More Information:

About Absalom Eiland:

1850 United States Federal Census
Home in 1850 (City,County,State): E C River, Bibb, Alabama
Francis Island 39
Elmina Island 37
Absalom Island 16
James Island 9
Maram Island 5
Perdity Island 3
Rebecca Ann Island 1

1880 census Clanton, Chilton Co, Alabama
Absolom EILAND Self , M , Male , W , 46 , AL , GA , GA , Farmer
S. A. EILAND Wife , M , Female , W , 33 , AL , SC , SC , Keeping House
Felix EILAND Son , S , Male , W , 14 , AL , AL , AL ,
F. M. EILAND Son , S , Male , W , 12 , AL , AL , AL ,
Julia EILAND Dau , S , Female , W , 8 , AL , AL , AL ,
Rebecca EILAND Dau , S , Female , W , 6 , AL , AL , AL ,
J. M. EILAND Son , S , Male , W , 5 , AL , AL , AL ,
Frank EILAND Son , S , Male , W , 3 , AL , AL , AL ,
Julian EILAND Dau , S , Female , W , 4M , AL , AL , AL ,
Rebecca CHRISTIAN MotherL , W , Female , W , 65 , SC , SC , SC ,

Home in 1900: Strasburg, Chilton, Alabama
Absalom Eiland 65 , July, 1834, M 35, Al, Ga, Ga, farmer
Sarah Ann Eiland 53 , Feb 1847, M 35, 13 children, 12 living, Al, SC, SC
Elmina R Eiland 26 , daughter, Feb 1874, Al, Al, Al
Charlie N Eiland 18 son, Nov 1881, Al, Al Al, farm labor
Perdita E Eiland 16 , daughter, Mar 1884, Al, Al, Al
Callie E Eiland 14 , daughter, Apr 1886, Al, Al, Al
Jennie Eiland 11 daughter, Dec 1888, Al, Al, Al
Terance V P Eiland 8 , son, Jan 1892, Al, Al, Al

AL CIVIL WAR RECORD
Last Name: Eiland
First Name: Absalam MI:
Date of Birth: 1834/07/25
Discharge Date: 1865/05/07
Discharge Info: Ms, Meridian, Paroled.
Branch: Infantry
Regimental Unit: 29th AL Regiment
Company Unit: D
Authority: Census, Tax Collector, Chilton Co, Al 1907-8.
Enlistment Date: 1863/10/00
Enlistment Info: AL, Pollard, Private.
Remarks: Address 1907-8: Thorsby, Al

AL state marriage record
Spouse 1: Absolom Eiland
Spouse 2: Sarah Ann Christian
Marriage Date: 05 Oct 1865
Marriage Place: Autauga
Surety/Bond Date: 29 Sep 1865
Surety/Perf. Name: A. B. Hill

The following biography is from:
Wyatt, Thomas Eugene, Chilton County and her people : a brief history Clanton, Ala.: The Union-Banner, 1960 i.e. 1950, 174 pgs.

Among the leading pioneer citizens of the western part of Chilton county was Ab Eiland. At the age of thirty-two in the year 1865, he married Annie Christian and they raised 12 children to be grown. Felix, now living in Thorsby, is the oldest child. Seven others are still living. This frontiersman, native of South Carolina, settled in the woods near the head of Mulberry creek, and hewed out the heavy logs to build his dwelling. By hard work, thrift, and economy, he was able to buy up 650 acres of land.

He gave each of his children 40 acres of land and had 4 forties left. His accomplishments about his home were many. He was a public syrup maker; his mill was under a large shed that covered the cane bins and pan. He could make syrup rain OR shine. He did much blacksmith work for his neighbors, and being a cabinet maker, he made nearly all the caskets for the dead in the community.

Ab Eiland owned and operated his own tannery, made the family's shoes with his own cobbler's tools. He was a public spirited man and gave lots of effort to education. He contributed money and work to Rehobeth, Crossroads, Pine, Oak and Littlejohn schools, Also he gave time, money and effort to the building of Old Mulberry, Old Liberty, Rehobeth, and Cedar Grove churches. He was the master workman of the Knights of Labor in Chilton County. He took an active part in The Farmer's Alliance. Being a Republican, he had no party until 1898, but gave his moral support to the Populists. He and Thomas E White, the first editor of The Banner, were great friends. The flocks of sheep, hogs and cattle owned by him were innumerable. The stamina of Ab Eiland was awe-inspiring, for he accomplished more in his day than any other individual around him. His mechanical tools, including his farm implements, 90 per cent hand made, were a show to look at.

He died in 1894 and was buried beside his wife in Cedar Grove cemetery.

NOTE: There are some discrepancies in the above article from other information - birth location, date of death, location of burial.

About Sarah Ann (Annie) Christian:

Name: Sara Ann Christian Eiland
Death date: 01 Nov 1937
Death place: Thorsby, Chilton, Alabama
Gender: Female
Age at death: 90y
Estimated birth year: 1847
Spouse name: Abb Eiland
Father name: Sam Christian
Mother name: Rebecca Kay

1870 United States Federal Census
Home in 1870: Precinct 3, Baker, Alabama
Absolom Eiland 36 , farmer
Ann Eiland 23 , keeping house
Rebecca Christian 63 , mother in law
Felix Eiland 4
Francis M Eiland 2
Joseph M Eiland 3/12

Home in 1930: Thorsby, Chilton, Alabama
John Littlejohn 55
Jmlissa E Littlejohn 58
Myrtle E Littlejohn 29
Sarah A Eiland 83

Home in 1920: Clanton, Chilton, Alabama
Tarance Eiland 26
Bettie Eiland 25
Cecil Eiland 3 4/12
Marion Eiland 2 11/12
Grady Eiland 4/12
Annie Eiland 72

Home in 1910: Precinct 4, Chilton, Alabama
Annie Eiland un, widow , head, farmer
Perdita Eiland 26 , son, farm labor
Terance Eiland 18 , daughter, farm labor

Christian, Sarah Ann February 25, 1847 November 01, 1937
(1) Genealogical Abstracts from Chilton County Newspapers 1898 through 1945, compiled by Cecil Little, 11-04-1937, Mrs. Sarah Ann Christian Eiland, age 90, died at the home of her Daughter, Mrs. J.E. Littlejohn, Monday. She was born Feb. 26, 1847. Burial was at Cedar Grove. She was the Widow of Absalom Eiland. Survived by 5 Sons, Felix of Thorsby, Frances Marion of Underwood, J.H. Eiland and C. N. Eiland of Clanton Route 4, T.V. Eiland of Thorsby Route 1, 7 Daughters, Mrs. J.N. Littlejohn, Mrs. Rebecca Riggins, Mrs. Frances Riggins, Mrs. Seburn Riggins, Mrs. C.C. Hayes, Mrs. James Price, and Mrs. Jennie Riggins.(2) Cemeteries of Chilton by Benjamin D. Roberts, page 164, Eiland, Sarah Ann 1847 1937.