Eli Shearer

Notes:

Eli Shearer, retired farmer: P.O. West Milton; born in Ashe Co., N. C. in the year 1805; is the son of Abraham and Anna Shearer; his father was born in the same State, his mother in Pennsylvania, but was reared in North Carolina, in which state they were married and resided till their removal to this county and township in the year 1813; they lived on the east side of the Stillwater till their death; his father was born in 1779; he and his son Absolum were drowned in 1828, by the upsetting of a canoe in the Stillwater River; five others were with them who escaped; his mother was born in 1791 and died in 1831 or 1832; they were parents of twelve children, who lived to manhood and womanhood, and, so far as is know, six survive, viz., Eli, Mary, Philip, Martin, Hugh and Rebecca. Our subject was brought up on the farm and, being a natural mechanic,he engaged in wagon making, which he followed in this township for thirty years. In 1826, he was married to Matilda Fouts, by whom he had nine children, seven of whom are living, viz., Henry, Davis, Abijah, Anna, Titus, John and Elizabeth; the deceased are Susanna and on in infancy. Mrs. Shearer died in 1844, aged 37 years. His second marriage was celebrated with Rebecca (Kintzey) Fouts in 1845; to them four children have been born -- two living, viz., Oliver and Cornelius; he owns 114 acres of land on which he has resided thirty-three years, he and his wife have been members of the German Baptist Church for many years; his deceased wife was also a member of the same church. Jesse Fouts, first husband of Mrs. Shearer, died in 1844; they had three children, tow living, viz., Rachel and Ira; Silas deceased.--(from page 857 Miami Co Ohio History 1880)

Eli married Matilda Fouts on 8 May 1826 in West Milton, Miami County, Ohio, United States. Matilda was born on 20 Apr 1807 in Miami County, Ohio, United States; and died; was buried in May 1826 in Miami County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Anna Shearer was born on 13 Sep 1831 in Miami County, Ohio, United States; died on 29 May 1911 in West Milton, Miami County, Ohio, United States; was buried on 29 May 1911 in Nashville, Miami County, Ohio, United States.

Notes:

...The Shearers that came to Miami County Ohio were German immigrants who left Germany due to religious persecution. They were members of the German Baptist Church. In the year 1813 the first member of the family to arrive was Abraham Shearer who was born circa 1779 in Ashe County, North Carolina. He was the son of Christian & Sarah Shearer. Abraham married Hannah Brykett in North Carolina in 1801. Hannah was born 1791 and she died in Miami County in 1831. Abraham and Hannah were the parents of twelve children who all grew to adulthood. They were Absalom who married Mary Ann Krise, Eli who married Matilda Fouts and Rebecca Kinsey Pfoutz, Mary who married John Spencer, Susan married Leroy Miller, Andrew married Catherine Byrkett, Violet married Thomas Burns (no heirs), John died about 16 years old, Philip married Catherine Knife, Martin married Sarah A. Knight, Elizabeth married James Honeyman, Hughey married Elizabeth Slippy and Rebecca married Absalom Hyre.
...Abraham and his family built their home on the east side of the Stillwater River in Union Township in Miami County. Abrahm was a farmer and a cooper. There was a terrible accident on the river in 1828 jus south of West Milton near what is now the Prairie Ford Bridge and east of the old Pigeye school house. Abraham and six other persons were in a canoe attempting to cross the rain swollen river when the boat capsized and Abraham and his son Absalom drowned. at the estate sale all the items that were sold totaled $17.89.
...Eli Shearer was the second son of Abraham and after the death of his father and brother was the head of the household. He was born December 18, 1806 in North Carolina. He was a wheelwright by trade. On May 8, 1826, he was wed to Matilda Fouts who was born april 20, 1807. they were the parents of Henry, Davis, Abijah, Ann Titus, Susannah, John & Elizabeth and a child who died in infancy. Matilda Shearer died January 2, 1844 and is buried in the old Vore Cemetery.
...After the death of his first wife Matilda, Eli married the widow of Jesse Pfoutz, Rebecca Kinsey Pfoutz on September 22, 1845. She was the mother of three children. the family now consisted of eleven children and four more children were added to this union: Oliver B, Alvin, Cornelius and Emma.
...Eli was a man who in addition to his family took a great interest in his church. He was a deacon. He was on the committee which helped form the Middle District Church which was organized from the Hickory Grove Church on the East and Salem church on West and lies in Miami & Montgomery Counties between Miami & Stillwater Rivers and included the villages of Tippecanoe, Vandalia, Chambersburg, Ginghamsburg & Fidelity. The committee met on August 12, 1876 and formed the new organization with two ministers Samuel Coppock & Oliver F. Yount with Eli Shearer the ony deacon. Until the new church building was completed the group met in the Old Unon Church and had services every two weeks. The Middle District Church was copleted in November and on December 2, 1877 was dedicated. Eli was a large man who in his later years had snow white hair and a full white beard. In his will he chose the headstone he wanted placed on his grave. It was style #50 and was of italian marble and cost $30.00. Eli passed away January 12, 1881 aged 75 years, 25 days. He is buried in the old Vore Cemetery. the total cost of his burial cas & funeral was $47.00. His property inventory value was $285.24. (Source: Miami County Historical & Genealogical Society; typed and indexed by Lois J. Fair, "Miami County Family Histories Tired Iron book", (Ohio Genealogical Society. Miami County Historical & Genealogical Society, c2006 ), pg. 206)

Abraham married Hannah Byrket in 1801 in North Carolina, United States. Hannah was born in 1776 in North Carolina, British Colonial America; died in 1831 in Miami County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Hannah Burket