Elderkin Family History & Genealogy

Silas had difficulties finding his place in life. He was one of the first of Mary and David�s children to head out to Montana in the 1890s, and he never stayed long in one place. In 1900, he owned a house in Deer Lodge, Montana,[i] in 1902 he was a driver for Montana Steam Laundry in Butte,[ii] in 1906 he was a clerk at the Arizona Meat Market,[iii] in 1907 he was a clerk for M. Thompson & Co.,[iv] in 1909 he moved to Anaconda, Montana,[v] and in 1910 he was building houses in Gallatin County, Montana.[vi] In the 1920 U.S. Census, Silas David Elderkin is enumerated three different times � as a house carpenter in Gum Pond, Arkansas,[vii] living with his mother in Cedar Falls,[viii] and farming near Finchford, Iowa.[ix] At this time he was 51 and unmarried.

Silas also became quite religious, to the point of worrying his family. He went door-to-door preaching the gospel until his brother Amos warned him to stop.[x] This all must have worried their mother, Mary. In 1932, Mary amended her will. Instead of directly bequeathing the house, its contents and monetary inheritance to Silas, she established a trust with Amos as executor.[xi] After Mary died, Amos distributed Silas� share of the inheritance to pay for house repairs. Finally, in 1945, with the funds expended, Amos conveyed the real estate to Silas.[xii]

By this time, at the age of 67, Silas had married Bessie Hugh, who was 33 years his junior.[xiii] They wed in 1937, and went on to have four sons after Silas turned 69: one who died in infancy and three others still living in 2003. Despite declining health over the years, Silas lived to the age of 85.[xv]

The Elderkin legacy lives on in Cedar Falls. Today Silas� youngest son lives in a new house built on the property.[xvi]

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[i] 1910 U.S. cens., Anaconda Township Deer Lodge County, MT, p. 3A, line 6.
[ii] Polk�s Butte City Directory 1902, Butte, Montana. (Helena, MT: R.L. Polk & Co, 1902).
[iii] Polk�s Butte City Directory 1906, Butte, Montana. (Helena, MT: R.L. Polk & Co, 1906).
[iv] Polk�s Butte City Directory 1907.
[v] Polk�s Butte City Directory 1909, Butte, Montana. (Helena, MT: R.L. Polk & Co, 1909).
[vi] 1900 U.S. cens., NR3 East School District 3, Gallatin County, MT, p. 6A, line 45.
[vii] Allan Dunn household, 1920 U.S. Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, population schedule, Gum Pond Township-Stuttgart City, enumeration district 8, supervisors district 6, sheet 1A, dwelling 3, line 19; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 53, 2-5 January 1920.
[viii] M.J. Elderkin household, 1920 U.S. Census, Black Hawk County, Iowa, population schedule, Cedar Falls City, enumeration district 9, sheet 13B, dwelling 343, line 72; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 478, 15 January 1920.
[ix] Silas Elderkin household, 1920 U.S. Census, Black Hawk County, Iowa, population schedule, Union Township, enumeration district 41, supervisors district 3, sheet 4B, line 95; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 478, 28-29 January 1920.
[x] David MacDuff Elderkin interview, 8 March 2002, Naples, Florida, by Susan Elderkin.
[xi] Mary Jane Elderkin probate file no.10482.
[xii] Ibid.
[xiii] Michelle Elderkin and Linda Huff interview, Las Vegas, Nevada, 11 January 2003, by Susan Elderkin.
[xiv] Ibid.
[xv] Ibid.
[xvi] Letter from Ronald Elderkin to Susan Elderkin, 28 December 2002; held in 2003 by Susan Elderkin.