.jpg)
HAMILTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Museum - Open Friday and Saturday
12pm to 5pm
The Hamilton County Historical Society relies on the generosity of our community to thrive. We invite you to contribute to our mission of preserving local history and making it accessible to everyone. Clicking on the button will take you to our secure checkout with Square.
Sheriff Marcus Passwater Jr.
1959 - 1966
Marcus “Mark” Passwater
Jr. served as Hamilton County Sheriff from 1959 to 1966. Mark was the son of Marcus Elijah Passwater Sr. and Eva Randall. He was born in Wayne Township, Hamilton County on 9 September 1920. His parents were
living with his grandparents on his father’s side, Corydon Whetsel Passwater and Clara Belle Mowrey. Mark’s father was working on the family’s farm.
​Mark Passwater in the jail office
When Mark was nine years old, his father was a farmer in Delaware Township, Hamilton County and Mark attended the schools in that area. Mark’s grandmother, Rosa Randall, lived with them. She was a widow.
Between 1930 and 1940, the family moved to Noblesville Township, Hamilton County where Mark Sr. farmed and Mark Jr. worked as carpenter for a contract company. Mark was 19 years old.
On 16 February 1942, Mark registered for the World War II draft in Noblesville. He was 21 years old and stated he worked for the Delco Remy Company in Anderson. When asked for physical characteristics that would aid in identification, Mark stated he had a scar over his left eye.
​Mark and Marjorie on a date
On 17 October 1942, Mark married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie Marie Clark, daughter of John Herbert Clark and Edith Emily Bale, at her aunt’s home in Westfield. After their honeymoon, they settled in Noblesville with Mark working for the Delco Remy Company in Anderson and Marjorie working for the Public Service Company in Noblesville.
​Marjorie and Mark Passwater 1944 WWII pilots wore wings prior to flying overseas.
Their first son, Alan Clark Passwater, was born on 20 July 19 1944 in Indianapolis, Indiana. By this time, Mark was serving as a Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Air Corp.
Mark and Majorie’s daughter Judith Ann was born 27 May 1946 in Noblesville.
Their second son, Steven H. Passwater, was born 1948.
By 1950, the family was living in Wayne Township, Hamilton County. Mark was the manager and part owner of the Stony Creek Gravel Company from 1946 to 1951.
In 1951, Mark decided that a change in jobs would be good and he was hired by Roland Guilkey, Hamilton County Sheriff at the time, to serve as his Deputy Sheriff. This began Mark’s law enforcement career.
1953 Plymouth with red lights, siren, and spotlight
L-R: Passwater children: Judy, John, Alan (rear) and Steve
Interestingly, Sheriff Guilkey and his new deputy had to design and create their own uniforms from old WWII uniforms. They had a shield on the arm sleeve. The state had not yet issued state mandated uniforms. They also had to buy their own guns and drive their own family cars. They fitted the cars with sirens and flashing lights. It was not until about 1957 the state had to
provide at least one car for a sheriff’s department and standard uniforms for the sheriff and his deputies.
Their third son and fourth child, John Mark Passwater, was born in 1952.
Tragedy hit the family when Marjorie was diagnosed with polio in 1952. Her youngest child, John, was just two months old. Her son Steven suffered a mild seizure of infantile paralysis. A few days later, Marjorie was struck with the disease leaving her completely paralyzed and wholly dependent on an iron lung to live on for weeks at a time. Already dangerously ill, Marjorie contracted double pneumonia and was near death for weeks. Mark never gave up hope that his beautiful wife would survive and overcome her paralysis.
​Marjorie Passwater 1958
About 1955, the family moved into a new home on Indiana
State Road 32, east September 1952 of Noblesville. The Passwater family home was designed by Mark to help his wife perform household tasks from her wheelchair. The kitchen and dining area were left open so Marjorie could move about freely. Electoral outlets were installed at chair level. To help his wife iron clothes, Mark fitted an ironing board with pulleys so Marjorie could raise and lower it while she was seated in her wheelchair. The kitchen cabinets were lowered so that Marjorie could reach them from her wheelchair.
The winter sheriff's uniform first showing of the Star badge. 1966
About 1957, the state provided standard uniforms for the sheriff and his deputies. The shield badge that Sheriff Guilkey and Deputy Passwater created was changed to the standard Star badge on the arm sleeve. The sheriff’s department received its first state prescribed car. It was a Plymouth with red flashing lights, a siren, a spotlight, and a two-way radio.
In January 1958, Marjorie was named Indiana’s “Polio Mother of the Year.” Through the help of her family physician, the Shrine Horse Patrol, and the Hamilton County Chapter of the Infantile Paralysis, Marjorie was able to visit the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation which was originated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Marjorie underwent additional therapy, intensive treatment, and was fitted for new braces in hopes that she would be able to walk. Her courage and determination were an inspiration to all who knew her. Mark and her children strived to help her live as normal a life as possible.
Marjorie Passwater polio lift assist with son John.
On Easter day in April 1958 after a three-month stay at Warm Springs, Marjorie stood on her feet erect for the first time in six years. She was aided with special shoes, braces, and crutches. It was a strenuous battle, but Majorie preservered through encouragement from her family and friends. When she returned home, her children were eager to be with their mother and besieged her with questions about her stay at Warm Springs.
It was customary for a barber to come to the jail to trim the hair of the prisoners. When it was his turn to do this, Don Mosbaugh, a Noblesville barber, went to the jail in 1958 for that purpose. Whether it was a gag or for real, Sheriff Guilkey forgot about the barber and left him locked up. A few hours later, he remembered Don and went to free him. He found Don playing pinochle with the prisoners.
When Roland Guilkey ended his term as the Hamilton County Sheriff, Mark decided to campaign for the open job in May of 1958. He came to the campaign with three qualifications for the job: He combined youth with experience. He was 37 years old with eight years in law enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff. Although reared on a farm, he was also a businessman having managed a gravel company. A Sheriff in Hamilton County needs such diversified experience. Born and reared in Hamilton County he was a good citizen. He was a veteran of World War II having served in the U. S. Army Air Corps. He served his country well. He was involved in a variety of civic activities. He served as a precinct chairman and voted in every election. He was a member of the VFW, Clarksville Masonic Lodge, and the Sheriff’s Association. He was a member of the Bethel Methodist Church. In addition, he was a family man with four children.
In the May 1958 primary, Mark received the biggest vote (5251 votes) although he had three competitors. He would become the next Hamilton County Sheriff in 1959 taking over his “boss’s” job when Roland Guilkey left at the end of 1958 to serve as the County Clerk.
When Clifford McCory resigned as an Indiana State Trooper, Mark immediately appointed him as 1st Deputy Sheriff. Cliff and his wife Frances moved into the Sheriff’s Residence with their two sons, Murray (17) and Jerry (7). Since Marjorie was physically unable to serve as the prison matron, Frances became the official matron of the jail. Mark and his family continued living in their specially designed home in the Durbin area. With the appointment of Cliff McCory, the sheriff’s department had six officers: Donald Swails Jr, Lewis Smith, Donald Perkins, and Leo Porter. Roland Guilkey served as a special deputy while also serving as the Clerk of Hamilton County.
In February 1962, Mark filed to run again for Hamilton County Sheriff. Unlike his last run for office, he faced only one competitor, Edwin Beery of Washington Township, in the May primary. He won that primary so that he ran under the Republican ticket.
Grayson “Bizz” Thistlewaite in the 2nd floor courthouse office with Cliff McCory answering the jail radio in 1962
In November of this same year, Mark won a second term to serve as sheriff defeating James L. Nolton. In Mark’s second term, Cliff McCory became chief deputy. Grayson B. “Bizz” Thistlethwaite, a WWII Coast Guard veteran and the marshal of
Sheridan, joined the department. Max Truesdel, another WWII veteran, who was serving in the Carmel Police Department brought the number of deputies to three in Mark’s second term.
In 1959, the General Assembly set a limit number of deputies that counties can have. Three deputies were permitted in counties with a population between 29,999 and 39,999. Among a multitude of duties, the sheriff’s department handled investigations of county traffic accidents, served court papers, and transported prisoners to state institutions.
In 1965, fabricated jail cells were installed on the second floor of the old jail. These were made by inmates of the Michigan City Penitentiary. Paint made by inmates of another prison was used to paint the bars and floors of the newly installed cells. Huge cans of food prepared by inmates in other prisons were used to feed the Hamilton County prisoners. Sometimes, food was also donated by local restaurants at the end of the work day.
At the end of his second term, Mark stepped down from the Sheriff’s Department to begin his service as the County Health Sanitarian. In 1967, Cliff McCory took over as the new Hamilton County Sheriff.
Marjorie Passwater passed away on 21 December 1973. Mark Passwater passed away on 3 December 2006. Both are buried in Crownland Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana.
The Passwater family legacy in Hamilton County is deeply intertwined with a history of service, resilience, and community impact. Marcus "Mark" Passwater Jr., who served as Sheriff from 1959 to 1966, left a lasting imprint on the county through his dedication to law enforcement and civic engagement. His wife, Marjorie, recognized as the State's Polio Mother of the Year in 1958, embodied strength and grace in the face of adversity.
Their children, Alan, Judith, Steven, and John, grew up in the Sheriff's Residence, surrounded by a unique blend of law enforcement culture and community life. Playing with other law enforcement families and engaging in activities around the square, they experienced firsthand the responsibilities and challenges of their father's role as Sheriff.
Marjorie's battle with polio and Mark's unwavering support and innovative solutions, such as adapting their home for her wheelchair accessibility, exemplified their commitment to overcoming obstacles together. The family's move to a new home designed by Mark to facilitate Marjorie's daily tasks showcased their unity and resilience in the face of adversity.
The Passwater family's involvement in civic activities, church, and community events underscored their deep-rooted connection to Hamilton County. Mark's military service, civic leadership, and dedication to his family left a lasting impact on the community, shaping the values and principles that defined the Passwater family legacy.
Today, the Passwater family's story serves as a testament to strength, compassion, and service, inspiring future generations to uphold the values of integrity, community engagement, and familial bonds that defined the legacy of Marcus and Marjorie Passwater in Hamilton County.
Mark and Marjorie Passwater family
L-R: Mark, John, Judy, Marjorie, Steven, Alan 1958
What was it like being the son of the Sheriff? Steve and John Passwater shared stories of playing with the Guilkey and McCory kids in the Sheriff’s Residence. They would play wiffle ball outside and basketball with a basketball hoop in the basement on rainy and winter days. There were lots of toys to play with on the second floor and a black and white TV to watch in the room which is now decorated as the parlor. When in high school, they would walk to the jail and stayed there until their dad got off at 6pm to take them home. They also walked around the square and visited the existing stores. Kids at school knew their dad was the sheriff but didn’t make too big a deal about it. It was something that was just known. Since the family car was used as the patrol car, they sometimes rode in it when an emergency occurred calling the sheriff to action. When the state began to provide licensed standard patrol cars, they sometimes rode in those but not as often. When at the jail during lunch time, they would deliver the meals prepared by Frances McCory to the prisoners.
Steve recalled delivering a lunch tray to a prisoner when he was 10 or 11, a young kid. After pushing the food tray into the cell, the prisoner said something unintelligible to him. He told the officers on his way back to the kitchen for another food tray. The officers told him that he was very drunk and just not making sense at all. They told him not to worry about it. The next day, Steve learned that the prisoner killed himself that night.
How does the current jail differ from the way the jail was in 1959-1966? In the past, the room layout was quite different. What is currently the kitchen used to be an office. Prisoners would pass through this office on their way to the courthouse. The space was bustling with officers working, lawyers meeting clients, and people stopping by for various reasons.
The area that now serves as the gift shop was once the kitchen. Frances McCory, the jail matron, prepared meals there for the prisoners. She went the extra mile, creating special dishes for Thanksgiving and even treating juvenile prisoners to special treats. Steve recalled one instance where a young child received a banana split before being transported to a juvenile detention center. After enjoying it, he fashioned a ship from sticks and left a heartfelt note for his mother, expressing his love. Frances made sure the note reached her.
Over the years, Frances must have prepared thousands of meals for Hamilton County prisoners. As for what is currently the first responders’ room, it used to be Cliff and Frances McCory’s bedroom. Additionally, there was a garage for working on patrol cars and an area dedicated to fingerprinting and booking prisoners. Behind the jail, where the memorials now stand, was a parking lot.
What types of crimes were committed by the prisoners? Usually, the crimes were intoxication, domestic abuse, burglaries, non-payment of child support, and such crimes of a similar nature. One man was charged with disorderly conduct when he continually had conversations with the prisoners while he was outside on the lawn. Now and then, prisoners charged with murder were there awaiting transportation to court when there was a change in venue.
Marcus “Mark” Passwater Jr
Served 1959-1966
This Oral History was written by Nancy Massey
Hamilton County Geneologist
Board Member Hamilton County Historical Society
​
​
Family photos supplied by Steve Passwater
Sources:
Oral Interviews with Steve and John Passwater on Sunday, September 17, 2023 in the old jail.
Year: 1930; Census Place: Delaware, Hamilton, Indiana; Page: 8A;
Enumeration District: 0008; FHL microfilm: 2340325; household of Marcus
Passwater Sr. Ancestry.com
Year: 1940; Census Place: Noblesville, Hamilton, Indiana; Roll: m-t0627-
01050; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 29-19; household of Marcus
Passwater Sr. Ancestry.com
Year: 1950; Census Place: Wayne, Hamilton, Indiana; Roll: 5141; Page: 27;
Enumeration District: 29-33; household of Marcus Passwater Jr.
Ancestry.com
Marcus Passwater Jr birth certificate Indiana Archives and Records
Administration; Indianapolis, Indiana; Birth Certificates; Year: 1920; Roll:
016 Ancestry.com
Marcus Passwater Jr death certificate Indiana Archives and Records
Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 2006;
Roll: 34 Ancestry.com
Marcus Passwater and Marjorie Marie Clark marriage "Indiana Marriages,
1811-2019," database with images, FamilySearch
(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXP5-8DF : 3 August
2022), Marcus Passwater and Marjorie Marie Clark, 17 Oct 1942; citing Hamilton, Indiana, United States, Marriage License, Indiana Commission on Public Records, Indianapolis; FHL microfilm 004186017.
FamilySearch.org
WWII draft for Marcus Passwater National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis,
Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Indiana, 10/16/194003/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 596 Ancestry.com
“Marjorie Passwater Named State’s Polio Mother of the Year,” The
Noblesville Ledger
Noblesville, Indiana, Tuesday, January 7, 1958 · Page 1 Newspapers.com
“Stands Erect First Time in 6 Years,” The Noblesville Ledger, Noblesville,
Indiana, Monday, April 7, 1958 · Page 1 Newspapers.com
“Obituary for Marcus Passwater Jr.” The Noblesville Ledger, Noblesville,
Indiana, Friday, December 8, 2006 · Page 2 Newspapers.com
“Marriage notice for Passwater and Clark,” The Noblesville Ledger,
Noblesville, Indiana, Saturday, October 24, 1942 · Page 6 Newspapers.com
“Obituary of Marjorie Passwater,” The Noblesville Ledger, Noblesville,
Indiana, Saturday, December 22, 1973 · Page 16 Newspapers.com
“County Inmates to Have a Traditional Turkey Dinner,” The Noblesville
Ledger, Noblesville, Indiana, Wednesday, November 24, 1965 · Page 1
Newspapers.com
“Remodeling of County Jail Gets Underway,” The Noblesville Ledger,
Noblesville, Indiana, Friday, June 25, 1965 · Page 1 Newspapers.com
‘New Cell Block Being Installed at County Jail,” The Noblesville Ledger,
Noblesville, Indiana,
Friday, June 25, 1965 · Page 1 Newspapers.com
“Arrested for PI, Jobless Painter Hangs Himself,” The Noblesville Ledger,
Noblesville, Indiana, Monday, June 22, 1959 · Page 1 Newspapers.com
“Mrs. Mark Passwater Stricken with Polio,” The Noblesville Ledger, Friday,
26 September 1952, p. 1 Newspapers.com
“Sheriff’s Dept. To Get New Car From Don Hinds,” The Noblesville Ledger,
Noblesville, Indiana, Tuesday, November 13, 1962 · Page 1 Newspapers.com
