Eliza Jane Shipley was born the __ of July, 1852 (1) in Lee Creek, Upper Township, Crawford County, Arkansas to Nathan Pascal Shipley, Sr. and Elizabeth Mildred Lester. Eliza Jane saw tragedy in her early life. Her father was murdered during the Civil War when she was only ten years old. The family oral history says he was hanged by bushwhackers in front of the family along with his brother, Richard Shipley. According to family oral tradition Eliza lived with other family members after this. She married David Walker Lewis the 11th of August, 1870 in Crawford County, Arkansas.
He was born the 11th of August, 1848 in Cedar Creek, Arkansas to James M. Lewis and Catherine McCurdy. David had a troubled childhood. His parents, James and Catherine Lewis had marital difficulties and were separated when he was very young. He is found twice in the 1850 census, once living in a household headed by his mother with two siblings and living next door to her parents, and again in a household headed by his father living with who is believed to be his father's sister and next door to his father's supposed brother. His father died about 1854. His mother married 2) John Boen about 1855 and died in 1858 after having three more children. In 1860 he is found living with his sister "Winney", Buena Vista Lewis, in the home of Andrew T. and Elizabeth Willey.
Her mother was very poor and after her house burned down she lived with David and Eliza for awhile. Supposedly, Eliza purchased her parent's property. In 1880 Eliza's mother and her three brothers were living next door to David and Eliza.
David patented 120 acres in Crawford County, Arkansas September 18, 1894. Eliza and David had eleven children all born in Crawford County, Arkansas:
1. Roseltha Delcie b. August 20, 1871
2. Elizabeth "Lizzie" b. February 15, 1873
3. William Franklin b. July 17, 1875
4. Gertrude Ellen b. January 11, 1879
5. Henry Davis Baskum b. February 25, 1881
6. Moody b. February 8, 1883
7. Darwin Sherman b. February 19, 1885
8. Walker Harlen b. April 23, 1889
9, Harvey Leander b. August 13, 1890
10. Thomas Wesley b. February 18, 1893
11. Joseph Webber b. July 16, 1895
David died the 2nd of March, 1919 in Chester, Crawford County, Arkansas(2) and is buried in Oliver Cemetery in Crawford County, Arkansas.(3) Eliza died the 20th of August, 1931 at 435 So. Valencia, Burbank, California. She was buried the 22nd of August, 1931 in Valhalla Cemetery, North Hollywood, California. According to family folklore there was "a falling out" amongst the descendants.(4) Apparently, when David died he owned a large acreage. In his will he left it to his wife and children. When Eliza died some of the living siblings arranged to have the children of their deceased sisters, Elizabeth and Roseltha, left out of the disbursement. This created a rift that split the family apart.
Footnotes:
(1) Eliza's death certificate #31-04 3891 indicates she was 82 years old when she died, incorrectly making her birth year 1849. The cemetery lists her birthday as the 8th of August, 1849. Some Lewis family researchers list it as the 18th of August, 1852. The 1860 census lists her age as 8 years and the 1870 census lists it as 18, making her birth year 1852. In the 1900 census she gave her birth date as July, 1853. In Sarah Shipley's pension application No. 379,798, p.41, the 20th of March, 1890, Eliza states, "I will be 37 years old in July:" This would make her birthday, July 1853. July 1853 makes her just 6 months older than her brother, William Lester, which seems very unlikely, therefore I put her birth year as 1852 (9 months after her parents marriage).
(2) Virginia Kimes Pierce GedCom April 18, 1999 and Holly Breidenbach.
(3) Peggy Seidler, Descendants of Catherine McCurdy, (May 28, 2003), "Electronic."
(4) E-mail from Virginia Pierce to Susan Burgess, Jan. 11, 2000.
Compiled and written by Susan Kimes Burgess
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Lynne Chandler says this date information was given to her by the Cemetery. The year of birth 1849 is what is on the headstone.
Eliza Jane (Shipley) Lewis b. Aug.08,1849 in Crawford Co
Arkansas. d. Aug. 20, 1931 in Burbank, California. Buried at
Valhalla Memorial Park North Hollywood Ca.
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Eliza's death certificate #31-04 3891 indicates she was 82 years old when she died, incorrectly making her birth year 1849. The cemetery lists her birthday as the 8th of August, 1849. Some Lewis family researchers list it as the 18th of August, 1852. The 1860 census lists her age as 8 years and the 1870 census lists it as 18, making her birth year 1852. In the 1900 census she gave her birth date as July, 1853. In Sarah Shipley's pension application No. 379,798, p.41, the 20th of March, 1890, Eliza states, "I will be 37 years old in July:" This would make her birthday, July 1853. July 1853 makes her just 6 months older than her brother, William Lester, which seems very unlikely, therefore I put her birth year as 1852 (9 months after her parents marriage).
(Written by Susan Kimes Burgess)
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(3-446.)
DEPOSITION ________
Case of Sarah Shipley , No. 379,798
On this 20th day of Mch. , 1890, at near
Chester , County of Crawford ,
State of Ark. , before me, H. N. Patton , a
Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Eliza
Lewis , who, being by me first duly sworn to answer
truly all interrogatories propounded to her during this Special Examination of
aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: I will be 37 years old in July :
married lady : P. O. address Chester Crawford Co. Ark.
The claimt. is my grandma. James Shipley, her
son, died at my mothers house - Betsey Shipley. He
was taken sick suddenly and lived about 19 days.
I was not at home when he was taken sick, but went
home the next day I think. It was said that he died
with some kind of fever, pneumonia I think. I
don't recollect the date of his death; he died in the fall and
I was 18 in July following. I remember that he was
out of his right mind most of the time. I know he
was when I went home. I cant tell for certain how he
complained but I think the misery was in his left side.
The talk was that the cause of his being sick was
being out in the army. I think he did maybe have some
lung trouble. I did the work and ma staid with him.
No Sir: I don't recollect of him having any breaking out.
There was none on his face that I recollect of. After
his death you could smell him all over the house.
They just thought he had some kind of fever but I can't
say whether it was pneumonia or not. Dr. Bashon came
to see him, but came too late.
James health was not good before he got sick. I don't
recollect just how he complained only he complained
of not being very well. He never looked very healthy.
I have no interest in the claim.
I have understood the questions asked
and my answers have been correctly
Page 41 Deposition M
Page 42
Recorded in this affidavit.
Eliza Lewis
Deponent
Deponent
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20 day of Mch ,
1890, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
H.N. Patton
Special Examiner.
Transcribed by Susan Kimes Burgess
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Research of Susan Kimes Burgess:
1860 Census: Upper Township, Crawford County, Arkansas enumerated Aug 1, 1860 ; Post Office: The Narrows
Series: M653 Roll: 40 Page: 720
14 801 773 Nathan Shipley 28 M Farmer 1000 1611 Tenn
15 Elisabeth Shipley 28 F Arks
16 Elisa J. Shipley 8 F Arks
17 William Shipley 6 M Arks
18 Thomas Shipley 4 M Arks
19 James Shipley 2 M Arks
20 Nathan Shipley 9/12 M Arks
21 Throb Shipley 65 F Unknown Over 20 can't read or write (prob. Sarah)
22 James Shipley 12 M Arks
23 Elijah Shipley 10 M Arks
1870 Census: Upper Township, Crawford County, Arkansas enumerated July 28, 1870; Post Office: Lees Creek
Series: M593 Roll: 51 Page: 245
1 73 73 Shipley, Elisabeth 33 F W Keeping House 800 400 Ark
2 Shipley, William 16 M W Farm Laborer Ark
3 Shipley, James 14 M W Farm Laborer Ark
4 Shipley, Thomas 12 M W Farm Laborer Ark
5 Shipley, Elisa 18 F W Ark
6 Shipley, Nathan 10 M W Ark
7 Shipley, Jefferson 8 M W Ark
8 Shipley, Margaret 66 F W Keeping House 300 300 Ky
1880 Census: http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=census/search_census.asp
Source Information:
Census Place Upper, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA
Family History Library Film 1254041
NA Film Number T9-0041
Page Number 478D
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
Walker LEWIS Self M Male W 30 AR Farmer TN TN
Eliza J. LEWIS Wife M Female W 28 AR Keeps House AR AR
Rosettha LEWIS Dau S Female W 8 AR At Home AR AR
Elizabeth LEWIS Dau S Female W 7 AR At Home AR AR
Franklin LEWIS Son S Male W 5 AR At Home AR AR
Gertrude LEWIS Dau S Female W 1 AR At Home AR AR
1900 Census: Cedar Creek Township, Crawford County, Arkansas enumerated June 14, 1900 by Joseph L. Kimes
Series: T623 Roll: 56 Page: 146
23 127 134 Lewis David W. Head W M Aug. 1848 51 M 30 Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas Farmer 0 Yes Yes Yes 0 F F 107
24 Lewis Eliza J. Wife W F July 1853 46 M 30 12 10 Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas Yes Yes Yes
25 Lewis Darwin S. Son W M Jan. 1885 15 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas at school 3 Yes Yes Yes
26 Lewis Walker H. Son W M Apr. 1888 12 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas at school 3 Yes Yes Yes
27 Lewis Harvey L. Son W M Aug. 1890 9 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas at school 4
28 Lewis Thomas W. Son W M Feb. 1893 7 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas
29 Lewis Joseph W. Son W M July 1895 4 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas
30 Bethany Isacc N. Boarder W M Jan. 1854 46 Wd Virginia Virginia Virginia Minister 0 Yes Yes Yes
1910 Census: Cedar Creek Township, Crawford County, Arkansas enumerated May 5, 1910
Series: T624 Roll: 48 Page: 28
79 32 32 Lewis David W. Head M W 62 M1 39 Arkansas Tennessee Tennessee English Farmer General Farm Emp Y Y
80 Lewis Eliza Wife F W 58 M1 39 Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas English Y Y
81 Lewis Harland Son M W 21 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas English Farm Laborer Home Farm w N 0 Y Y
82 Lewis Wesley T. Son M W 17 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas English Farm Laborer Home Farm w N 0 Y Y N
83 Lewis Joseph W. Son M W 14 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas English Farm Laborer Home Farm w N 0 Y Y N
1920 Census: Cedar Creek, Crawford County, Arkansas enumerated Jan 12-14, 1910
Series: T625 Roll: 59 Page: 27
61 fm 31 31 Lewis, J. Webber Head O M M W 24 M Yes Yes Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas Yes Farmer Home farm OA 31
62 Lewis, Sadie Wife F W 20 M Yes Yes Oklahoma Missouri Kentucky Yes none
63 Lewis, Vesta Daughter F W 1/12 S Arkansas Arkansas Oklahoma none
64 Lewis, Eliza Mother F W 67 Wd Yes Yes Arkansas Arkansas United States Yes none
65 Becket, Waren M. Brother-in-law M W 17 S Yes Yes Yes Arkansas Missouri Kentucky Yes Laborer Farmhand W
1930 Census: Burbank, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 125; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 858; Image: 303.0.
Sydney B Pipkin 45
Gertie E Pipkin 43
Eliza Lewis 80
David H Pipkin 23