4GG - Elizabeth (VanCleave) Elrod 1825 to 1908
Goal: Verifying the maiden name of Elizabeth Elrod
I've also found the mother and father of Sarah (Elrod) Johnston to be a confusing bunch. Benjamin Harden Elrod and Elizabeth (VanCleave) Elrod, not only had the typical genealogical hurdles to get through, like being born prior to the more descriptive 1850's census, but they each had prior marriages and children creating many uncertainties as I tried to understand their version of the Brady Bunch.
The breakthrough for me feeling more certain about Elizabeth's maiden name was right in front of me the entire time. This news snippet from the Emporia Gazette hinted at one important fact, Elizabeth was once married to Benjamin McMullen...
"Mrs. Elizabeth Elrod died March 15, at 10 o'clock, at her home in Allen (Kansas). She was born in Kentucky in 1825. She united with the United Brethren church when a girl, and lived a faithful Christian life. She was married at the age of twenty-one to Benjamin McMullen (in Montgomery County IN). To this union five children were born, three of whom survive their mother. They are Mrs. Annetta Keller, Joseph McMullen and Martha Lewis. Her husband died years ago, leaving her with a baby six days old. Five years later Mrs. McMullen married to Benjamin H. Elrod (in Montgomery County IN). To them four children were born, all of whom survive. She leaves seven children and one sister and many grandchildren and friends. Three of her children were with her when she died, Frank Elrod and family, Samuel Elrod and Susan Bible. The other daughter, Mrs. Emma Johnston and Jeremiah Elrod and little daughter arrived for the funeral.
Source: Emporia (Kansas) Gazette, March 23, 1908, p. 6"
As I looked through Elrod's records there were many things to consider, such as Elizabeth's marriage to another man, named Benjamin, while Benjamin Elrod's name and age changed on a few censuses, and he was supposedly married to some lady named Jane Douglas. While I could not find a proper marriage record for the Elrods. So I didn't really know which one to believe. Thankfully one of the sources of my confusion was key in verifying Elizabeth's maiden name.
According to a few records Elizabeth VanCleave married Benjamin McMullen on the 10th of September, 1846 in Montgomery, Indiana. One source can be found at Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, microfilm 0877709.
One other hint that solidified the connection was the children from Elizabeth's union with Mr. McMullen seemed to be adopted as Elrods. One the 1850 US Census we can see the first few McMullen children: 3 y/o Ann E, 2 y/o Joseph L., and 0 y/o Morton (or Martin). On the 1860 US Census we can already see the McMullen children added to the Elrod clan. Ann (now called Anneta) is 13 y/o, Joseph is 11 y/o and Martin is now 10 y/o.
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