Ira Casterline was born on July 29, 1804 in Sussex County, New Jersey. Ira married (1) Malinda Saxon on May 1, 1828, in Steuben County, New York, and (2) Phoebe Wass Miles on November 24, 1967, in Grant County, Indiana. Ira Casterline died on November 15, 1898, in Blackford County, Indiana.
Ira Casterline was born July 29, 1805, in Vernon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, the 7th of 11 known children of Loammi Casterline and Elizabeth Charlotte Fairchild. Ira was a teenager when in 1822 he moved to Wheeler, New York, with his parents and most of his siblings.
In Wheeler, 23 year old Ira met Malinda Saxon, daughter of John Saxon and Elizabeth Mary Evans. Ira married Malinda on May 1, 1828, in Steuben County, New York. Ira and Malinda had 11 children of which the following 10 are known, and 1 reportedly died as an infant:
- Elizabeth Casterline
- Charlotte Casterline
- John S. Casterline
- Loammie Casterline
- James Casterline
- Edward Casterline
- Alva Casterline
- Mahetable Casterline
- Lydia Jane Casterline
- Mary Casterline
Ira and Malinda 's first 5 children were born in Wheeler, New York. In 1836 Ira's family, his widowed mother, some of his siblings, along with members of the Saxon and Miles families, moved to Fayette County, Indiana. The journey took six weeks by ox teams and wagons. The Casterline's added another son before moving to Blackford county, Indiana.
On August 20, 1838, Ira Casterline of Fayette County, Indiana, patented 149 ¼ acres of land in Blackford County, near Hartford City. Ira's brother John Casterline of Jay County, Indiana, patented 160 acres on the same day adjacent to Ira.
In 1840 son Alva was born in Blackford County and in 1842 daughter Mahetable was born. Sadly, son John, age 9, died a couple months after Mahetable's birth.
Ira and Malinda 's oldest child Elizabeth married in August of 1845 and in December, Ira's wife Malinda gave birth to their daughter Lydia.
In 1849, daughter Charlotte was married followed by the birth of Ira and Malinda 's last child, Mary.
Ira was a farmer and he served as Justice of the Peace for Blackford County from 1853 to 1856. According to a newspaper article, he was considered a good carpenter and woodworker and made furniture for his household, some pieces which have been handed down to descendants.
In 1856 Ira, Malinda and their youngest children, James, Edward, Alva, Mahetable, Lydia and Mary, moved to Illinois, likely to Hebron County where their daughter Elizabeth had moved with her family. They lived in Illinois for about 2 years then moved north across the Illinois border to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. In Lake Geneva son James met and married Mary Rowe. By 1860 the family moved back to Blackford County, Indiana, without sons Edward and James who remained behind.
In 1863, Ira's wife Malinda died. In 1867 Ira married Phoebe Wass Miles, widow of Lorenzo Miles and mother-in-law to two of his daughters. Phoebe died a year and a half later.
As Ira's children grew and married, Alva and Mary remained in Blackford county and James moved back. Elizabeth's family moved from Illinois to Iowa. Charlotte, Edward, Mahetable and their families moved to Kansas and Lydia and her family moved to Michigan.
Following Phoebe's death in 1869 Ira lived another 30 years and was known as “Uncle Ira”. He maintained good health and at the age of 93, sat down for lunch at the home of his son Alva with whom he had been living. Ira died peacefully while sitting at the table.
When Ira died he was Blackford County's oldest resident. The obituary of “Uncle Ira Casterline” reported that Ira came to Blackford county “in 1840 and entered the home farm on which he died. He had been a resident of the county ever since that time with the exception of three years when he was in Illinois” and that Ira's health “had been unusually good for one of his advanced age.”
Ira Casterline died on November 15, 1898, in Blackford County, Indiana. He was buried in Miles Cemetery in Blackford County next to his wife Malinda.
Genealogical Research and Life Sketch Updated: May 2022
Sources:
"United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch, Ira Casterline, Wheeler, Steuben, New York, United States; citing 395, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 107; FHL microfilm 17,167.
"United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch, Ira Casterline, Licking, Ohio, United States; citing p. 60, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch, Ira, Licking Township, Blackford, Indiana, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch, Ira Castuline, 1860.
"Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019", database with images, FamilySearch, Ira Casterline, 1867.
"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch, Ira Casterline, 1870.
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch, Ira Casterlene in household of Miles Wilson, Licking Township, Blackford, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
Casterline, Ira. “Records and My Recollection”. Autobiography. 1885.
“Blackford and Grant Counties, Indiana. A Chronicle of their People Past and Present with Family Lineage and Personal Memoirs - Vol 1.” Compiled under the editorial supervision of Benjamin G. Shinn. The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago and New York. 1941.
“Casterline, Uncle Ira.” Obituary. Hartford City Telegram. Hartford City, Indiana. November 16, 1898.
“Casterlines Are Another Pioneer Family of This County”. Newspaper and Date Unknown.
Casterline, Ira (Fort Wayne, Indiana), State Volume Patent no. 16586; “Land Patent Search,” digital images, General Land Office Records.
Casterline, John (Fort Wayne, Indiana), State Volume Patent no. 16587; “Land Patent Search,” digital images, General Land Office Records.
“Celebration of Golden Wedding”. Hartford City Newspaper. Hartford City, IN. October 23, 1907.
