Elvira Searcy (Eakin) Wheless (1857 - 1918)

Born 6 Apr 1857 in Shelbyville, Bedford, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Died 25 Jun 1918 at age 61 in Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, United States

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Biography

Elvira Searcy Eakin was born on April 6, 1857, in Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee, to her parents John Rogers Eakin and Elizabeth Jane (Erwin) Eakin. Her early years were spent in various locations as her family moved, and in 1860, they resided in Washington Township, Hempstead County, Arkansas. By 1870, the Eakin family had settled in Ozan Township, Hempstead County, Arkansas.

In 1880, Elvira found herself in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. It was during this time that her life took a significant turn when she married Hewit Hobson Wheless on February 14, 1883, in Hempstead County, Arkansas. This union marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life.

By the turn of the century, in 1900, Elvira and her family had relocated to Police Jury Ward 3, Bossier Parish, Louisiana. Their presence in the region was further established in 1910 when they were living in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana.

Tragically, Elvira Searcy Eakin Wheless's life was cut short due to cardio vascular renal disease, and she passed away on June 25, 1918, in Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan. Her health had been deteriorating for some time, and her death was anticipated. At the time of her passing, she held a prominent position in the community of Shreveport, Louisiana, and was known for her active involvement in organizations such as the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Elvira was laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, leaving behind a legacy of community engagement and dedication to the causes she held dear. Her life journey, from her birth in Tennessee to her final resting place in Louisiana, is a testament to the rich tapestry of experiences that shaped her into the remarkable woman she became.

Sources

• 1860 United States Federal Census: The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Washington, Hempstead, Arkansas; Roll: M653_42; Page: 685; Family History Library Film: 803042 Ancestry Record 7667 #13087200
• 1870 United States Federal Census: Year: 1870; Census Place: Ozan, Hempstead, Arkansas; Roll: M593_54; Page: 440B Ancestry Record 7163 #13695693
• 1880 United States Federal Census: Year: 1880; Census Place: Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas; Roll: 54; Page: 303C; Enumeration District: 143 Ancestry Record 6742 #39716677
• 1900 United States Federal Census: Year: 1900; Census Place: Police Jury Ward 3, Bossier, Louisiana; Roll: 559; Page: 12; Enumeration District: 0018 Ancestry Record 7602 #21986871
• 1910 United States Federal Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: Shreveport Ward 6, Caddo, Louisiana; Roll: T624_510; Page: 1a; Enumeration District: 0045; FHL microfilm: 1374523 Ancestry Record 7884 #185341178
• Arkansas, U.S., County Marriages Index, 1837-1957: Ancestry.com. Arkansas, U.S., County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: "Arkansas County Marriages, 1838–1957." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009, 2011. "Arkansas County Marriages, 1838–1957," database, FamilySearch; from Arkansas Courts of Common Pleas and County Clerks. Digital images of originals housed at various county courthouses in the State of Arkansas. Marriage records. Ancestry Record 2548 #2852336
• Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books (152 Vols.): National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books (152 Vols.) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2000. Original data: National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. Lineage Books of the Charter Members of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Vol. I-CLII (152). Note on Publishing: Since this database represents a compilation of 151 volumes, the years and locations of copyright information varies, according to each volume, i.e. Volume 8 was published in 1899 in Washington, D.C., volume 63 was published in 1923, also in Washington, D.C., and volume 152 was published in 1938, also in Washington, D.C. Ancestry Record 3174 #71310
• Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952: Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics; Lansing, Michigan; Death Records Ancestry Record 60872 #1016472
• Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1897-1929: The Library of Michigan; Lansing, Michigan; Michigan Death Records Project; Rolls: 1-302; Archive Barcode/Item Number: 30000008533816; Roll Number: 253; Certificate Number: 313 Ancestry Record 1561 #1910692
• Newspaper Clipping, The Times, Shreveport, Louisiana, 26 Jun 1918, Wed. - Page 2. "Mrs. Wheless Funeral Here." Accessed 21 Sep 2023.
• Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20038458/elvira-searcy-wheless: accessed 21 September 2023), memorial page for Elvira Searcy Eakin Wheless (6 Apr 1857–25 Jun 1918), Find A Grave: Memorial #20038458, citing Greenwood Cemetery, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, USA; Maintained by Heather (contributor 46785492).