Researching Elizabeth as an Aunt

Today I am repeating a story I wrote about Elizabeth (Stillwell) Bond back in 2011. It was published in our local Genealogical Society Publication, Trees From the Grove. Also there is a link on my website. Tomorrow I will post the second part of this story. 

Elizabeth Stillwell was found in my database quite early as she was the wife of my 2^nd great- granduncle George Bond. Therefore I thought of her as my Aunt Elizabeth. She was interesting to me since she was one of the family members on the “Davis-Bond Wagon Train” which came to Oregon in 1853. Uncle George kept the daily journal for the trip. She and her husband George received a Donation Land Claim in Lane County Oregon. It was located across the Willamette River from current day Skinner's Butte Park.

Elizabeth was born 19 August 1821 in Kentucky. She was married to George W. Bond 22 Feb 1838 in Edgar County, Illinois. By 1840 they were enumerated on the census in Jefferson County, Iowa. They probably moved from Illinois at the same time as George's parents, John and Sarah Bond, who sold their land in May 1838. Elizabeth and George and their 5 children were listed on the 1850 census in Marion County, Iowa with both Benjamin and Sarah noted as deaf and dumb. George's occupation was preacher and there was no value listed in the real estate column.

Family information reported that she and George had 10 children:

William Harrison 1841

Benjamin Franklin 1843

Sarah A 1845

Amanda J 1847

James Madison 1849

All born in Iowa

John D 1855

Joseph A 1857

George Washington 1859

Mary E 1861

Charles 1863

All born in Lane County, Oregon

Later research at the Lane County Historical Museum revealed a document entitled “Rev. George W. Bond and Family.” It listed those ten children (showing Benjamin's birthdate as 1842) plus two more children:

Ellin Cardine 1840

Emily 1853

Since neither appeared on the U.S. Census Population Schedules it seems reasonable to assume that they died as infants or young children. However the 1854 Lane County Agricultural Census (page 35) listed 4 females in G. W. Bond's household so this would include Emily.

The 1860 census in Spencer Precinct, Lane County, Oregon, listed Elizabeth and George and 8 of their children. The oldest son, William, was a school teacher. Column 14 showed Benjamin as deaf and dumb and idiotic; Sarah as deaf and dumb; and Joseph as deaf and dumb and smart.

The next decade brought changes to their family household. The two youngest children were born. In 1864 Benjamin was committed to the State Insane Asylum which was located in Portland, over 100 miles from where Elizabeth lived. I wonder if she was ever able to visit him. George had been serving as pastor of the Eugene Baptist Church since 1858 and in 1867 a new building was erected, then in 1868 George resigned. By 1870 William, their oldest son, had moved to Powell Valley area in Multnomah County where he was employed as a school teacher. So on the 1870 census, 8 of the children were still at home.

Sometime about 1870 Sarah began attending the School for the Deaf in Salem, Oregon. Then more changes came after 1870, when Amanda was married in 1873 and Sarah was married in 1874 to a fellow student at the deaf school. 1880 was a pivotal year for Elizabeth. In January her husband of almost 44 years, died of heart trouble. Then her two youngest children died of typhoid fever, Charles in March and Mary in May. All three were buried in the IOOF Cemetery which had been established in Eugene in 1872, now known as Eugene Pioneer Cemetery. So when the 1880 census was taken in June, Elizabeth was the head of the household and four of her sons were living with her: James, John, Joseph and George. Her two married daughters with their families were listed on the next page.

In the next fifteen years, Elizabeth gained daughters-in-law. James married in 1887 and again in 1888 after his first wife died. William married for a second time in 1889 after his first wife of 16 years died. George was married in 1891 and John was married in 1892 in New York state.

At the time of her death in January 1895, Elizabeth was residing at the home of her daughter Amanda. She died at the age of 73 of a paralytic stroke. She was described in her obituary as an old lady, the widow of the late Rev. Bond, with several sons and daughters to mourn her. Her funeral was held at the Baptist Church and she also was buried in the IOOF Cemetery.