely: Fountain, who is living in Crawfordsville and Rubertia (sic) who is the wife of Dr. H. McMAINS a successful physician of Baltimore, Maryland. - kbz