Eliza Byars1

b. 18 November 1807, d. 21 June 1892
FatherCol. William Byars1 b. 13 Nov 1776 or 18 Nov 1776, d. 14 Feb 1866
MotherElizabeth Beattie1 b. 26 Dec 1784, d. 26 Nov 1834 or 26 Nov 1835
Birth18 Nov 1807 Eliza Byars was born on 18 Nov 1807 in Virginia.2 
Childhood  Eliza spent her childhood in Washington County, Virginia, on her father's estate known as Brook Hall. The first of two estates to bear that name was a fairly simple log structure, though large for its day. But as Eliza grew older her father built a large brick home gracing a hill along the stage road through Washington County. By 1830 47 slaves tended the home and surrounding farmland. 
Marriage23 Apr 1833 She married Alexander C. McEwen on 23 Apr 1833 in Washington County.3 
  Eliza and Alexander did not remain in Virginia. They first settled in Tennessee where their daughter Elizabeth was born in 1834. 
Migration  From there they headed further south, settling on land recently ceded by the Cherokee Indians in Marshall County, Mississippi. They built a home in what came to be known as Holly Springs.4 
Cens-18506 Dec 1850  Alexander was a merchant, rather than a farmer, but was also a landowner. The 1850 census listed the value of his land at $2,500. Besides 42 year old Alexander, the household that year included Eliza (39), Elizabeth (16), Calvin (11) and Caroline Gilleland (10).5 
  It is not known to me if the 11 year Calvin McEwen was another child of Alexander and Eliza. The 1840 census does not indicate the presence of a young male in the Alexander McEwen household. 
6 May 1858  Eliza's father, Col. William Byars, wrote his will back in Virginia in 1858. He left Eliza $5, noting that she had already been provided for. 
Cens-186020 Jul 1860  Eliza's changed circumstances were reflected in the 1860 census, where she was listed as the owner of land worth $30,000 and the owner of personal property valued at $20,000.6 
  The late 1850s also saw the wedding of Eliza and Alexander's daughter Elizabeth to Winfield Featherston, a young lawyer who had already served in the US House of Representatives for 4 years. During the Civil War he achieved the rank of Brigadier General in the Confederate Army. The young couple made their home with Eliza and Alexander.7,8,4 
Widowed6 Dec 1869  Eliza was widowed when Alexander died on 6 Dec 1869. 
  Eliza continued to live with her daughter and son-in-law, but tragedy struck the community of Holly Springs in the summer and fall of 1878 when a yellow fever epidemic swept through the Mississippi Valley. Within a 16 day period Elizabeth died, along with two of her children. Eliza remained with her son-in-law, no doubt helping raise Elizabeth's 4 surviving children.9,10 
Death21 Jun 1892 Eliza died on 21 Jun 1892 at age 84.2 
Burial She was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Holly Springs, Marshall County, Virginia.2 

Related Links and Images:

The first Brook Hall photographed about 1937 (Eliza's birthplace)11
Eliza spent the latter years of her childhood at Brook Hall12
Eliza's stone at Hillcrest Cemetery

Family

Alexander C. McEwen b. 9 Feb 1806, d. 6 Dec 1869
Child
Last Edited2 May 2011

Citations

  1. [S852] William Byars will (1866), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 16: 406. The will was written 6 May 1858 with a codicil added March 31, 1862. It was recorded 26 March 1866.
  2. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed June 2009). Eliza McEwen data and photo submitted by Michelle Woodham, 2005, for Hillcrest Cemetery.
  3. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 40. Alexander C. Mcewen and Eliza M. Byars marr 23 Apr 1833 by Alex. McEwen.
  4. [S2308] "Historic Places", USGenWeb: Mississippi, Marshall County (http://marshallcountyms.org/locales/historic.php : accessed Jun 2009), Article on home known as "Featherston Place."
  5. [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.
  6. [S2304] A.C. McEwen household, 1860 U.S. census, Marshall Co., Mississippi, pop. sched., Holly Springs, p. 165 (added script), dwelling 215, family 179, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jun 2009, image 27 of 48. Household includes: A.C. McEwen, 53, merchant, b. TN; E.M., 51, owns real estate worth $30,000 and pers. prop. worth $20,000.
  7. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed June 2009). Winfield S. Featherston bio data submitted by John Griffith.
  8. [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).
  9. [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.
  10. [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.
  11. [S1376] Photo courtesy of The Library of Virginia.
  12. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Carolyn Ryburn.