Surname: Grubbs, Duggins, Comstock, Grubb, Lennard, Rogers, Nation, Ellison, Wrigley, Lyle, Harwood, Redding, Martindale, Drake, Goode, Elwood, Pleas, Hoover, Wilcox, Scott, Elliott, Waters, Greenstreet, Current, Fulton Compendium of Biography Of Henry County, Indiana B. F. Bowen 1920                                           THE NEW CASTLE COURIER. The New Castle Courier was founded in 1841 by John W. Grubbs. although the paper had been issued at Knightstown since 1837 under the head of the Indiana Sun. but its existence as the Courier dates from June 12, 1841. In 1843 H. C. Grubbs became a partner in the concern, but in 1846 it was sold to C. V. Duggins, who died in 1850, and his executor, James Comstock, managed the paper a short time until John W. Grubbs again took possession, he keeping the plant until 1853. when George W. Lennard and Coleman Rogers purchased it. In 1854 it was sold to Nation & Ellison, in the same year Wrigley & Lyle purchased it and in 1856 C. E. Harwood and Thomas B. Redding became the owners. E. B. Martindale, L S. Drake, Drake & Goode and Elwood Pleas were the next proprietors respectively. In 1869 Mr. Pleas sold to M. E. Pleas and H. H. Hoover. Later owners were A. G.Wilcox, Calvin Scott, Adolph Rogers and Rogers and Pleas. In 1870 a stock company purchased the plant for ten thousand dollars and installed Adolph Rogers as editor. In 1877 W. H. Elliott took charge of the paper as manager and eventually bought in all the stock and proceeded to make the paper the leading Republican newspaper of eastern Indiana. In 1898 Mr. Elliott volunteered for duty in the war with Spain and to Mark 0. Waters, his assistant manager for the previous seven years, was given the management of the paper. Some months later Mr. Waters associated with himself Joseph A. Greenstreet and together they operated the plant until October 1, 1899, when they purchased the establishment. A year later Mr. Greenstreet assumed the duties of county superintendent of schools and retired from active management with the paper, but retains his financial interest in it. Mr. Waters is the active manager at the present time. In 1896 a daily edition was established and has steadily grown in popularity until it now has an extensive circulation. The political policy of the paper has been uncompromisingly Republican and has renderedvaluable aid during political campaigns.Mark 0. Waters was born on a farm seven miles north of New Castle, in Prairie township, Henry county, Indiana, November 21, 1867. His grandfather, George Waters, was one of the first settlers of the county, coming from Virginia in the thirties and entering from the government a tract of land upon which he spent his life and which is yet in the possession of the family. When he settled there a tribe of Indians still occupied a part of the land. The borne was the refuge of the pioneer Methodist preacher, of the Cartwright and Finley type, and many rousing, shouting meetings were held beneath his roof or in the shade of his poplar, walnut and oak for- ests. His farm was covered with a dense growth of these trees of the largest size and in order to clear the land timber of untold value was burned in the log heap. His barn and house were made of poplar logs and his fences were made from poplar and walnut rails, some of which still endure the tests of time. James, the eldest son, taught school in one of the first school houses erected in the forest. It was built by a neighborhood of pioneers, near what was called “Bear Pond,” and was made of logs and with a puncheon floor. Nothing now remains of the old school house but a few scattered timbers and an old tree of great size marks the site of the building. James Waters married Margaret Current, of whose family there is genealogical record dating back to the Revolution, where gallant service was rendered the cause of freedom. Mark 0. Waters grew up on the farm, spending his boyhood years much as do other farmer boys, but he learned the stories of the pioneers, he knew the historic land marks and their traditions and his farm home with its surrounding country were dear to him because of those cherished connections with his ancestors. He was educated in the district schools until sixteen years of age, then entered the New Castle public schools, and later spent two years at DePauw University. He then engaged in teaching, which he continued with success for four years, only discontinuing that profession to engage in the newspaper business. In the fall of 1890 he came to New Castle to assist on the reportorial force of the Courier during the week of the Henry county fair and his work was so pleasing to W. H. Elliott, the manager and proprietor, that he was immediately tendered a position as reporter. He accepted and became a resident of New Castle in September, 1890. He was promoted to the position of city editor and assistant manager and in 1898 when Mr. Elliott volunteered for duty in the Spanish-American war the entire management fell upon him. Mr.Waters is particularly gifted with the ability for hard work and the faculty for concentra tion of all his powers to the work in hand, which has been rewarded in his continued connection with the paper by its almost phenomenal success. Mr. Waters was married October 23, 1895, to Miss Alice Fulton, of Colusa. California. They have one child. William James, born January 6, 1900. Both Mr. and Mrs. Waters are members of the Methodist church in New Castle and take great interest in Sunday school and Epworth League work. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to New Castle Commandery No.44, Knights Templar. He is also a member of the board of school trustees and is interested in the various public improvements of the town. Although a young man, Mr. Waters has risen to a good business footing among his fellow citizens, where his advice is much sought and his opinions valued on all matters of public interest.