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ELSA (or ELSIE TISDALE) NEWTON By Myron L. Newton, Jr.
Born 1809 or 1814 and probably died 1841~1849 or 1860~1870. She may have been the “Lois” who lived in Boone County, Illinois in 1860 and/or the “Mrs Newton” who is buried in the Belvidere Cemetery, Belvidere, Illinois. Other variations of her first name might be “L.C.” or “Lucinda”, Lois, Louisa, or Eloise. Most of the information below is speculative and, to date, she has not been positively identified other than her reference in the Small Newton Family Bible and the genealogical compilation, Newton Genealogy, by Ermina Newton Leonard. See caution note and speculative material later in this document. Do not copy and place any of this material on the internet until it has been proven. (Myron L. Newton, Jr. 7 Aug 2014)
Elsa Newton, aka Elsey Tisdale, was the daughter of Reuben and Eunice (Manley) Newton, however little is known about this person and only two documents of any credibility mention her name. The first record referred to her Elsa Newton and the second referred to her as Elsey Tisdale. She is the only child of Reuben and Eunice who has not been extensively researched where spouses and children were identified and documented. The first record mentioning her existence is The Small Newton Family Bible that recorded the birth dates of the eight children of Reuben and Eunice. Elsa Newton, with a birth date of March 24, 1809, is listed between her siblings Lyman and Jesse. There is no reason to doubt the validity of Elsa’s existence since this bible is very old and handed down to this author (as of 8/1/2014) through his direct line of ancestry back to Lyman Newton, the brother of Elsa. One weak link of proving absolutely Elsa’s existence and birth date is that the list of birth dates were recorded in the same writing style and written with the same quill pen characteristics (click here to see this document). The list must have been created after the August 1821 birth of the youngest Newton child, Sally since she was the last person listed. It is logical to believe that this bible list was created either from an older bible or from the personal knowledge of whoever may authored the birth list. All the other persons on this list, i.e. Elsa’s siblings, have been extensively researched and their birth years match those given on the bible list. The other record that mentions this person appears in the extensive genealogical compilation, Newton Genealogy, by Ermina Newton Leonard (click here to see this document). Unfortunately, Ms. Leonard’s list is unreferenced, but a person named Elsey Tisdale, with a birth date of March 24, 1814, is listed along with six other Newton siblings (Sally is missing in this list). Ms. Leonard did not address the issue of why she was listed as Elsey Tisdale, so for the time being it is assumed that she wed a person with the Tisdale surname. There is no explanation on the difference of the birth years listed for Elsa/Elsey, i.e. 1809 vs 1814, however since the month and day are the same it gives credibility to the existence of this daughter of Reuben and Eunice Newton and that the year was a transcription error from some other document. Little is known about this person and only two documents of any credibility mention her name. The first record called her Elsa Newton and the second referred to her as Elsey Tisdale Newton.
See caution note and speculative material below.
Caution: The material below are working notes and for the most part in is speculation and is not supported by primary references. Do not copy and place on the internet. It is placed here for myself and other interested parties to use for research.
Working notes: Basic assumptions about Elsa Newton
1. Assumed: Elsa Newton was the daughter of Reuben and Eunice Newton and born in New York State on either March 24, 1809, or March 24, 1814. New York State as a birth location is true since it is known that the Reuben Newton family moved to New York from Vermont sometime after the birth of Elsa’s oldest sibling, Nathaniel. The birth of Elsa’s other siblings indicate that Elsa was born in either Onondaga County or Truxton County, New York. (Note – Cortland County was created in April 1808 from the southern half of Onondaga County). 2. Assumed: Neither Elsa nor Elsey was her real given name, but a nickname. She may have been the person named Lois Tisdale found in later censuses. Elsa, Elsey or Lois could all be nicknames for the same given name, perhaps Eloise or Eloisa. Elsey may also have been referring to the first letters of her first and middle name if they were “L. C.”. (See assumption #5). 3. Assumed: Elsa did not die young and lived in Cattaraugus County, New York in her late teens, and married a person with Tisdale surname who also lived in Cattaraugus County. Two Tisdale families lived in Cortland County, New York according to the 1820 U.S. Census but she would have been too young to marry in Cortland County. (See assumption #5). 4. Assumed: She was somehow related to a person name Harmon J. Tisdale, whose photograph appeared in Newton memorabilia with the written words “distant cousin” on the back of the photo. 5. Assumption: The final assumption, which may offer the best hope of identifying Elsa, is that she married a person whose surname was Tisdale and that she was the “Lois” Tisdale, born about 1808, who was enumerated with him in Cattaraugus County, New York; Lorain County, Ohio; and Boone County, Illinois. In this case we would have to assume that Elsey was a nickname derived from the letters of the first names. This is the key assumption that allows the following premise to be developed. Unfortunately, marriages were not recorded in any official record during the early 1800’s in Cattaraugus County.
Working notes: Speculation on the life of Elsa Newton Tisdale
As of this writing (8/7/2014) I have no proof that ties Elsa/Elsey Newton to Otis Tisdale, however circumstances make Otis the lead candidate to be the spouse of Elsa/Elsey. Most of the material below is in support of that supposition.
Martha Benson Newton (1844 – 1928), the wife Myron L. Newton (1836–1907), kept a family photo album that was handed down through the Newton family to me (Myron L. Newton, Jr. One of the photographs is labeled “distant cousin” on the front and “Harman J. Tisdale–Hannibal, Missouri” on the back (see image). Discovering who Harmon Tisdale was and how he was related to the Newton family is perhaps the best lead in developing more information about Elsa. The lives of Elsa’s siblings have been successfully researched and documented and the Tisdale surname has not been seen in any of their descendants. That leaves Elsa as the only child of Reuben and Eunice to be related to a Tisdale. Other than the Small Newton Bible, the most obvious clue to a Newton-Tisdale relationship can be found in the 1830 U.S. New York Census for Cattaraugus County, Town of Cecilius (later named Mansfield). In this census the Reuben Newton family was enumerated next to the Otis Tisdale family and further examination of the census data presents a possibility that Elsa was the wife of Otis. Two siblings of Otis’, Rufus and Simeon, resided in the nearby Town of Little Valley in Cattaraugus County, and although neither can be totally ruled out as being a potential spouse of Elsa, various documents suggest that this was not the case. A number of online family trees, unfortunately not referenced, give Rufus’s wife’s name as Nancy McCreary and the only female in the Simeon Tisdale family per the 1830 U.S. Census was between the age of 40 and 50. An unreferenced online FamilySearch document notes that Otis Tisdale, Jr. married a woman named Lois around 1830 in Cecilius Townshp, Cattaraugus County, New York. This person was born in 1809, suggesting that Elsa and Lois where the same person, however the 1850 U.S. Census, which will be addressed later, suggests that Lois might have actually been the second wife of Otis. If Elsa and Lois were the same person it offers a platform to build upon the Newton-Tisdale connection. Also, one wonders if the given names of Elsa, Elsey and Lois are nicknames for a common given name such as Eloisa or Louisa. If Elsa did marry around 1830 it must have taken place in Cattaraugus County since Lyman Newton, Elsa’s brother, stated in a published biography that he arrived in Cattaraugus County in March 1824. Elsa would have been no more than 15 in that year. Conditions around the Newton and Tisdale farms were very primitive and a marriage would normally take place at the home of the bride or groom. Unfortunately, no records of any local marriages in that time frame have been discovered in genealogical records, libraries, or the Cattaraugus Courthouse. Other than the name of the head-of-household, the 1830 U.S. Census provided only columns representing various age groups of the people living in the household. Reuben Newton’s enumeration accounted for Reuben, his wife Eunice, and five children, but did not record a female that would have matched Elsa’s age. Assuming the 1809 birth year for her was correct then the census should have counted at least one female in the “Of twenty and under thirty” column, but it was left blank. If 1814 is considered as the Elsa’s birth year then she would have appeared in the “Of fifteen and under twenty” column in the census, but there is only one female noted in this column and that would have been Eunice who was born in 1812 and did not marry until 1831. The Otis Tisdale family, per the 1830 Census, numbered three persons. Otis, the head-of-household and who is believed to have been born in 1799, is shown in the “Of thirty and under forty” column. One female is counted in the “Of twenty and under thirty” column and this would match Elsa’s age of 21 on the enumeration date of June 1. Also counted was one male child under the age of five. Otis Tisdale, Jr., is believed to be the person enumerated in the above mentioned census. Records found at Familysearch.com note that he was the child of Otis and Rachel Hall Tisdale. Most information found on the Internet indicates that Otis, Jr. was born in Halifax, Windham County, Vermont on March 29, 1799. One unreferenced FamilySearch record provided a list of children born to Otis and Lois. None of the children were born in 1830 or sooner so it is possible that the male child enumerated in the 1830 Census either died at a young age, or is possibly the Newton Tisdale addressed later in this document. The youngest child of Otis and Lois documented by FamilySearch was Mary J. Tisdale who was born in the Town of Cecilius, Cattaraugus County, New York in 1831. The next child attributed to Otis and Lois is Gilbert J. Tisdale who reportedly was born on May 18, 1834, in Lorain County, Ohio. This gives some credibility to a Newton-Tisdale union since Elsa’s brother Lyman and his wife, Sarah, had their first child in Ridgeville, Lorain County, Ohio in September 1834. Eunice Newton King, a sister to Elsa, also gave birth to children in Lorain County in 1833 and 1834. One other Tisdale child, Edgar, was born in Lorain County in 1838. Otis Tisdale and his family were next found in the 1840 U.S. Illinois Census for Manchester Township, Boone County. This census, like the 1830 U.S. Census, only recorded the name of the head-of-household and questions were to be answered as if the enumeration date June 1. Otis was correctly placed in the “40 and under 50” column and there was an unknown female in the “50 and under 60” column. The census noted another female between the age of 20 and 30. If Elsa was born in March 1809 then she should have appeared in the “30 and under 40” column, but this column was left blank. The census would be correct if Elsa was born in 1814 or anytime after June 1, 1810, however it is not unusual in census enumerations where individuals use dates that make them younger. Also counted in the Tisdale family were one female child under age five, two female children between five and nine, two male children between 10 and 14, and one male person between age 20 and 29. The number of children, ages, and sex does not match up with the FamilySearch data mentioned earlier, but perhaps some of the children belonged to Otis’ brother, Rufus, who was enumerated nearby with his family. The 1850 U.S. Census found the Otis Tisdale family in Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin which is just across the Illinois state line from where they were found in 1840. If the enumeration is correct then it suggests that Elsa died before this census was taken since the column “Married within the year” is checked for both Otis and his wife, who is named Lois. Lois was enumerated as being born in New York and age 42, which would have pointed to about the time Elsa was born. If Lois was actually Elsa the enumeration about being married within the past year would have to in error. The only logical way that Elsa, also called Elsey in the Newton Family Bible is that her given names started with “L C” (Elsey). Two children resided with Otis and Lois in 1850, 11 year-old Asentha and nine-year-old Sally. The census indicated that both children were born in Wisconsin, but FamilySearch noted that they were both born in Illinois. This discrepancy can be understood since, as mentioned earlier, Rock County, Wisconsin and Boone County, Illinois share a common border. Sally was reportedly born in 1841 so it would appear that Elsa, assuming she is not the Lois in the 1850 Census, died between 1841 and 1849. She may have died in the Town of Manchester, Boone County, Illinois where Sally was born or in Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin where Otis lived in 1850. At this time this another census record should be mentioned that might affect future discussions of Otis’s children, albeit a bit confusing. The 1850 U.S. Ohio Census enumerated an Olivia (or Elvira) E. Tisdale in Ridgeville Township, Lorain County. Olivia was age 39 and no adult males appeared in her household. Three children lived with her; Gilbert, Edgar and Rachall (sic). It’s possible that Gilbert and Edgar were not her children since children with those same names and birth years are attributed to Otis per FamilySearch records. Olivia, although there is an outside possibility that she is our Elsa, was probably the wife, or widow, of Simeon Tisdale. It is possible that the death of one or more Tisdale adults around this time meant placing some children with their aunts or uncles, thus masking the true family relationship in census records and FamilySearch Records. Could “Olivia” have had a nickname of “L.C.”, aka Elsey, if her middle initial was “C”. If Elsa Newton was the first wife of Otis Tisdale, the mother of his children, and died between 1841 and 1849, then some supporting documents must be found. The most logical place to look is in the Town of Manchester, Boone County, Illinois or Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin. On January 23, 2009, a request by writing was made to the Boone County Historical Museum for them to search their local records for any Tisdale that might match Elsa, however this request was never answered. Recently (2014) two Family Data records were viewed at Ancestry.com. They both showed that Otis Tisdale and wife Lois had a child, Sarah Tisdale. One record noted that she was was born in Boone Co, Manchester Township, Illinois in 1840 and married an unknown person on December 30, 1858. The other record showed that Sally Tisdale was born to Otis and Lois in 1841. They are assumed to be the same person.
The 1855 Illinois State Census enumerated E. L. Tisdale in Boone County (per Familysearch). There were six people in the household. E.L. Tisdale may have been Edgar, son of Otis and Lois but he would only have been age 18 and with six persons in the household, with him the head, makes it questionable. This may have been Elias Lee Tisdale (1816-1894), genealogy unknown, how lived in Boone County. In 1855 only R. Tisdale and E. L. Tisdale were enumerated. This must have been Rufus and E.L.
Rufus Tisdale also lived in Boone County.
A family tree found on Ancestry.com listed Otis Tisdale II, the son of Otis Tisdale and Rachel Hall. He was married to Lois, who was born in 1808 in New York, and they had six children. Mary (b. 1825), Gilbert J. (b 1828), Sarah III (b. 1830), Asenath (b. 1834 – 1879)), Edgar (b. 1837), and Sally (b. 1841). It is unknown what was used to determine all the children and their birthdates. According to this family tree Otis Tisdale II died in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri on September 29, 1875.
James S. Eaton married Sarah Tisdel (Tisdale), daughter of Lois and Otis Tisdel, in Belvidere, Boone, County, Illinois. James S. and Sarah have one son, James Parley after the father he never knew. The family moved with James S’s step and half siblings and mother, Betsey Williams to Shasta County, California. James Parley Eaton (son of James S) married Mary Winifred Gilbert and they had six children: William Leven Elizabeth Jane Charlotte Alice Newton Reference: http://genforum.genealogy.com/eaton/messages/6603.html
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Martin Johnson [email protected] Oct 2, 2010
Index to Helen Williams' "Belvidere, Boone County,
Illinois, Death Notices & Obituaries 1851-1899".
Tisdale, Lois - 1888 (this conflicts with findagrave and the 1870 census that shows Otis, i.e. Olis, living in Missouri)
Reference: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/boone/obits/index1851-1899.txt
The 1860 U.S. Census found Otis again in the Town of Manchester, Boone County, Illinois, where his surname was recorded as Tisdell. Living with him was his wife, Lois, age 52, and no children lived with them. Lois was age 52, which translates to a birth year of 1808 so this might be the former Elsa or Elsey Newton. A “Mrs Tisdale” is buried in the Belvidere Cemetery in Belvidere, Boone County, Illinois. This grave has been documented by Findagrave.com, memorial #122504306, which only notes that she died in 1864. It’s possible that this person is Lois Tisdale, the wife of Otis Tisdale, and possibly the former Elsa or Elsey Newton. A visit to the Boone County Historical Museum in Belvidere result in fnding death information or family history info on “Mrs. Tisdale” and the Tisdale family.
Recently (June 2014) a “Mrs Tisdale” was found at Findagrave.com, Memorial #122504306. She died in 1864 and is buried in the Belvidere Cemetery, Belvidere, Boone County, Illinois. This might be Lois, the wife of Otis Tisdale. A visit to the Boone County Historical Museum in Belvidere may help. They may have death information or family history info on “Mrs. Tisdale” and the Tisdale family.
who probably died between 1860 and 1864. Otis perhaps then moved to Missouri to be near H. J. Tisdale. A visit to the Boone County Historical Museum in Belvidere may help. They may have death information or family history info on “Mrs. Tisdale” and the Tisdale family.
“Olis” Tisdale was found in the 1870 U. S. Census living in the household of H. J. Tisdale of Hannibal, Marion County, Missouri. H. J. Tisdale may be the person in the photograph found in the Newton Family album. The census does not indicate Otis’s relationship to H. J., who was born in Ohio around 1835, but he may have been H.J.s father, or perhaps an uncle since there is no documentation of Otis having a son with the initials H. J. or the given name of Harmon. Otis’ birth location was correctly given as Vermont, but his age was 64 when it should have been 70. It is assumed that by 1870 his wife, Lois (Elsa?) had died. The most probably place of death for Lois would have been Boone County, Illinois or Rock County, Wisconsin or somewhere in Missouri. See italics above in red. A search on ancestry.comä noted that Otis Tisdale died in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri on September 29, 1875. It is unknown why Otis lived in St. Joseph but perhaps he resided with a daughter or some other family member. On January 28, 2009, a request was made on the Buchanan County RootsWeb page for an obituary of Otis Tisdale but it was never fulfilled. FamilySearch recorded a total of six children belonging to Otis and Lois Tisdale, although there may have been more. Regardless if Otis had one or two wives, all the children below would have been born to Elsa Newton if she can be positively identified as the wife of Otis Tisdale.
The children were (the dates are according to a family tree record and the accuracy has not, or cannot, be verified at this time):
Mary J. Tisdale b. 1831 Cecilius Twp, Cattaraugus County, New York Gilbert J. Tisdale b. 18 May 1834 Lorain County, Ohio Edgar Tisdale b. 1838 Lorain County, Ohio Aseneth Tisdale b. 11 May 1839 Manchester Twp, Boone County, Illinois d. 10 Sep 1879 Sarah Tisdale* b. abt 1840 Manchester Twp, Boone County, Illinois Sally Tisdale* b. 1841 Manchester Twp, Boone County, Illinois * It is suspected that Sarah and Sally may be the same person
The birth locations of the above children tracks with where Elsa or Elsey Newton may have lived and where some of her other relatives lived in the early 1830s to the mid-1940s. It is known that Reuben Newton, Elsa’s father, settled in Cecilius Township (later renamed Mansfield) around 1823. Elsey could have married Otis while still in Cortland County or after arriving in Cecilius County. It is known that Elsa’s brother, Lyman, was in Lorain County in 1834 because that is where his son, Milton Newton, was born. It would seem that Otis Tisdale and Lyman Newton and Lyman’s sister, -------, were in Lorain County, Ohio at the same time. Lyman returned to Cattaraugus County and Otis moved to Illinois.
It is interesting that a person named Newton Tisdale resided in Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin according to the 1870 U.S. Census, where he was age 35. It would seem that this Tisdale was in some way related to the Reuben Newton line but so far no connection can be made with any descendants of Reuben Newton. Newton Tisdale was also found in the 1880 U.S. Wisconsin Census where he was single, a carpenter, and age 50. His father was born in Vermont and his mother in New York.
Myron L. Newton, Jr. Edited 7 Aug 2014
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