Mary Elizabeth Presley (1844 - 1918)

Born Dec 1844 in Tennessee, USA

Ancestors

Died 19 Oct 1918 at age 73 in Bolivar, Hardeman, Tennessee, USA

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Biography

Mary Elizabeth Priestley/Presley. Born in December of 1844, Mary Elizabeth, “Lizzie,” as she was called, was the second child, second daughter of President and Susan (Shoemaker) Presley of Madison County, Tennessee. In the 1850 census^[1] she was enumerated as Elizabeth, age 6, and in 1860^[2] as Mary, age 16.

In 1870, Lizzie Presley is living in the home of F. Harris in Madison County.^[3] Two farmhands are also living there, Ben Britton and PJ Horten with “F” and his wife, “L.” (If I could travel back in time, I would visit census enumerators and beg them not to use initials.

F Harris is, I believe, Wesley Fletcher Harris, b. Jan 1843, died 24 May 1926, the son of Benjamin Jack Harris and Lizzie Unknown, who were living in Madison County in the 1860s. There were a lot of Harris families in Madison County at the time, and two not quite common names that show up repeatedly are Westley/Wesley, and Absolom… the names of two of President and Susan’s sons.

Wesley Fletcher’s wife was Eliza J. Shelton, born 1843 and died 1901, the daughter of Sanford Shelton and Mary R. Williams

Benjamin Harris married Elizabeth Nowell on 9 July 1858 in Madison Co. If this is the Ben and Lizzie on the 1860 census it’s a second marriage for him, as Wesley Fletcher is already 16 at the time of the marriage. Wesley’s death certificate says the name of his mother is unknown. And darned if I can find Benjamin and Wesley anywhere in 1850.

Despite the commonality of the names, I have searched a number of Harris family trees and found no connection to Presley in the 1800s.

In 1880, Lizzie has moved on and is living in the home of Dan and Fannie Irvan (or Irvin, Irvins, Irving) and this time she is listed as a “niece.”^[4] Dan Irvin is actually her cousin. Dan's parents were John Irvin and Elizabeth Shoemaker. His mother Elizabeth was sister to Lizzie's mother Susan. Daniel Maurice Irvin (Irving) was born on 2 May 1840 and died 28 May of 1920^[5]. His death certificate says his father was John Irvin, born in NC and his mother was… ta da! – Shoemaker. No other information is given.

Daniel’s death was a sad one. The notice in the newspaper read: “Lexington, Tenn. May 31 (Spl.) Dan M. Irvin, aged inmate of the Madison county poorhouse, visiting here, jumped headlong from the second story window of Lexington courthouse, a distance of some 15 feet, dashing out his brains on the brick walk below. Just before his fatal plunge Mr. Irvin spoke to Charlie Timberlake, negro, janitor.

“Dan Irvin is said to have inherited two fortunes. He was born and reared in Madison county and after living in Jackson for years, where he built a handsome home, moved to Lexington and bought the Clifton street corner where he built a beautiful home. He also bought the old McHaney water mill on Beach river, one and one-half miles west of town, improved it and ran it for a few years. Several years ago he and his wife separated.”^[6]

I have not found Lizzie in the 1900 census, but on 23 Jan 1903 she sold her share of her father's land to Jack Estes in Madison County.^[7]

In 1910 Lizzie is living as a boarder in the home of Pick J and Louisa H Phillips, employed as a servant.^[8]

On 24 Jun 1918, Lizzie was adjudicated a lunatic by the Madison County Courts and 'sentenced' to Western Hospital in Bolivar.[9] She died there after 3 months of a stroke, on 19 Oct. 1918^[9], and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery near Absolom.^[10] Her simple stone reads “Lizzie Presley.” Her death certificate said she had been senile for almost a year. She had never married.

Sources

1. ↑ U.S. federal census Year: 1850; Census Place: District 7, Madison, Tennessee; Roll: M432_889; Page: 277A; Image: 130
2. ↑ U.S. federal census Year: 1860; Census Place: District 8, Madison, Tennessee; Roll: M653_1263; Page: 130; Image: 264; Family History Library Film: 805263
3. ↑ U.S. federal census "United States Census, 1870", database with images, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDDX-7B6 : 29 May 2021), L Presley in entry for F Harris, 1870.
4. ↑ U.S. federal census Year: 1880; Census Place: District 15, Madison, Tennessee; Roll: 1270; Family History Film: 1255270; Page: 311C; Enumeration District: 099
5. ↑ Tennessee State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, certificate of death #366, Lexington, Henderson, Tennessee 28 May 1920 for Dan M. Irvin
6. ↑ “Dives From Window to Walk; Killed” in The News Scimitar (Memphis, Tenn) 31 May 1920. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn98069867/1920-05-31/ed-1/seq-9/)
7. ↑ Madison County (Tennessee) Deed book #62 p. 183, M.E. Presley to Jack Estes.
8. ↑ U.S. federal census Year: 1910; Census Place: Civil District 15, Madison, Tennessee; Roll: T624_1511; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0178; FHL microfilm: 1375524
9. ↑ Madison county (Tennessee) court minutes book 31, p. 215
10. ↑ Find a Grave listing for Hollywood Cemetery, Jackson, Madison, Tennessee. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19361114/mary-elizabeth-presley