McCASLIN, Everett McKee

EVERETT McKEE McCASLIN
1855-1930

Everett McKee McCaslin was born three miles southwest of Franklin, Indiana, February 24, 1855. His Parents, Wason [sic, Wosson] and Jane (Winchester) McCaslin, were the children of two of the pioneer families of this county.

Mr. McCaslin availed himself of the splendid opportunities offered in the Hopewell Academy for his early education. Like many others who attended this school, he used the training received there for a foundation upon which to build a life and character of usefulness wherever he was found.

He was united in marriage to Belle Ditmars September 6th, 1876. Two children were born, Herbert and Carolyn. Herbert went on to be with the Lord five years ago, leaving a wife and three children. Carolyn and her husband, and two children reside in Shelbyville, Indiana.

At the age of 14, Mr. McCaslin was received into the Hopewell Presbyterian church upon his confession of faith in Jesus Christ, God’s Son as his personal Savior and Lord. This step thus taken has borne precious fruit in many localities and many lives.

At about the age of thirty he was ordained a ruling elder in the Hopewell Presbyterian church. He will be remembered by many as a teacher of the Bible.

As an ambassador of his absent Lord his work on earth is done. Now with Herbert and multitudes of others he knew, he is absent from the body and at home with his Lord, waiting that glad morning when his soul and spirit shall be brought back to be united with the new body like unto that of the Lord.

When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we also be manifested in glory. Col. 3:4.

Although Mr. McCaslin has been gone from Hopewell almost twenty years, he is remembered by those of the older generation as one of the most useful and talented men of the church. As a Bible teacher he left the impress of his personality as well as the truth of the great Book he expounded upon the lives of many. His early life was a real part of this community as was the life of his fathers before him. His marriage to Miss Belle Ditmars united two of the pioneer families, which were already united in a common ideal of Christian life and service. The honor and respect the church felt for Mr. McCaslin was expressed in his election to the eldership of the church when he was a young man and then after a temporary absence, his re-election on his return.

Some years after his son, Herbert, had gone to Colorado, the parents removed from Indiana to be near him and since then have lived in the west, near Boulder. For the last two years Mr. McCaslin has been ill from arterio sclerosis. Last fall he and Mrs. McCaslin came to Shelbyville to the home of their daughter, Mrs. Eden Thurston, where, after increasing weakness, he passed away Saturday evening, April 5th. In addition to the widow and daughter, Mr. McCaslin is survived by five grandchildren, a son and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thurston, and three daughters of Herbert McCaslin. Mrs. Nancy McCaslin, widow of Herbert, lives in Canon City, Texas. He is also survived by two brothers and two sisters. The brothers are John H. McCaslin, of California, and Rev. Ezra McCaslin, of Detroit. The sisters are Mrs. Josie Smith, of California, and Mrs. Laura Scafe, of Detroit.

The funeral services were held at the Hopewell church Tuesday afternoon, April 8th, in charge of Dr. L. O. Richmond, of Shelbyville, and Mr. Ferguson. The interment was in the Mausoleum in the Hopewell cemetery.

Submitted by Lois Johnson