Biography of George Firestone, pages 614 / 615.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

George Firestone, section 23, Franklin Township, was born in Stark County, 
Ohio, June 30, 1811, a son of George Firestone, a native of Hagerstown, Va., 
and an early settler of Stark County,  Our subject received a limited 
education, his services being required on the farm as soon as he was old 
enough to work.  Oct. 18, 1836 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled 
on the land which is now his valuable farm.  At that time the chief 
inhabitants were Indians and wild animals, and the land was all heavily 
timbered.  He entered 160 acres from the Government, which he improved and 
to which he has added, owning now 192 ½ acres.  His first house was a cabin 
of round logs, and his furniture was of the most primitive sort.  He early 
learned the use of tools and made the most of his furniture.  For two years 
a chest, which he now uses to keep oats in, was used as a table.  Mr. 
Firestone was married Oct. 9, 1832 to Catherine Crum, and to them were 
born thirteen children, ten of whom are living---Samuel K., Isaac, Hattie, 
Catherine, Amanda, Daniel, Benjamin F., Sarah, George S., and John L.  One 
son, Josiah, died at the age of twenty-three years and two died in infancy.  
Mrs. Firestone died April 1, 1870, and the following fall he married Mrs. 
Mary McIntyre.  She had a large family by her first husband, but three of 
whom are living---Julia, Eliza and Ellen.  Mr. Firestone is now living with 
his third wife, whom he married March 2, 1879.  She was the widow of Richard 
Cook and the daughter of Samuel Larrabee.  Her four children by her first 
husband---Samuel S., Mary M., Polly M., and Russell W., are all deceased.  
Mrs. Firestone came West with her father and settled in Adrain, Mich.  In 
1835, she cooked by a fireplace many years, using a cooking-stove for the 
first time in 1843.  In 1840 she made the largest johnny-cake ever heard 
of in the United States, for a Fourth of July celebration at Coldwater.  
It was drawn by a six-horse team, in a canoe made of the largest white wood 
tree to be found in the county, and was known as the Tippecanoe johnny-cake.  
A son of Mr. Firestone, Isaac, served over three years in the war of the 
Rebellion as a member of Company F, Forty-fourth, Indiana Infantry.  He 
participated in many hard fought battles, the more prominent being Fort 
Donelson, Stone River, Shiloh, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge.  He was wounded 
in Shiloh.  Mrs. Firestone’s son, Samuel S. Cook, served over four years as 
a member of Company C., Eighth Iowa Infantry, participating in the battle at 
Vicksburg, Sherman’s march to the sea, and many others.  He was killed by 
the accidental discharge of a gun in his own hands six years after his return 
from the war.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com