Re: Eli F Bewley of Illinois and California
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In reply to:
Eli F Bewley of Illinois and California
RANDY REECE 10/19/05
Randy,
It's been awhile since you posted your question, so I hope you're still reading the forum and see this.
I have information on Eli Fitzjerrel Bewley that shows him born in Montgomery County, IL (which includes Litchfield) on May 28, 1834 and dying in Lodi, CA (in the San Joaquin Valley) on November 16, 1921. He married Nancy Wood on November 7, 1858 in Honey Bend, IL, a little town just north of Litchfield in Montgomery County. Their children were Clarence Oscar (b. May 27, 1860 in Montgomery Co; d. in Lodi), Dan E. (b. Nov. 13, 1861 in Montgomery Co; d. Jan. 12 1862 in Montgomery Co), John Clinton (b. Sept 13, 1866 in Montgomery County; d. Lodi), Elizabeth Charlotte (b. Feb 28, 1868 in Montgomery Co; d. Jan. 5, 1923 in Los Angeles); Hattie Belvritta (b. Apr. 16, 1972 in Tulare County, CA; dFeb. 7, 1948 in Lodi), Marietta H. (b. Oct. 1872, Tulare Co.; d. Feb. 7, 1949 in Los Angeles), and Myrtle Estelle (b. Aug. 12, 1881 in Jenny Lind, CA; d. 1974 in Lodi). Marietta was a doctor, a graduate of the USC Med School, and delivered my father, also named William Bewley, along with a lot of other Bewleys in Southern CA.
Eli was the son of Oliver Hazard Perry Bewley and Charlotte Fitzjerrel. His brother, Daniel S., is my great grandfather. My dad and I have visited the graves of Oliver, Charlotte, and Charlotte's mother Tabitha in Montgomery County, and with help from Pat Olmstead have collected a lot of information on the descendants of Oliver and also the Fitzjerrel branch of the family. Let me know if you want more and I can give you what I have, and put you in touch with Pat.
More information on Eli, which I got from Pat --
Eli and Nancy were both born and raised in Montgomery County. He served in the Civil War from 1862 to 1865, mainly in the medical corps. After he returned from the war, he farmed for awhile then moved to California, settling first in Tulare County. They reloacted to Calaveras County in 1875 where he had acquired 160 acres of land near the town of Jenny Lind. After farming many years, he became a veterinary surgeon. After retiring, Eli and Nancy settled in Lodi.
Hope this helps, and let me know if you'd like more, and how you connect to Eli. Thanks.
Bill Bewley