Elijah G. Jeffries biography

Text:

E.G.Jeffries
The life of any true, upright citizen is of value to that locality in which he may reside, but of how much greater value must that person be who gives to the community and world at large a worthy family of children, who grow up to be useful men and women and respected members of society. Mr. Jeffries has been twice married and his first wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Winfrey, born in Kentucky July 5, 1831, daughter of John B. Winfrey, bore him three children: John B., born December 5, 1853; Thomas E., born March 4, 1856; and Elizabeth P., born November 19, 1858. Mrs. Jeffries died December 4, 1858, and on December 27, 1859, Mr. J. was united in marriage with Miss C.A. Heaton, daughter of Daniel and Mary *Cunningham) Heaton, Virginians by birth; she was born December 27, 1844 in Ohio, and her parental grandfather served as major in the Revolutionary War. By this last union there have been fourteen chidlren, the names and date of birth  of whom are as follows: James W., August 6, 1860; Samuel M., October 22, 1861; Mary M., December 31, 1862; Nannie H., March 12, 1864; Jeff. D., May 2, 1866, Robert Lee, October 11, 1867; Eliza G., May 7, 1869; Minnie A., February 25, 1871; George m., July 29, 1872; Charles B., May 29, 1874; Lettie J., April 28, 1876; R.A., March 20, 1878; Ivan C., February 2, 1880; and Jesse J., September 13, 1882. Mr. Jeffries is of Kentucky nativity, born in Hardin county, March 19, 1833. His father, Elijah Jeffries, of Jamestown, Va., was a Baptist minister, and after moving to Missouri preached in various counties in the northern part of the State for many years, organizing churches almost without number and winning many soulds from the world of sin. He died in Carroll county, where now resides his widow. The latter, formerly Elizabeth Marshall, was born in Hardin county, Ky., February 25, 1803, her marriage to Mr. J. occurring March 26, 1832. Her father was John M. Marshall, Esq., and her mother was a daughter of Col. B. Long, of Alabama, a colonel in the Revolutionary War. Their children besides Elijah were John M., Frances, Elizabeth R. B. G., H. B., Nannie C. and Zerilda C. Mr Jeffries accompanied his father on various moves made by that person and when the war broke out he enlisted from Carroll county June 16, 1861, in Col Pritchard's regiment, under command of Gen. William Y. Slack, taking part in all the engagements participated in by his company up to the surrender at Shreveport. After this he went to Illinois and in February 1879, settled in vernon county, Mo., where he now owns 240 acres of good land, which he is improving in an excellent manner. Politically he is a Democrat and he and his wife and six children are members of the Christian Church.

 -- Taken from History of Vernon County, Missouri, 1887. Published by Brown & Co., St. Louis, Missouri. pp472-473