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Note: The "Matheny Record" written by John William, grandson of Elijah, provides the first information on this family. It was written around 1940, from their family bible and other unidentified sources. It assigns May and Covington, Ky, as date and place of Elijah and Elanor's marriage. The marriage record for them is from Lewis Co., Ky., dated May 23, 1833. The bond was paid by Joseph H. Davis, and the marriage was performed on May 23 by Nicholas Elson, J.P. There is also a Lewis Co. license for them dated the previous January.
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1833
May 23 No. 22 Elijah Mathena Joseph H. Davis
to Eleanor Thomas Davis fee paid Elijah Mathena over the age of 21 years as proved by his own oath and Eleanor T. Davis, over the age of 21 years, as proved by an affidavit & vit filed with Jos. Ro. C. C. Clerk.
Lewis County J. P. I, Nicholas Elson hereby do certify that I did on the 23rd of May solemnize the rites of matrimony between Elijah Mathena and Eleanor Thomas Davis, according to laws given under my hand as one of the justices of the peace for said county licenses to celebrate the rites of matrimony.
(Signed)
Nicholas Elson, J. P.
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Elijah Matheny was ordained in 1834 by the Ohio Methodist Church, at the age of 23, according to JW, probably as a "local preacher." Methodist local preachers were required to be self-supporting. They were licensed to preach, teach, marry and bury, but not to administer the sacraments. So far as we know, Elijah had only a common school education.
He and Elanor lived for several years in Adams Co., Ohio, where their first six children were born. They are present there in Monroe Twp. in the 1840 fed. census.
At some point, they lived for awhile in Illinois, where in 1846 their toddler, Daniel Clarkey, died of scald. He was buried near Beardstown, in Cass Co, IL.
By 1850, they were living in Kanawha Co., VA/W.VA., where three more children were born. Living in the same county, in the Elk River District, were Elijah's brothers and their families, David Owen, John C., Michael, Samuel and William.
Elijah and his family left Virginia early in the 1850's. In 1853, 1854, and 1855 Elijah was on the McDonough Co., IL., school tax list, township 6N2W.
By 1860, they were in Warren Co., IL. Arzilla had been born in Macomb, McDonough Co., IL., in 1854, and Allen was born in Fulton Co., IL. in 1856. Oldest son David D. had married a Fulton Co. girl. Elijah's brothers, John C. and William had also brought their families to McDonough Co. In 1859, John C. had died in Prairie City, IL. ,where brother William was teaching school. Elijah preached at Beardstown, Macomb, and Monmouth.
In 1863, son John William was killed in battle, and daughter Harriet died at home of pneumonia.
In the Spring of 1864, Elijah and Elanor made their last big move, to Jasper Co., Iowa. Their surviving children went with them, except for one; David D. He and his wife, Mary Jane Curfman, stayed to raise their family in Fulton Co. In Iowa, they settled on a farm two miles west of Fairmount in Jasper Co., and organized a church at Fairmount, north of Monroe, known as the Bellview, and also preached at Metz.
Elijah continued to preach until he retired at age 78.
Our last sight of Elijah in this life is preaching the funeral sermon of H. J. Griffiths in 1890, Jasper Co., IA.
Elijah, Eleanor, Hannah and Allen Emery are buried at Waveland Cemetery, Prairie City, Jasper Co., Iowa; as is Aunt America Brewin and her husband.
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