A colored man, at the age of 7 was owned by James Marion Fike, of Perry Co. AL. He was living with master James Fike until the 3rd Iowa Cavalry came along in 1864.
He then was a orderly of Capt. Samuel Irvin McKee until the end of the war. Elijah was not enlisted but Capt. McKee paid him low wages for his service as a free man. Elijah was acquainted with private William Kerns(my 3rd great-grandfather), a blacksmith under Capt. McKee. William Kerns was severely injured shoeing a horse and he attended him to a safe return to his home in Athens, MO. Elijah stayed on in Athens, living nearby his friend William Kerns and family for the rest of his life.
It is believed by Elijah's Deposition(Sept. 7, 1892, age 79) to William Kerns's service they were life long friends. Elijah was a farmer and farmed on William's land.
Elijah's personal life is limited to census reports and his deposition. In 1870, he is joined* to Violet age 45 of KY, with a son Grant age 19. By 1880, he is joined* to a Mrs. Eliza A. Scott age 43 of KY. They had one daughter Mrs. Lenna Bell (Crawford) Shanninghouse.
He died between 1893-1900. Although no stone or marker survives of Elijah's final resting place, he most likely was buried in or near the Athens Cemetery. Our family owes a wealth of gratitude to Elijah, for his kindness.
*At the time Black marriages were illegal in Missouri, not recorded. Although they were legal in Illinois, no record found.
He then was a orderly of Capt. Samuel Irvin McKee until the end of the war. Elijah was not enlisted but Capt. McKee paid him low wages for his service as a free man. Elijah was acquainted with private William Kerns(my 3rd great-grandfather), a blacksmith under Capt. McKee. William Kerns was severely injured shoeing a horse and he attended him to a safe return to his home in Athens, MO. Elijah stayed on in Athens, living nearby his friend William Kerns and family for the rest of his life.
It is believed by Elijah's Deposition(Sept. 7, 1892, age 79) to William Kerns's service they were life long friends. Elijah was a farmer and farmed on William's land.
Elijah's personal life is limited to census reports and his deposition. In 1870, he is joined* to Violet age 45 of KY, with a son Grant age 19. By 1880, he is joined* to a Mrs. Eliza A. Scott age 43 of KY. They had one daughter Mrs. Lenna Bell (Crawford) Shanninghouse.
He died between 1893-1900. Although no stone or marker survives of Elijah's final resting place, he most likely was buried in or near the Athens Cemetery. Our family owes a wealth of gratitude to Elijah, for his kindness.
*At the time Black marriages were illegal in Missouri, not recorded. Although they were legal in Illinois, no record found.
A colored man, at the age of 7 was owned by James Marion Fike, of Perry Co. AL. He was living with master James Fike until the 3rd Iowa Cavalry came along in 1864.
He then was a orderly of Capt. Samuel Irvin McKee until the end of the war. Elijah was not enlisted but Capt. McKee paid him low wages for his service as a free man. Elijah was acquainted with private William Kerns(my 3rd great-grandfather), a blacksmith under Capt. McKee. William Kerns was severely injured shoeing a horse and he attended him to a safe return to his home in Athens, MO. Elijah stayed on in Athens, living nearby his friend William Kerns and family for the rest of his life.
It is believed by Elijah's Deposition(Sept. 7, 1892, age 79) to William Kerns's service they were life long friends. Elijah was a farmer and farmed on William's land.
Elijah's personal life is limited to census reports and his deposition. In 1870, he is joined* to Violet age 45 of KY, with a son Grant age 19. By 1880, he is joined* to a Mrs. Eliza A. Scott age 43 of KY. They had one daughter Mrs. Lenna Bell (Crawford) Shanninghouse.
He died between 1893-1900. Although no stone or marker survives of Elijah's final resting place, he most likely was buried in or near the Athens Cemetery. Our family owes a wealth of gratitude to Elijah, for his kindness.
*At the time Black marriages were illegal in Missouri, not recorded. Although they were legal in Illinois, no record found.
He then was a orderly of Capt. Samuel Irvin McKee until the end of the war. Elijah was not enlisted but Capt. McKee paid him low wages for his service as a free man. Elijah was acquainted with private William Kerns(my 3rd great-grandfather), a blacksmith under Capt. McKee. William Kerns was severely injured shoeing a horse and he attended him to a safe return to his home in Athens, MO. Elijah stayed on in Athens, living nearby his friend William Kerns and family for the rest of his life.
It is believed by Elijah's Deposition(Sept. 7, 1892, age 79) to William Kerns's service they were life long friends. Elijah was a farmer and farmed on William's land.
Elijah's personal life is limited to census reports and his deposition. In 1870, he is joined* to Violet age 45 of KY, with a son Grant age 19. By 1880, he is joined* to a Mrs. Eliza A. Scott age 43 of KY. They had one daughter Mrs. Lenna Bell (Crawford) Shanninghouse.
He died between 1893-1900. Although no stone or marker survives of Elijah's final resting place, he most likely was buried in or near the Athens Cemetery. Our family owes a wealth of gratitude to Elijah, for his kindness.
*At the time Black marriages were illegal in Missouri, not recorded. Although they were legal in Illinois, no record found.
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
