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Note: Union private during the War for Southern Independence. CompanyC, 79th Infantry Regiment, US Army. He served with hisbrother, Andrew James Eakes who died in the service of hiscountry.His middle name was obtained from court records. His middlename was his mother's maiden name.According to his discharge papers, Joseph was born in HancockCounty, Indiana. He was 23 years of age at the time. He was 5feet 9 inches high with a light complexion, blue eyes, lighthair.J.R. Eakes appears in an "Enumeration of White and Colored Malesof Hancock County, Indiana" He appears in Center Township in1883 and is 44 years old and was born in Indiana.Joseph fathered 18 children by three wives.According to granddaughter, Georgia Mae Brunner Murdoch:"Joseph Eakes was a well-to-do farmer. He also, at one time,had a livery stable in Fortville, Indiana. (The building is nowgone.) I believe he was a farmer first and then had the liverystable. He also had several homes in Fortville. (He had thestable when he married Georgia's grandmother and she remembersit as a child.) Grandpa Eakes moved to town when my mother wasa baby (Lelah Eakes). He was considered well-to-do. He builtseveral houses that I know of and had the livery stable. Hebought a big black stallion at one time and paid $2,000 for it,much against my grandmother's wishes. Well, he had the stallionfor a short time and it died. I've heard my mother tell thisstory many times. His name was "Cocoa.""Civil War 1861-1865The military has his last name listed as "Eaks." He was inOutfit 79, Indiana Volunteers, Company C. He mustered into thearmy on August 15, 1862 and was discharged April 18, 1865.Joseph's brother, Andrew James Eakes entered the army on thesame day and was assigned to the same company. Unfortunately,Andrew was killed in Nashville, TN on January 25, 1863. Josephcontinued two more years in the army without his brother. Andrewdid leave heirs and I have been in contact with them.Obituaries:The same obituary appeared in both the Greenfield Daily Reporteron Monday, March 19, 1923 and in The Hancock Democrat onThursday, March 22, 1923. They read as follows:Old Resident and Soldier:Joseph R. Eakes, age 84 years, an old resident of Fortville, andfather of William Eakes, of this city, passed away at his homein Fortville Sunday afternoon.The funeral service was held at the Fortville Methodist Churchon Wednesday at 2 pm Burial at Gravel Lawn Cemetery.Mr. Eakes lived in this county the greater part of his life,until a few years ago on his farm eight miles northwest of thiscity. Disposing of his farming interests, he went to Fortvilleand resided there at the time of his death. He was always anactive member of the Methodist Church. He is survived by thewidow and a large family of children.Mr. Eakes was a soldier in the Civil War.JOSEPH ROBERT EAKES - OBITUARY** THIS ARTICLE WAS IN "THE FORTVILLE" (THE NAME CUT OFF AT THISPOINT) NEWSPAPER AND COPIED BY C. W. MURDOCH JR 6-93. C. W. MURDOCHJR. WAS HIS GREAT GRANDSON.ABOUT FIVE MILES FROM FORTVILLE IN HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA, ONJANUARY 31, 1839, WAS BORN TO LEVI AND MARTHA EAKES, A SON, JOSEPHROBERT.HERE WITH HIS BROTHER, HE SPENT HIS BOYHOOD DAYS. AT THE AGE OFTWENTY YEARS, HE GAVE HIS LIFE TO HIS MAKER, IN AN OLD LOG CHURCH NEARHIS HOME. HE JOINED THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND CONTINUED AFAITHFUL MEMBER FOR 64 YEARS.ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1859, HE WAS UNITED IN MARRAGE TO AMANDABROCK, WHO PASSED AWAY NOVEMBER 17, 1869. TO THEM 5 CHILDRENWERE BORN. TWO OF WHOM , CASSIUS C., OF PENDELTON, AND WILLIAM A., OFGREENFIELD, SURVIVE.ON AUGUST 15, 1862, HE HEARD THE CALL OF HIS COUNTRY, ANDENLISTED WITH ANDREW BROWN, AND GEORGE H. JACKSON, DECEASED, IN COMPANY C,79th INDIANA. HE WAS WOUNDED AT MISSIONARY RIDGE ON OCTOBER 25, 1864AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED APRIL 8, 1865.ON DECEMBER 22, 1870, HE WAS MARRIED TO MARY BRISTOW. TO THEMWERE BORN SIX CHILDREN, FOUR OF WHOM SURVIVE - ELMER E., AND JOHN M., OFCOUNCIL BLUFFS IOWA, MARTHA V., GROSS, OF NORTH EAST, PA., AND GRACEMAYHEW, OF INDIANAPOLIS. ON FEBRUARY 4, 1884, DEATH AGAIN TOOK HISCOMPANION.ON JULY 17, 1884, HE WAS UNITED IN MARRIAGE TO ALETHA BANKS. TOTHIS UNION WERE BORN SEVEN CHILDREN, TWO HAVING PRECEEDED THEIRFATHER TO THE BETTER LAND. THE FIVE CHILDREN SURVIVING ARE JOSEPH R., JR.,AND ESSIE HORST, OF INDIANAPOLIS, CHARLES M., OF NORTH EAST, PA., LELAHBRUNNER, OF ANDERSON, AND MARGARET, AT HOME.BESIDES THE WIDOW AND ELEVEN CHILDREN, HE LEAVES THIRTYGRANDCHILDREN AND ONE GREAT GREAT GRAND CHILD."UNCLE JOE" AS WE FAMILIARLY KNEW HIM, WAS A MEMBER OF THEMASONIC LODGE, AT FORTVILLE, IND., AND THE G. A. R. POST.AFTER LEAVING THE FARM, HE CAME TO FORTVILLE AND ENTEREDBUSINESS WHERE HE REMAINED UNTIL HIS HEALTH COMPELLED HIM TO RETIRE FROM ACTIVEWORK."UNCLE JOE" SUFFERED GREAT AFFLICTIONS, BUT WAS PATIENT AND KINDTHROUGH IT ALL UNTIL 1:15 p.m., MARCH 18, 1923, HIS MASTER SAID "COME UPHIGHER," AND "UNCLE JOE" WENT TO REST.PAGE 2HE WAS A DEVOTED HUSBAND AND FATHER, AND A GOOD NEIGHBOR.SUNSET AND THE EVENING STAR,AND ONE CLEAR CALL FOR ME!AND MAY THERE BE NO MOANING AT THE BAR,WHEN I PUT OUT TO SEA.BUT SUCH A TIDE AS WOVING SEEMS ASLEEP,TO FULL FOR SOUND AND FOAM;WHEN THAT WHICH DREW FROM OUT THE BOUNDLESS DEEP, TURNS AGAIN HOME.TWILIGHT AND THE EVENING BELL,AND AFTER THAT THE DARK!AND MAY THERE BE NO SADNESS OF FAREWELL,WHEN I EMBARK!FOR THO FROM OUT OUR BOURNE OF TIMEAND PLACE.**NOTE: I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FACTS STATED IN THIS ARTICLE. I WILL NEED TO COMPARE FAMILY DATA TO CHECK OUT THE NUMBER OFCHILDREN, WIVES AND DATES. ESSIE HORST OF INDIANAPOLIS IS ESSIE FOREST OFINDIANAPOLIS. Amanda H. BrockBorn: February 13, 1842Died: November 17, 1869 Death: result of childbirth (She was 27 years, 9 months, 4 daysold)Buried: Mt. Carmel CemeteryName: Check out the headstone for her correct middle initial. (Eor H?) and for the correct day of birth. Amanda was Joseph's first wife. He had two other wives afterher and a total of 18 children. They lived around Fortville andthen Pendleton.Offspring with Amanda Brock:Levi H. Eakes July 12, 1860-May 22, 1863Cassius Clay Eakes our ancestorEmma Etta Eakes March 24, 1865-?Mittie live to be 13 years oldWilliam G. EakesJoseph's other wives:Mary E. Bristow 6 children She also died of childbirth.Elizabeth Aletha Banks (3rd wife) 7 children This one isimportant because her sister, Amanda Ellen Banks, marriedJoseph's son, Cassius Clay Eakes and she is one of ourancestors! Elizabeth Aletha Banks was a school teacher andoriginally hired by Joseph to take care of Baby Grace and therest of the children. Elizabeth was 23 years old and Joseph was46 when they married. She attended school with James WhitcombRiley. Elizabeth was f ive feet tall, short and fat but she wasvery pretty. Elizabeth was the oldest of her family and whenher mother died she raised all the other kids.
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