Documented History
In 1880, according to the Census, E. Sarah lived with her husband, William Buchanan, in Denison, Lawrence County, Illinois with their two sons. William was 29 years old and E. Sarah was 21 years old at the time.
Their sons were Frank, 1 year old, and Harley, 1 month old. William was a farmer and E. Sarah kept house.
William was born in Illinois but his parents were bornin Kentucky. E. Sarah and her parents were born in Missouri. The children were born in Illinois.
According to the Census, Lizzie lived with her husband and children in 1900, still in Denison, Lawrence County, Illinois. Her husband was 50 year old William Buchanan, born in August 1849. Lizzie was 43 years old and born in September 1856.
Their children were: Maurice G. – age 16 – born November 1883, Harrison – age 10 – born August 1889, Burton – age 9 – born May 1891, Purl – age 6 – born June 1893, and Mary F. – age 4 – born November 1895.
William was a farmer and Maurice G. was a farm laborer at the time. Harrison and Burton were at school.
In 1910, according to the United States Federal Census, Sara E. was 53 years old and lived with her husband, William Buchanan – age 60.
They had been married 32 years by this time. They still had two children living with them, Pearl – age 16, and Florence – age 14.
According to the United States Census, in 1920, Elizabeth was a widow living with her two youngest children. Elizabeth was 61 years old at the time.
Pearl E. was 26 and Florence M. was 24 years old. They still lived in Denison, Lawrence County, Illinois. Elizabeth owned the home. None of the three were working at the time.
In 1940, Elizabeth lived with her youngest daughter and son-in-law in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. She was 81 years old at the time.
Mary F. was 44 years old and married to James C. Murray, 59. They lived at 5480 Illinois in a house worth $9,000 that James owned.
James was born in Kentucky and worked as a salesman for a wholesale mining company. His salary was $5,000 and he worked for 52 weeks that year.
Death
According to Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011, Elizabeth Buchanan was hospitalized 10 days prior to her death at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. She was a widow of William Buchanan.
Her birth date was 18 September 1858, she was 86 years, 1 month, and 7 days old when she passed on 27 October 1944 of Intestinal Obstruction due to Arteriosclerosis and Hypertension .
Her father was Fred Stiglet born in Missouri and her mother was Mary Bixby, also born in Missouri. The informant was Ben Buchanan. Elizabeth was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery.
Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1940-1955 reported Elizabeth’s passing on 28 October 1944. She was 86 years old at the time and had been born in St. Louis, Missouri. At the time of her passing, she lived in Lawrence County, according to her obituary.
Her spouse was listed as William Buchanan and her children listed as Florence Murray, Pearl Frout, M.G. Buchanan, Benjamin Buchanan, and Burt Buchanan.
I have found some facts that aren’t necessarily verified by official records, such as the marriage date for Lizzie and William. I did not add those here as actual events but I will come back and add them later when I’m able to locate solid records for them. If you knew Lizzie or her family, I would love for you to share in the Comments section. I will come back and update this post periodically as I find additional information and I’d love to add your contribution to her story.
For now, take care and hug your loved ones!
~Kris
