ELISHA STRATTON SHEFFIELD

Thomas Sheffield lived in Bedfordshire County, England, when he wrote in a book on February 28, 1821, a record of his children. He didn't record his or his wives birthdates. The four children listed below are assumed to be of a first marriage. John born July ll, 1812; Rachel born July 14, 1814; Joel born November 16, 1817; and Dorcus, no record of date of birth. The other four children listed below are assumed to be of his second marriage. Elijah born October 7, 1821; Elisha born February 17, 1824; Benjamin born March 28, 1828; and Ruth born October 15, 1832.


The only records concerning the children and their families are Elijah, Elisha, and Ruth. Elijah had three daughters, but no sons. Ruth married Zelotes Southwick and lived in Wisconsin. Elisha is the descendant which is recorded in this record.


Elisha Stratton Sheffield came to America at the age of 17, in the year 1841. Most of his youthful days were spent near Fort Madison, now known as Madison, Wisconsin. In 1846, he married Ann Kirby, born in Portage County, Ohio, on September l8, 1828. He was a preacher in the Church of God 7th Day.


Sometime between 1846 and 1849, ELisha's first child, James, was horn only to live six months. Then in 1849, twins were born. Lucian was stillborn, but Lucius lived. William Wallace was born in 1851, followed by Matilda Ann in 1854 and Lovilla Ruth in 1855. During these years, the family lived in Koshkonong, near Fort Atkinson in Rock County and near Westport in Dane County, Wisconsin.


The family moved to Illinois in the year of 1863. It was while they were there that they lived close to the Abel Robinson and the Samuel Stennett Davison families. Elisha had known these families from his parents in England. These families moved in 1864 to Center­ville, Iowa.


Elisha's seventh child, Thomas Kirby, was born in 1864 with the eighth child, Olive, being born in 1869. The following year, 1870, Matilda married Samuel Stennett Davison Jr., in Centerville, Iowa.


In 1872, Elisha moved his family to Woodward, Iowa, where he and Ann would remain until Ann's death in 1889. The remaining children were all married there.


In 1903, Elisha moved to Nebraska where Wallace and Clare were living. In 1907, he visited in Oklahoma Territory where his children; Matilda and Stennett Davison, Lucius and Priscilla, and Thomas Kirby and Arabelle, were living. While he was there he performed the wedding ceremony for his granddaughter, Blanche. She married Clarence Burrell.


After his visit to Oklahoma Territory, he returned to live in Nebraska with Wallace and Clare. He died in 1907 and is buried in Woodward, Iowa.