Biography of Elisha D. Crisman of Milo, Illinois

Elisha D. Crisman was born July 28, 1824, in Berkeley County, Virginia.^[1]Berkley County was a part of Virginia until West Virginia separated itself in 1863. His father, George P. Crisman, was born in 1796, in Virginia, which State he left on account of his opposition to slavery, and removed to Ohio, and from there to Knox County, Illinois, where he died in 1872. He was a farmer by occupation, and a soldier in the war of 1812. He was of German descent. The mother of our subject, Dorothy Sanders, was born 1798 in Virginia. She died 1833, in Highland County, Ohio. She was a daughter of Joseph Sanders, and was the mother of seven children, viz.; Mrs. Jane Richardson, Mrs. Mary Frisby, Mrs. Julia A. Schram, Mrs. Rachel Walfor, Mrs. Ellen Green, James A., and Elisha D. Chrisman, who is mainly self educated, receiving but fourteen days of schooling in his life.

In the fall of 1837 he came to Illinois with his parents, and the next spring settled in Knox County, where he farmed till April, 1852, when he bought 80 acres of land in Milo Township, Bureau County, where he now resides and at present owns a well improved form of 240 acres, the result of his industry and economy.

Mr. Chrisman was married twice. In September 1849, he married Miss Mahala Caywood, a sister of his present wife.

She was born in 1823, and died December 6, 1850. She was the mother of James T., who only lived to be nine months old.

Mr. Chrisman was joined in matrimony a second time, April 4, 1852, to Elizabeth Caywood, who was born December 6, 1829, in Maryland. She is a daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Hufford) Caywood, and is the mother of four children, viz.; Frank, Laura C., Jennie O. and Ella A. Chrisman. Frank Chrisman married Eva Read. Three children were the result of this union, viz.; Nellie, Clarence and Bernice Chrisman.

Mr. E. D. Chrisman and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he was formerly an Abolitionist and is now identified with the Republican party. Financially he has made a success of life, being a self made man in every respect.

Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885