Randolph  County,  Indiana

George  A. Eastman


            Among the most commendable attributes of human character is faithfulness to duty. No one contemplates for even a moment the life record of George A. Eastman, the genial, efficient and popular agent of the Big Four Railroad Company at Winchester, without noting his marked fidelity to duty. That has been the main reason of his success in railroad work, for everyone knows that lack of interest in one's tasks is not conducive to reward. There is never a serious blot on his record of many decades in the railroad service, neither is there, so far as known to the public, a stain on his private record, so we are glad to give him mention in this work.
            Mr. Eastman was born in Union City, on the Ohio side, February 19, 1867. He is a son of Henry O. and Harriet J. (Livingood) Eastman. The father was born in New Hampshire and the mother in Darke county, Ohio. The elder Eastman came to Cleveland, Ohio in March, 1861 after spending his boyhood in New England, and engaged in railroad construction work, later coming to what is now Union City, and engaged in the construction of the Bellefontaine & Indianapolis Railroad, now the Big Four, and while living at Union City he and Harriet J. Livingood were married. Her father, Jacob Livingood, had moved to that place from Darke county, Ohio, and built the first house in the new town. He was a great Abolitionist and was active in the workings of the "underground railroad." Henry O. Eastman became roadmaster of the Bellefontaine & Indianapolis road, and during its subsequent changes, until he was incapacitated for work and retired. He is still living at the advanced age of eighty-four years. His aged wife is also living. They are each of good sturdy New England stock.
            To Henry O. Eastman and wife six sons and one daughter were born, namely: Major Nelson is engaged in electrical work at Cambridge, Massachusetts; Sherman met an accidental death by an electric car in Anderson, Indiana, in 1896; George A., subject of this sketch; Charles A., of Chicago, where he is engaged in structural work; Ruby G. is secretary and treasurer of the National Carpet Sweeper Association, of Marion, Indiana; Chester L. is a farmer in Darke county, Ohio; Dora L. is at home.
            George A. Eastman was reared in Union City and there attended school until he was fifteen years of age, when, much to the regret of his parents he decided to leave school and seek employment, which he found in the Superintendent's office of the Big Four at Union City, where he learned telegraphy, remaining there one year, when he went to various points on the line, for a time as operator, and in 1885 as telegrapher, remaining with the Big Four in that capacity until March 8, 1888. He acted also as extra agent, and was operator at various towns on the line during this period. On the last named date he went to Ansonia, Ohio, as agent, where he remained until January 1,1898, then was appointed agent at Winchester, Indiana, and here he has remained to the present time, giving his company eminent satisfaction in every respect, just as he did in all his previous positions.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson

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