Elizabeth Hawes ^{2 3 4 5 6 7 8}

  General Notes:

"Genealogy of the Houser, Rhorer, Dillman, Hoover Families", W. W. Houser, 1910:
(Copied from Atlanta [Illinois] newspaper of July 26, 1907)

There are few people in this neighborhood, except it be the younger generation, who do not know 'Aunt Betsy' Houser. Although she has not made Atlanta her home for several years, she is still loved and respected by many relatives and friends here. Lately several of her relatives have received specimens of her handiwork that are simply remarkable for one of her age. Much of the time she is busy with embroidery and fancy work. We have been shown several specimens of this work, and it is hard to believe it is the product of a woman now ninety-six years old. Aunt Betsy makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. N. J. Eddy [Nancy Jane Houser], at Weldon County, Iowa, and reports from her are to the effect that she retains her old time mental and physical vigor, her only trouble being occasional rheumatic twinges. She had good eyesight, is a great reader, keeps well posted on current events, and her memory is unimpaired. She promises to pass the century mark. We are pleased to print a picture of this memorable woman and it is an exceptionally good likeness. It was taken on her last visit to Atlanta about three years ago and shows four generations of the family.

Elizabeth Hawes was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, October 22, 1811, being a daughter of John and Elizabeth Hawes and the oldest of twelve children. Of these twelve children, only four are living, the subject of this sketch, Mrs. Kittie Bruner and Mrs. Sarah Ann Miller of Atlanta and Mrs. Susan Keefer, now living in Kansas. Elizabeth grew to womanhood in Kentucky, and was married there in 1831 to Aaron Houser. The young couple came to Illinois the following year, first locating at Springfield. In 1833 they came to Logan County and located on Sugar Creek in which is now Eminence Township. Here Mr. Houser engaged in farming until his death in 1863. The widow and her children remained on the farm for a number of years and then retired, since then living with her children. Mrs. Howser was the mother of seven children, four of whom are now living as follows: Peter Wilson (better known as Dick) and William Perry (sometimes called Button), of Atlanta; Mrs. Kate Adams, of Sioux City, Iowa; Mrs. N. J. Eddy, of Weldon, Iowa. There are numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren and hundreds of others in Atlanta and Eminence who claim a more or less distant relationship to Aunt Betsy through the Hawes or Houser families.
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  Noted events in her life were:

• She has alternate birth date of 1810 and a birth location of Kentucky.

This birth year was referenced by her age of 50 on the 1860 census.
. ⁴

• She appeared on the 1840 US Census in , Logan County, IL on June 1840. ¹⁰

1840 US Census
Page 246, Roll 63
, Logan County, Illinois
Females
20-30: 1 = (Elizabeth Howser, wife, age 29)

(Living with husband and 3 children.)
.

• She appeared on the 1850 US Census in , Logan County, IL on 1 November 1850. ³

1850 US Census
Page 224A, Dwelling 773, Family 782, Roll 116
, Logan County, Illinois
Elizabeth Houser..39..KY

(Living with husband, 5 children, and cousin of husband.)

NOTE - If her birth date was 22 Oct 1811, then her age should have been 38 instead of 39.
.

• She appeared on the 1860 US Census in Sugar Creek Precinct, Logan County, IL on 27 June 1860. ⁴

1860 US Census
Page 88, Dwelling 668, Family 670, Roll 200
Sugar Creek Precinct, Logan County, Illinois
E. Howser..50..KY

(Living with husband and 5 children.)

NOTE - If her birth date was 22 Oct 1811, then her age should have been 48 instead of 50.
.

• She appeared on the 1870 US Census in Eminence Township, Logan, IL on 2 July 1870. ⁵

1870 US Census
Page 29, Dwelling 194, Family 201
Eminence Township, Logan County, Illinois
Elizabeth Howser..58..KY..Keeps House
Wm P. Howser..24..IL..Farmer
Kate Howser..20..IL..At Home
Sallie Howser..10..IL..At Home
Aaron Howser..5..IL..At Home
John Hawes..79..MD..Farmer
Sallie Hawes..82..VA..At Home

(Elizabeth was widowed, living with 4 of her children, and had her father and mother living with her. )
.

• She appeared on the 1880 US Census in Tunbridge Township, DeWitt County, IL on 8 June 1880. ⁶

1880 US Census
Page 446D, District 78, Family 71, Roll 203
Tunbridge Township, DeWitt County, Illinois
Elizabeth Howser..Mother..69..KY..Help

(Widowed and living with her son, William Perry Howser and wife.)

NOTE - If her birth date was 22 Oct 1811, then her age should have been 68 instead of 69.
.

• She appeared on the 1900 US Census in Little Sioux Township, Harrison County, IA on 25 June 1900. ⁷

1900 US Census
Page 13A, District 83, Dwelling 25, Family 260
Little Sioux Township, Harrison County, Iowa
Farm owned, with mortgage
Elizabeth Howser..Mother-in-Law..Oct 1811..88..Wd..KY..6/5

(Widowed and living at the home of her with married daughter, Kate, and her family.)

NOTE - Elizabeth claimed that she had only a total of 6 children with 5 still alive. Records show that she had at least 10 children total. Of these 10, 4 are known to have already died: Jefferson in 1841, John in 1849, Francis "Frank" in 1861, and Elizabeth Sarah "Sallie" in 1899. It is believed that the youngest son, Aaron, Jr lived longer as there is a possible census record for him in 1920. The census record should have indicated 10 children/6 still alive.
.

• She was buried after 21 October 1909 in the Niblick Cemetery in Atlanta, IL.

The gravestone for Elizabeth is a small vertical face monument of a rose colored granite approximately 16" wide and 16" tall very similar in size and style to that of her husband. The inscription reads "Elizabeth Howser, 1811 - 1909".

Find A Grave Memorial #51449181
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Elizabeth married Aaron Howser, son of John Howser and Anna Maria Arnspiger, on 28 August 1833 in , Shelby County, KY.¹ (Aaron Howser was born on 18 September 1809 in Nicholasville, KY,^{2 3 9 11 12} died on 28 November 1863 in Eminence Township, Logan, IL ^{9 12} and was buried after 28 November 1863 in Niblick Cemetery, Atlanta, Logan, Illinois, United States ¹².)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They have conflicting marriage information of 1831 and Kentucky. ¹³

• They have conflicting marriage information of 25 August 1833 and , Shelby County, KY. ¹⁴

• They appeared on the 1840 US Census in , Logan County, IL on June 1840. ¹⁰

1840 US Census
Page 246, Roll 63
, Logan County, Illinois
Males
under 5: 1 = (Peter, son, age 1)
5-10: 1 = (Coleman, son, age 6)
30-40: 1 = Aaron Howser (age 30)
Females
under 5: 1 = (Nancy, daughter, age 3)
20-30: 1 = (Elizabeth Howser, wife, age 29)
.

• They appeared on the 1850 US Census in , Logan County, IL on 1 November 1850. ³

1850 US Census
Page 224A, Dwelling 773, Family 782, Roll 116
, Logan County, Illinois
Aaron Houser..40..KY..Farmer
Elizabeth Houser..39..KY
Coleman M. Houser..15..IL
Nancy J. Houser..13..IL
Peter W. Houser..11..IL
William P. Houser..4..IL
Kitty Anne Houser..10m..IL
Elizabeth Arnspiker..20..KY

NOTE - Elizabeth Arnspiker was a 1st cousin to Aaron. Her parents, Stephen Arnspiger and Catherine Houser, both died in 1847 and the children went to stay with relatives.
.

• They appeared on the 1860 US Census in Sugar Creek Precinct, Logan County, IL on 27 June 1860. ⁴

1860 US Census
Page 88, Dwelling 668, Family 670, Roll 200
Sugar Creek Precinct, Logan County, Illinois
Aaron Howser..51..KY..Farmer
E. Howser..50..KY
P. W. Howser..21..IL
Wm Howser..15..IL
Kate Howser..11..IL
Frank Howser..3..IL
F. Sarah Howser..11m..IL
.

  Marriage Notes:

Name: Aaron Howser
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Haws
Event Date: 28 Aug 1833
Event Place: , Shelby, Kentucky

Citing this Record
"Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F47W-LJS : 11 February 2018), Aaron Howser and Elizabeth Haws, 28 Aug 1833; citing , Shelby, Kentucky, reference ; FHL microfilm 259,273.
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