Ralph ELSWICK

Other Events:

• _UID: 51D4340E1E58491DAB825C113198DCCE508E

Notes:

In the Maiden Springs 1910 Census, Charles R (25), a laborer, is living with his wife Sallie (23), Leona (7), James E (5), Lillian E (3) and Oscar F (5/12).

Tazewell Co. VA Maiden Springs 1930 Census, Charles R (45), O Fred (20), Robert (13), Ralph Junior (10) and Charles C (4/12).

Charles married Sallie. Sallie was born 1887. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: 0040758691244B63AF791861D290430BEF7A

Notes:

In the Maiden Springs 1910 Census, Charles R (25), a laborer, is living with his wife Sallie (23), Leona (7), James E (5), Lillian E (3) and Oscar F (5/12).

Other Events:

• _UID: 560B64860B434CC3B50746254646D4A4D3EF

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: James B Chamber [James B Chambers]
Age in 1860: 1
Birth Year: abt 1859
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Western District, Tazewell, Virginia
Gender: Male [in household of Emeline Chambers]
Post Office: Cedar Bluff
Also in the household is Chapman Elswick, a farm laborer, who more than likely is his father.

1870 United States Federal Census
Name: James B Elswick
Age in 1870: 11
Birth Year: abt 1859
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male [in the household of Chapman Elswick and Emeline Chambers Elswick]
Post Office: Knob

1880 United States Federal Census about James B. Elswick
Name: James B. Elswick
Age: 21
Birth Year: abt 1859
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Elswick
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
James B. Elswick 21
Elizabeth Elswick 24
Chapman Elswick 2 months

1900 United States Federal Census about
Name: Jas B Elswick
Age: 46
Birth Date: Feb 1854
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Elswick
Marriage Year: 1880
Years Married: 20
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Jas B Elswick 46
Elizabeth Elswick 46
Chip S Elswick 20
Stewart Masely 9 [nephew]

In the Tazewell Co. VA Maiden Springs District 1910 Census, James (44) is living with Elizabeth J (48).

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: James B Elswick
Age: 60
Birth Year: abt 1860
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth J Elswick
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Home Owned: Own
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
James B Elswick 60
Elizabeth I Elswick 64
Samuel Elswick 7 [grandson[

MISCELLANEOUS SOURCES
Chataigne's Virginia Gazetteer and Business Directory 1888-89 Tazewell County

Principal Farmers: Pleasant Hill, James B. Elswick.

Succeeded his father as Postmaster of Pleasant Hill, VA in 1897.

James married Elizabeth Jane WHITAKER 28 Mar 1878, Tazewell Co. VA. Elizabeth (daughter of James S. WHITAKER, Jr. and Nancy PETTS) was born 28 Apr 1855, Tazewell Co. VA; died Dec 1948, Tazewell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: 10FBE30EE25C46CFA36FD9DFB3651362A679

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Jane Whitaker
Age in 1860: 5
Birth Year: abt 1855
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Western District, Tazewell, Virginia
Gender: Female [in household of James and Nancy Petts Whitaker]
Post Office: Baptist Valley

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Elizabeth Elswick
Age: 24
Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: James B. Elswick
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia

1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Elizabeth Elswick
Age: 46
Birth Date: Apr 1854
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Jas B Elswick
Marriage Year: 1880
Years Married: 20
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother: number of living children: 2
Mother: How many children: 2

In the Tazewell Co. VAMaiden Springs 1910 Census, James (54) is living with Elizabeth J (58),

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Elizabeth J Elswick
Age: 64
Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: James B Elswick
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
[living with them is a grandson, Samuel age 7]

Tazewell Co. VA Maiden Springs 1930 Census, Elizabeth J (70) is living with Charles R (45), O Fred (20), Robert (13), Ralph Junior (10) and Charles C (4/12).

Agness Barnett has her dod as 12-16-1948.

Death announcement undated. But movie advertisement on back was for Give My Regards to Broadway with Dan Dailey, which was shown in 1948.

Notes:

Married:
Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940
Name: James B. Elswick
Birth Date: 1859
Birthplace: Buchanan County, Va
Age: 19
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Jane Whitaker
Spouse's Birth Date: 1855
Spouse's Birthplace: Tazewell County, Va
Spouse's Age: 23
Event Date: 28 Mar 1878
Event Place: Tazewell, Virginia
Father's Name: C. S. Elswick
Mother's Name: Emeline [Chambers]
Spouse's Father's Name: James Whitaker
Spouse's Mother's Name: Nancy
Spouse's Marital Status: Single
Indexing Project (Batch) Number:M01695-4
System Origin: Virginia-EASy
GS Film number: 34214
Reference ID: Page 49 Line 26

Other Events:

• _UID: FF5C0B481AD64F688FF3402DF39425F0E0FE

Notes:

Age at marriage 26 years, 7 months, 19 days.
www.tazcova.com Chapman Elswick dob 21 Feb. 1836, son of William Elswick and Lucinda Deskins.

Tazewell County Rootsweb site has his birth as Jan. 22, 1835. Son of William Elswick and Lucinda Deskins.

Church Deeds: 1872.  Deed Book 14, p. 28. Samuel Laird conveyed to Bird Elswick, J. A. Brown, James P. Brown, Chapman Elswick, F. N. Neikirk, Bazewell Elswick and George W. Brown, Trustees, for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, a certain lot on the dividing ridge, near the line between the Counties of Tazewell and Buchanan, containing one and a half acres.  (Vol. 1, p. 313)

He also performed marriages. He is listed as the minister who married Martelia Vance and Ezekiel Shelton on Feb. 20, 1881.

He served in the Civil War, 16th VA. Cav. regimental history lists him as: Elswick, Chapman S; pvt. Co. C, enlisted 8/10/62 in Tazewell Co. absent sick, wounded 10/24/64 in Tazewell Co.,

His worst wounds came in the Battle of Buena Vista when his patrol was almost captured by the Yankees. Shortly thereafter his wife gave birth to a second son who was named Buena Vista.

Chataigne's Virginia Gazetteer and Business Directory 1888-89 Tazewell County

Post Office: Pleasant Hill, C. S. Elswick, postmaster

He also served as Commissioner of Revenue for Tazewell County for a while.

He attended the Methodist Church, and was a trustee, along with his brothers Bird and Basil, of Laird's Chapel Methodist Church in Bearwallow, VA. Chapman was known for singing hymns as he rode his horse from one ridge to another, and had a powerful voice. While he was not an ordained minister, he was a good Bible student and did conduct services in the absence of a minister.

Chapman married Emeline S. CHAMBERS 10 Sep 1863, Tazewell Co VA. Emeline (daughter of Thomas CHAMBERS and Nancy CHRISTIAN) was born 18 Jan 1830, Russell Co. VA; died 2 Mar 1898, Tazewell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: FFF7D11A2F354377B35F20FA34DF4D6CF7B7

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1840 Census, Russell Co. VA Thomas had two males under 5 [John and Hugh], one male 5-10 [Reese], one female under 5 [Joanna], one female 5-10 [Emeline], and one female 10-15 [Lydia].

1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Emeline Chambers
Age: 19
Birth Year: abt 1831
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1850: District 54, Russell, Virginia
Gender: Female
able to read and write, is living in household number 1250 with her mother Nancy Chambers, along with Emeline's daughter, Allifair, age 6 months.

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Emiline J Chamber [Emiline J Chambers]
Age in 1860: 28
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Western District, Tazewell, Virginia
Gender: Female
Post Office: Cedar Bluff
Household Members:
Emiline J Chambers 28
Euphemia Chambers 11
Elbert W Chambers 7
James B Chambers 1
Chapman Elsick 23 [farm laborer]

1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Emeline Elswick
Age in 1870: 38
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Knob
Household Members:
Chapman Elswick 38
Emeline Elswick 38
Elbert W Elswick 16
Thomas D Elswick 14
James B Elswick 11
Buenavista Elswick 8
Dellie B Elswick 5
Nancy L Elswick 2

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Emaline Elswick
Age: 48
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Chapman Elswick
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Chapman Elswick 43
Emaline Elswick 48
Bunevista Elswick 18
Nancy L. Elswick 13
Lafayette Elswick 10
Mary Elswick 6

MARRIAGE RECORD

"Tazewell County (VA) Marriages", Register #3, Year 1863, transcribed by Pauline Haga.

Chapman S. Elswick, age 26 yr, 7 mon, 19 days, born in Tazewell Co, VA, son of William and Lucinda Elswick, married on 10 Sep 1863 Emeline S. Chambers, age 21, born in Russell Co, VA, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Chambers. Married by Patton J. Lockhart.

STORIES

It was said she was a "red-headed,full-blooded Irish woman," according to contemporary accounts. While her husband, Chapman Elswick, was fighting in the Shenandoah Valley, his family was facing uncertainty and hardships.

Emeline and another lady by the name of Polly Griffiths, wife of Martin Griffiths (29th VA Infantry CSA) dug coal to fill ox carts, and during the summer months, leaving their children behind, drove the carts pulled by oxen and they came down from the ridge [Pleasant Hill, Reynolds Ridge] between Big Creek and Middle Creek from Stinson Ridge to Cedar Bluff, then up to Frog Level, then across the mountain and down the valley to Saltville, Va. (which would have been 40-50 mile), where they traded the coal for salt.

On the way back they would stop and trade the salt for staples and supplies they needed on the farm. They would trade salt for food and vegetables with neighbors who would be able to tend their farms.

It was a long, arduous trip and demonstrated the fortitude and perseverance of women and what they had to do to survive.

Notes:

Married:
Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940
Name: Chapman S Elswick
Birth Date: 1837
Birthplace: Tazewell County, Va
Age: 26
Spouse's Name: Emeline J Chambers
Spouse's Birth Date: 1832
Spouse's Birthplace: Russell County, Va
Spouse's Age: 31
Event Date: 10 Sep 1863
Event Place: Tazewell, Virginia
Father's Name: William Elswick
Mother's Name: Lucinda
Spouse's Father's Name: Thomas Chambers
Spouse's Mother's Name: Nancy
Marital Status: Divorced
Spouse's Marital Status: Single
Spouse's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M01695-4
System Origin: Virginia-EASy
GS Film number: 34214
Reference ID: Page 15Line22

Other Events:

• _UID: FA120F381C8E4B7A93B74E79FCD9E53DCA46

Notes:

From Smythe County, moved to Tazewell Co. VA in 1850. Bought 246 acres at Belshee Ridge between Indian Creek and Beech Fork from Thomas and Anna Christian.

CENSUS RECORDS

1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Jame Whitaker [James Whitaker]
Age: 30
Birth Year: abt 1820
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1850: Western District, Tazewell, Virginia
Gender: Male
Proprery valued: $2000
Family Number: 1151
Household Members:
Jame Whitaker 30
Nancy Whitaker 33
Helen Whitaker 11
Jame Whitaker 6
Jno Whitaker 4
Gerry Whitaker 3
Alex Whitaker 0

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Jas Whitaker
Age in 1860: 45
Birth Year: abt 1815
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Western District, Tazewell, Virginia
Gender: Male
Post Office: Baptist Valley
Value of real estate: real estate valued at $1,200, personal property at $1,500
Household Members:
Jas Whitaker 45
Nancy Whitaker 47
Helen Whitaker 21
James Whitaker 16
John Whitaker 14
Jeremiah Whitaker 12
Alexander Whitaker 9
Hiram Whitaker 7
Jane Whitaker 5
Snead Whitaker 4
Nancy Whitaker 1

James enlisted, along with his sons William James and John to fight for the Confederacy. in Co. C of the 34th Virginia Cavalry under Col. W. A. Witcher. He is listed as Whitaker, Sr. J. with the rank of private.

James was killed by Union marauders or bushwackers at his gate. He lived on Belcher Ridge, later known as Whitaker Ridge, which straddled Tazewell County VA and McDowell Co. WV. This area was a battleground between Confederate and Union sympathizers, pitting neighbor against neighbor and sometimes splitting families. All of his neighbors supported the Confederacy, but the area wasn't immune from raiding parties of Union soldiers or Union partisans.

One piece of family lore that has been handed down is that he taught singing by notes and using a pitch pipe to get the key.

James married Nancy PETTS 27 Feb 1843, Smyth Co. VA. Nancy (daughter of Adam PETTS and Delilah Fanning) was born Jul 1824, Wythe County, VA; died Bef 1910. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: ED2CD93C2F07480CBA89EC9E907E8F6A8C7A

Notes:

from Bristol, VA area Moved family to KY after husband was killed in 1863. Went in a wagon with all her children and belongings. She returned after the war. Some of her children remained. Alex remained, living in Morgan Co., KY. He spelled his name Whiteaker and so did his children.

CENSUS RECORDS

1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Nancy Whitaker
Age: 33
Birth Year: abt 1817
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1850: Western District, Tazewell, Virginia
Gender: Female
Household Members:
Name Age
Jame Whitaker 30
Nancy Whitaker 33
Helen Whitaker 11
Jame Whitaker 6
Jno Whitaker 4
Gerry Whitaker 3
Alex Whitaker 0

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Nancy Whitaker
Age in 1860: 47
Birth Year: abt 1813
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Western District, Tazewell, Virginia
Gender: Female [in household of James Whitaker]
Post Office: Baptist Valley
Unable to read or write.
Household Members:
Name Age
Jas Whitaker 45
Nancy Whitaker 47
Helon Whitaker 21
James Whitaker 16
John Whitaker 14
Jeremiah Whitaker 12
Alexander Whitaker 9
Hiram Whitaker 7
Jane Whitaker 5
Snead Whitaker 4
Nancy Whitaker 1

1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Nancy Whitaker
Age: 75
Birth Date: Jul 1824
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Mother [in household of her son, Hiram Whitaker]
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia



Birth:
1900 Census Tazewell Co. VA, District 100. Listed in the household of Hiram Whitaker as mother age 75, birthdate listed as July, 1824.

Notes:

Married:
One record puts marriage in 1838, and another the month of Dec. 1843.

Source:
Virginia Marriages, 1740-1850

Groom Name: James S. Whitaker
Bride Name: Nancy Petts
Marriage Date: 27 Feb 1843
County: Smyth
State: Virginia

Original data: Dodd, Jordan R., et al.. Early American Marriages: Virginia to 1850. Bountiful, UT, USA: Precision Indexing Publishers.