Ella Gordon (Stratton) Jonas (abt. 1868 - abt. 1934)

Born about 2 Jan 1868 in Bastrop, TX

Ancestors

Died about 5 Jul 1934 at about age 66 in Artesia, Eddy, NM

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Biography

Ella was born on 2 January 1868 in Bastrop County, Texas, USA, the only daughter of [Stratton-1343|Joel W. Stratton]] and his wife, Vollie Elizabeth Owen^[1].

In 1867 her father had gone on a cattle drive with some of his friends and neighbors. He left Vollie pregnant with Ella. He returned in the summer or fall of 1868, to Vollie, who was enraged because she had not heard from him during the more than a year he was away. She drove him off the farm and out of their lives. She later married Moses McElhaney, a Civil War vet who was born in Alabama just after the Owen clan had arrived in teh area and later left for Teennessee. The connection there is not known.

Ella married James Macintosh Jonas on 27 September, 1883. Together they raised 10 children: Benjamin, Ida Alma, Malcolm L., Vollie Ann, Mary Olive, James Looney, Eli Clinton , John Kyle, nellie Gordon and Jesse Thomas^[2][3].

In 1915 the Jonas family left Texas for the area of Artesia, New Mexico. The Moses McElhaney family followed in their tracks two years later. One edaughter, Nellie, wrote a charming story of the adventure by donkey cart.^[4]

Ella became known in Artesia as the woman who could coax babies out of their mothers with ease. When she sickened and died, the doctor in the area treated her with no cost, declaring that she was responsible for the better half of his practice.

Ella died on 3 July 1934 in Artesia, Eddy, New Mexico of a bloodstream infection, hepatitus and hypertension^[5]. James lived on until 14 November 1944, dying also in Artesia. They are buried in the Woodbine Cemetery, Artesia, Eddy, New Mexico. ^[6]

Sources

^{[5] [1] [2] [3] [4] [6]}

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} 1870 US Census: Rice, Elizabeth, Bureau of the Census; National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C, "Ninth Census of the United States, 1870. Record Group 29; NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls." (Year: 1870; Census Place: Bastrop, Texas; Roll: M593_1574; Page: 452B; Image: 488; Family History Library Film: 553073 [1]).
   Abstract: Elisa Owen in the 1870 United States Federal Census
   Name:Elisa Owen
   Age in 1870:40
   Birth Year:abt 1830
   Birthplace:Tennessee
   Home in 1870:Bastrop, Texas
   Race:White
   Gender:Female
   Post Office:Bastrop
   
   Elisa Owen 40
   John Owen 23
   Mary Owen 20
   Alex Owen 2/12 [John and Mary's son]
   Mary Owen 20
   
   [In the next entry on the census were the following:]
   Vol Stratton 23[Vollie is also Elisa's daughter]
   Mark Owen 15
   Julia Owen 14
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} 1900 US Census: Jonas, James, Bureau of the Census; National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C, Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Record Group 29; NARA microfilm publication T623, 1,854 rolls. (Year: 1900; Census Place: Milbourne, McCulloch, Texas; Roll: 1655; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0108; FHL microfilm: 1241655 [2]).
   Abstract: James S Jonas in the 1900 United States Federal Census
   Name:James S Jonas
   Age:36
   Birth Date:Nov 1863
   Birthplace:Missouri
   Home in 1900:Milbourne, McCulloch, Texas
   Race:White
   Gender:Male
   Relation to Head of House:Head
   Marital Status:Married
   Spouse's Name:Ella Jonas
   Marriage Year:1884
   Years Married:16
   Father's Birthplace:Missouri
   Mother's Birthplace:Illinois
   
   James S Jonas 36
   Ella Jonas 32
   Benjamin Jonas 14
   Ida A Jonas 11
   Malcom L Jonas 9
   Dollie A Jonas 6
   Ollie Jonas 3
   James L Jonas 1
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Jonas, James, Bureau of the Census; National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C, Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. Record Group 29; NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls. (Year: 1920; Census Place: Artesia, Eddy, New Mexico; Roll: T625_1076; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 66; Image: 230 [3]).
   Abstract: Ella Jonas in the 1920 United States Federal Census
   Name:Ella Jonas
   Age:53
   Birth Year:abt 1867
   Birthplace:Texas
   Home in 1920:Artesia, Eddy, New Mexico
   Street:Dallas Avenue
   Race:White
   Gender:Female
   Relation to Head of House:Wife
   Marital Status:Married
   Spouse's Name:James M Jonas
   Father's Birthplace:Texas
   Mother's Birthplace:Tennessee
   Able to Speak English:Yes
   Able to Read:Yes
   Able to Write:Yes
   
   James M Jonas 66
   Ella Jonas 53
   Jonnie R Jonas 17
   Nellie Jonas 15
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Travel: Journal of trip from Texas to Artesia, 1915, Jonas, Ella; Jonas, Nellie. Our Trip to Mexico [sic; from Placid, TX to Pinion, NM]
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Death: Stratton, Ella (NM DC) (Thanks to Darla Jones, greatgranddaughter.).
   Ella Gordon Stratton-Jonas in New Mexico Death Certificate
   
   Name: Ella Gordon Jonas
   County: Eddy
   Precinct: Artesia
   Length of residence: 18 yrs
   Sex: female
   Color or Race: white
   Marital status: married
   Spouse: J M Jonas
   Father: Stratton
   Father birthplace: not known
   Mother: Violet Owens
   Mother birthplace: ????, Texas
   Date of Birth: Jan 2 1867
   Age: 68 yrs, 6 months, 3 days
   Occupation: housewife
   Industry: home
   Last worked: 6/24
   Birth Place: Bastrop Co., Texas
   Informant: Mrs. G. D. Holmes
   [Vollie Ann Jonas-Holmes, G.D. is husband's initials]
   Address: P????, Texas
   Date, Time of Death: 5 July 1934 5: 00 PM
   Date attended: 1 July 1934 to 5 July 1934
   Cause: infected arm (blood stream infection)
   Caused by: hepatitus and hypertension
   disease?: none
   injury?: scratched pimple on arm; infection of bloodstream
   confirmation: physical findings
   Doctor: R. Poeawoek, OB, PO Box 522, Artesia, NM
   Signed: 2/1/1944
   Burial: burial
   Burial date: 7/7/34
   Place: Artesia NM
   Embalmer/undertaker: RM McDonald, Artesia
   Registrar received: 7 July 1934 SD Pence
   File #: 668007
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Gravesite: Stratton, Ella, Find A Grave, Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current ([4]).
   Abstract: Ella Gordon Jonas in Find a Grave
   Name: Ella Gordon Jonas
   Birthdate: 2 Jan 1865
   Birthplace: Bastrop County, Texas, USA
   Deathdate: 5 Jul 1934 (aged 69)
   Burial: Woodbine Cemetery
   Artesia, Eddy, New Mexico, USA
   Plot: 1-4-2
   Memorial ID: 14726571