Family Members Killed by Indians in 1756. (posted here Jan 2013)
A family member was Mary Etna (b 1878), wife of Charles Emmet McOsker and daughter of Clinton Black and Persia Sizelove. Persia’s great great grandfather was George Nicholas Zeislof, b 1704 in Germany, emigrated to U.S. in 1738.
George Nicholas and Anna Catherine Zeislof (along with three young children, two boys and a girl) were massacred by Indians on 24 Mar 1756 at Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania while on their way to North Carolina. Their other two children, ERHARDT (1740-1818) and GEORGE (1750-1809), had left earlier for North Carolina and escaped the massacre. Erhardt was around 16 at this time. This Indian massacre was probably related to the French / Indian wars, which was heavily involved at this time, and there were numerous other killings in the area.
Persia, daughter of William, son of George W, son of Erhart Zeislof who survived the massacre.
Source - Ancesrty.com SICELOFF Family of Davidson Co., NC
Family Member Killed in Prison 1921. (posted here Jan 2013)
California Digital Newspaper Collection - Sausalito News 26 March 1921
http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SN19210326.2.21&cl=CL2.1921.
Submitted by Mike McOsker, San Pedro, CA.
CELL VICTIM WAS HEIR TO SHARE OF ESTATE
Stockton—Amos J. McOscar, who was brutally kicked to death by a mate in the "drunks" cell at the San Joaquin County jail Friday night, March 18, was one of three heirs to the $66,543 estate of his late brother, Dr. Edward J. McOscar of Fort Wayne. Ind., according to C. H. Vance, who was attorney for McOscar here in a recent police court trouble. ' Mike Crimins, Tim McLachlan, Jack Barry and McOscar were placed in the "drunks" cell. When the jailer opened the heavy door to deposit another defendant, he found McOscar was on his back in a large puddle of blood, his face terribly torn and his chest crushed in. Crimins' shoes and trousers were covered with dried gore. Crimins has been charged with murder. M. A. Sanborn, Deputy District Attorney, examined him Friday. Sanborn says Crimins admits kicking McOscar. According to Crimins' statement, McOscar "troubled him twice." Barry and McLachlan have been cleared. All of the men are said by the police to have been under the influence of denatured alcohol. McOscar, his brother, Emery V. McOscar of Sacramento, and a nephew, Edward J. McOscar of Oakland, were heirs to the $66,543 estate of Dr. Edward J. McOscar of Fort Wayne. William McOscar, said to be a prominent contractor of Oakland, also is a brother, but is said to have received his share of tho estate. Oscar C. Pope, coroner, is attempting to communicate with William McOscar. The estate is held in trust by the People's Savings Trust Company of Fort Wayne. (editors note: Amos and Dr. Edward were grandsons of Hugh McOsker.)
Fergus McOsker Narrowly Missed Being Killed in the Civil War. (posted here Jan 2013)
The Civil War started on April 12, 1861, and Fergus was a young man of 37, his eldest son, Frank, was only 8 years old. In May, 1862 (one month after the birth of Thomas Vincent (4/18/1862), Fergus received his notification to report for induction into the Indiana Cavalry Unit, with horse although being 38, having a wife, and 5 small sons (two infant daughters deceased). By the Civil War and Union standards he was still an eligible “fighting man for the Union”. Unheard of by today's regulations and standards - Fergus paid his brother-in-law, David Baxter (born 1841) the sum of $500.00 to take his place in the Indiana Cavalry, and $400.00 in lieu of his horse - a total of $900.00. [David Baxter is listed as a casualty in one of the Union-Confederate battles in the South.]
Documented by Darrell Eugene McOsker (deceased) Kansas City.
Two Family Members were Real Cowboys. (Charles and Clement, sons of Fergus and Mary McOsker) (posted here Jan 2013)
Prior to the opening of the Cherokee Strip, Clem and Charles both had scouted the Oklahoma Territory and had picked out their particular claim for homesteading. The two of them had rigged up a covered wagon for Charles and his wife to ride in, but this was too slow a means for Clem and he decided to ride his Indian pony. The day of the opening of the Strip, both were at the starting line and at the firing of the guns starting the run, all went well with Clem until he was about 1 ½ miles from the site he had previously picked out for staking his homestead. He had driven his pony so hard she wouldn’t keep up the pace. So Clem dismounted, grabbing her tail in one hand and using a whip on her rump, the two of them proceeded to his pre-selected site, getting there in time before anyone else had staked it. The only difference in his plans being at the finish, instead of a horse and a rider, there was a horse and “walker”. Charles encountered no difficulty that we know of in his pursuit by driving the covered wagon.
The following story was told in 1963 by Priscilla (Miller) McOsker, wife of Walter Lewis McOsker, son of Clement Baxter McOsker. Dad (Clem) was visiting us and one evening I was reading the book “Oklahoma Outlaws”, by Richard S. Graves, to the family aloud. Dad was very interested and soon we knew why. He had met some of them and he told us about it. Luckily I took notes and they are on the margin of the book.
He met Belle Starr, and at a dance, he danced with her sister-in-law, Clara, several times. He met Dick Bradhead – he was the first “cowboy” dad saw. Dad was 9 (1878) - Dick was 15. Millie McOsker went to school with him. Dad remembers Dick let him crack his whip. This was in Kansas. Later Dick was shot in a daylight holdup, ran away, and joined the Daltons.
At another dance Dad attended, Bill Doolin got drunk and Dad helped put Bill’s overshoes on him.
At some sort of ceremony, Dad saw Buffalo Bill shoot off a cannon. He also saw Frank James.
At one time, Dad and a friend were hauling posts. They got stuck and a friendly rider helped them out of trouble. He was Dick Yeager. He later met Yeager and a Charlie Black riding and they all spoke pleasantly. Later, he heard that they had robbed an express at Sylvia. I don’t know what state.
Dad said his father (Fergus McOsker) had come to California during the gold rush and had a mine. Dad didn’t know where the mine was or if much gold was mined.
Dad took part in the rush at the opening of the Oklahoma Territory.
Documented by Darrell Eugene McOsker (deceased) Kansas City.