Elizabeth M. McEwen1

b. 19 July 1834, d. 17 September 1878
FatherAlexander C. McEwen1 b. 9 Feb 1806, d. 6 Dec 1869
MotherEliza Byars1 b. 18 Nov 1807, d. 21 Jun 1892
Birth19 Jul 1834 Elizabeth M. McEwen was born on 19 Jul 1834 in Tennessee.2,3 
Migration  However shortly after her birth the family moved to Mississippi where her father bought land formerly belonging to the Cherokee Indians. Alexander McEwen was a successful merchant and is often cited as having given the name Holly Springs to the community that grew up around his store. 
Marriage1858 She married General Winfield Scott Featherston in 1858.4 
  At the time of their marriage Winfield was a widower more than 10 years older than Elizabeth. He was originally from Tennessee and had fought in the Creek uprisings as a young man. He was also well established professionally, having been a businessman, lawyer and US Congressman. When the Civil War broke out Winfield served as Colonel of the 17th Mississippi Infantry (CSA) and in March 1862, for gallantry in the Battle of Leesburg, was promoted to Brigadier General. His troops fought at Antietam and Fredericksburg, and participated in the Vicksburg and Atlanta Campaigns.5,6 
Cens-187015 Jun 1870  Following the war Winfield returned to Holly Springs and his law practice. In 1870 the household included Winfield and Elizabeth and 4 children: Lizzie [Lizzie Georgia] (9), Winfield J. (9); Dudley (3) and Lizzie P. (1). Winfield's real estate was valued at $15,000 and he owned personal property valued at $12,000.3 
  The couple resided in the home build by Elizabeth's family when they settled in Holly Springs years earlier and Elizabeth's widowed mother remained a part of their household. Elizabeth and Alexander's first child, a son named Charles, died in 1860. A few months after the 1870 enumeration Elizabeth gave birth to a son Lucius, who died the following spring. Over the course of the following years she would have 2 more daughters. In 1876 Winfield was elected to the Mississippi State Legislature. 
  However, in the summer of 1878 an outbreak of Yellow Fever occured in New Orleans and Memphis, threatening the health of the entire Mississippi Valley. A Board of Health was appointed in Holly Springs on Aug. 12th. The 3 doctors who made up the panel strongly recommended a strict quarantine of the community but the city politicians disagreed and refugees from surrounding areas were allowed into Holly Springs. As a result over 1,400 people contracted the disease and 304 died, including Elizabeth, her 17 year old daughter Lizzie and her 13 year old son Winfield. General Winfield Featherston also contracted the disease but recovered. It is likely other family members suffered as well.7 
Death17 Sep 1878 Elizabeth died on 17 Sep 1878 in Holly Springs at age 44.2 
Burial She was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Marshall County, Virginia. A large 4 sided monument bears her name as well as those of the 2 children who also died that September.2 
  Elizabeth's mother no doubt assumed the role of raising Elizabeth's 4 surviving children as Winfield went on to serve another term in the Mississippi Legislature. In 1880 Winfield and his mother-in-law, who by then was in her early 70s, were enumerated with McEwen [Dudley] (13), Eliza (11), Lelia (8), and Lucy (3).8 
  Winfield died in 1891; Eliza (Byars) McEwen died in 1892. 

Related Links and Images:

Featherston family monument in Hillcrest Cemetery; also close-up of Elizabeth's data

Family

General Winfield Scott Featherston b. 8 Aug 1820, d. 28 May 1891
Children
  • Charles Alexander Featherston9 (15 Jan 1859 - 4 Jul 1860)
  • Lizzie Georgia Featherston10 (5 Jun 1861 - 28 Sep 1878)
  • Winfield J. Featherston11 (6 Oct 1864 - 11 Sep 1878)
  • Dudley Ewen Featherston3 (circa 1867 - )
  • Lizzie P. Featherston3 (circa 1869 - )
  • Lucius Marshall Featherston12 (14 Nov 1870 - 1 Jun 1871)
  • Lelia Featherston8 (circa 1872 - )
  • Lucy E. Featherston8 (circa 1877 - )
Last Edited2 May 2011

Citations

  1. [S2303] Alexander C. McEwen household, 1850 U.S. census, Marshall Co., Mississippi, pop. sched., p. 364 (stamped), dwelling 1170, family 1170, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jun. 2007, image 179 of 210. Household includes: Alexander C. McEwen, 42, merchant, b. TN, owns land valued at $2,500, Eliza M., 39, b. VA; Elizabeth, 14 [or 16], b. TN; Calvin, 11, b. Miss; Caroline Gilleland, 10 [or 16], b. TN.
  2. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed June 2009). Lizzie M. Featherston data and photo submitted by Michelle Woodham, 2005, for Hillcrest Cemetery.
  3. [S2305] W.S. Featherston household, 1870 U.S. census, Marshall Co., Mississippi, pop. sched., Holly Springs, p. after 340 stamped, dwelling 25, family 25, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jun 2009, image 2 of 13. Household includes: W.S. Featherston, 48, lawyer, b. TN, owns land val: $15,000, pers. prop: $12,000; Elizabeth, 32, b. TN; Lizzie S., 9; Winfield, J., 9; Dudley McEwen, 3; Lizzie P., 1, all b. Miss; cont. next page: A.C. MeEwen (female), 52, b. VA, owns land val at $12,000, pers. prop of $5,000; Anna Nicholson, 12, servant, b. Sweden; Wash Featherston, 19, black, laborer, b. KY.
  4. [S2308] "Historic Places", USGenWeb: Mississippi, Marshall County (http://marshallcountyms.org/locales/historic.php : accessed Jun 2009), Article on home known as "Featherston Place", originally dated Nov. 24, Dec. 1, 2005.
  5. [S2307] Bobby J. Mitchell, The Gray Ghost, "Ghost Riders", transcriptions , USGenWeb: Mississippi, Marshall County (http://marshallcountyms.org/military/griders.php : From Vol. 11, No. 2: Mar-Apr 1992: General Winfield Scott Featherston).
  6. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed June 2009). Winfield S. Featherston bio data submitted by John Griffith.
  7. [S2309] "Yellow Fever Victims", USGenWeb: Mississippi, Marshall County (http://marshallcountyms.org/locales/victims.php : accessed Jun 2009), Page also includes links to excerpts from Holly Springs newspapers for fall 1878.
  8. [S2306] Winfield Heatherson household, 1880 U.S. cens., Marshall Co., Mississippi, pop sched., Holly Springs, ED 110, page 8D, dwelling 66, family 68, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jun 2009, image 8 of 48. Household includes: Winfield Heatherson, 60, wid, lawyer, b. TN/VA/VA; McEwen, son, 13; Eliza, dau, 11; Lelia, dau, 8; Lucy E., dau, 3; all b. Miss/TN/VA; Eliza McEwen, 73, mother-in-law, wid, b. VA/VA/VA; Mary Davidson, black, 47, cook; Moses Davidson, black, 11, servant; Charles Johnson, 28, black, servant.
  9. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed June 2009). Charles Alexander Featherston bio data submitted by Michelle Woodham; stone states is infant son of W.S. and E.M. Featherson.
  10. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed June 2009). Charles Alexander Featherston bio data submitted by Michelle Woodham; on monument with parents.
  11. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed June 2009). Winfield J. Featherston bio data submitted by Michelle Woodham; on monument with parents.
  12. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed June 2009). Lucius Marshall Featherston bio data submitted by Michelle Woodham; stone states is infant son of W.S. and Lizzie M. Featherson.