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About James Abner Eiland:

James Abner Eiland
Birth: Dec. 3, 1843, Crenshaw County, Alabama, USA,
Death: May 2, 1920, Pasco County, Florida, USA

CSA, Company F, 33rd Alabama Volunteer Infantry also known as the "Covington and Coffee Grays." James was the first child born to Levi Daniel Eiland. Jr. and Polly Pippet. After Polly's death in the late 1840's, Levi Eiland married Lydia Ann Whatley and together they raised at least five children. By 1850, Levi and Lydia had acquired 40 acres of property in the Brantley area of Covington County, Alabama. In addition, by 1856 they had acquired a 40 acre tract of property in the Union Community. These small communities were located near the boarder of Covington and Coffee County, Alabama until 1866 when a portion of Covington County became that of Crenshaw County. It was here that Levi Daniel raised his family. (There are many researchers who have confused James Abner with his two cousins whose names were James Aaron and James Absalom as all three were known as James A. and were raised in the same area of Alabama)

At the outbreak of the Civil War, James Abner did not enlist right away, for reasons unknown today, after all he was old enough being 18 years of age. It was not until 1864, that James enlisted. Going to the Rose Hill Post Office in Covington County, James enlisted for services and was mustered in with Company "F" of the 33rd Alabama Volunteer Infantry. Company "F" being comprised of residents of both Covington and Coffee Counties. They would became known as the "Covington and Coffee Grays." The 33rd Alabama Infantry had actually been organized two years prior, on April 23, 1862, at Pennsecola, Florida. On May 25, 1864 the 33rd Alabama was engaged in the Battle of New Hope Church, near to Atlanta, Georgia. Sometime during this engagement, James was struck in the left side of his chest with a minnie ball fired from Union lines. Records indicate that the shot badly tore at his insides and his lungs were badly torn causing extensive bleeding. As a result, James was taken to the Meridian Mississippi Hospital where after three to four weeks he was given a 30-day sick furlough, due to his weak lungs and his likelihood of contracting a cough from others around him.

After given his sick furlough, James returned home where he was able to recover from his wounds. During this time of recovery, the war ended and James was honorably discharged. He began working around his father's farm. James met a young neighborhood girl by the name of Susan Taylor. On December 24, 1873, James and Miss Susan Taylor were married in Covington County. The known children to this union were: Mary "Molly" A. Eiland b. 27 January 1879 d. 25 July 1885; Levi Washington b. 12 January 1883 d. 23 September 1937; William Henry b. 09 October 1884 d. 10 September 1978; James Aaron b. 25 December 1885 d. 21 August 1924; and Roxy b. April 1890 d. unk.

In 1873, James' father moved from Alabama to Pasco County, Florida where he settled in the small but growing community of Fort Dade which would later be known as Dade City. Although his father moved, James decided to remain in Alabama, with his family, for a few years. Sometime around 1883, James decided to relocate his family to Pasco County, Florida. Where he settled near his father and brothers in the small small community. Within a few years of relocating, James also acquired property through private acquisition. On his property James would plant and engage citrus farming and in 1886 was listed among the orange growers of the Fort Dade entry in the Florida Gazetteer. In addition to his orange grove and farm, James also owned a simple home where he and his family lived.

By 1903, life began to somewhat change for James for reasons unknown today. Susan divorced James taking their children back to Alabama. James remained in Florida and in 1907 is recorded to having owned 41 acres of property located near Dade City, where he continued to engage in farming. In addition, James wrote that he owned an old wagon and buggy, which he likely used for the farming of his property and traveling about the county. James owned three head of cattle and 28 hogs. By 1909, James had increased his property holdings in Dade City and is recorded as owning 81 acres of property, all located near Dade City. James still continued to engage and rely on farming his property as a means of support. In addition, James had acquired a horse and still owned his three head of cattle, these likely being milk and meat cattle. James continued to raise hogs on his property, however he had reduced the size of his stock by 1909, only owning 19 head. It is likely that James was selling these hogs to supplement his earnings from his farm crops and orange groves.

James had been living as a single divorced man since about 1903, however in 1918 after reconciling their differences, Susan and James remarried on May 25, 1918. It was a small wedding ceremony held in Dade City and performed by A. J. Burnside. After they remarried records show James and Susan lived in Dade City with their son, James. Almost two years to the date of their remarriage, James would succumb to death and passed away May 02, 1920. James Abner was laid to rest in the small Eiland family plot located in the Mt. Zion Cemetery located in Dade City where his father was also laid to rest. Susan and the children raised a headstone in James' memory. Her Florida Confederate Pension was approved.
Burial:, Mount Zion Cemetery, Dade City, Pasco County, Florida, USA, Plot: Row 20W, lot 26
Maintained by: MEMORIES, Originally Created by: Jaimeleigh Arnold, Record added: May 18, 2000, Find A Grave Memorial# 4200191

Name: James Abner Eiland
Death date: 02 May 1920
Death place: Dade City, Pasco, Florida
Gender: Male
Race or color (on document): White
Race or color (expanded): White
Age at death: 76y 5m
Birth date: 03 Dec 1843
Birth place: Crenchahau Co. Alabama
Marital status: Married
Spouse name: Susan B. Eiland
Father name: Lewis Eiland
Father birth place: Crenchahau Co, Alabama
Mother name: Unknown
Mother birth place: Unknown
Occupation: Farming
Cemetery name: Mt. Zion
Burial place: Dade City, Florida
Burial date: 03 May 1920

1900 census: Dade City, Pasco Co, Florida
Willim Larkin 28
Sophronia Larkin 23
Emma L Larkin 6
Cora B Larkin 4
Jessie G Larkin 2
Edith C Larkin 4.12
James A Eiland 54
John E Dewine 19

1910 census Dade, Pasco Co, Florida
Ab Eiland 66
Nancy P Eiland 54
Levi Eiland 86

Home in 1920: Dade City, Pasco, Florida
James A Eiland 34
Rosa H Eiland 35
Pauline L Eiland 5
Eorence C Eiland 2 6/12
James A Eiland 6/12
James Abner Eiland 76
Susan B Eiland 66
Teresa Studetill 19

About Susan Rebecca Taylor:

Name: Susia Rebecca Eiland
Death date: 14 Apr 1938
Death place: West Dade City, Pasco, Florida
Gender: Female
Race or color (on document): White
Race or color (expanded): White
Age at death: 85y 2m 20d
Birth date: 24 Jan 1853
Birth place: Coffee Co, Ala.
Marital status: Widowed
Spouse name: Abner Eiland
Father name: Geo. Washington Taylor
Father birth place: Ala.
Mother name: Olivia Donaldson
Mother birth place: Coffee County, Ala.
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Dade City, Fla.
Cemetery name: Mt. Zion
Burial date: 15 Apr 1938

Florida State Census, 1867-1945
Name: S.B Eiland
Age: 81
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Place: Alabama
Est. Birth Year: abt 1854
Relationship to Head: Mother
Census Year: 1935
Locality: Precinct 24
County: Pasco
S.B Eiland 81