Clayton - Person Sheet
Clayton - Person Sheet
NameWYATT, Eli Franklin 
Birth DateJul 1828
Birth PlaceEdgar, Edgar County, Illinois
Death Datebef 1922 Age: 93
FlagsWyatt Lineage
FatherWYATT, William (1791-1846)
MotherPRICKETT, Elizabeth Betsy (~1792-1870)
Misc. Notes
ELI FRANKLIN WYATT. A native of Edgar county, Illinois, Mr. Wyatt was born August 5, 1828, the old paternal farm being at present adjacent to the town of Chrisman. His father, Col. William Wyatt, was born in Ireland, and came to America with the paternal grandfather, Jasper, when he was three years old, settling in Virginia. Col. William Wyatt removed to Edgar county, Illinois, about 1818, and from there enlisted in the Black Hawk war, for meritorious service receiving the rank by which he was afterward known. His death occurred in his adopted state in September, 1847, of typhoid fever. His wife, formerly Elizabeth Morgan, born in Virginia, and daughter of John Morgan of Welsh descent, survived him until eighty-four years of age. A large family of children, fourteen in number, were born to this couple, five of whom are living, Eli Franklin being the eighth in the family. Of the children, the oldest son, Shelby, is living to a truly remarkable age, and now, when one hundred and three years old, is hale and hearty and interested in all that happens on the old homestead in Shelby county, Illinois Another son, Ananias, came to California in 1853, later settled in Oregon, and finally died in Boise City, Idaho, in 1893.
The support of so large a family naturally taxed the resources of the Edgar county farm notwithstanding the fact that the boys were all trained to make themselves useful, and diligently performed their respective tasks. At the age of thirteen Eli Franklin relieved the family of his support by going to live with a brother-in-law in Green county, Virginia, and after a year he made his way to the lead mines of Galena, Illinois, where he worked for a couple of years. He next went to Monona County, Iowa, and while there made preparation to cross the plains to California. Getting as far as St. Joe, Missouri, he was obliged to turn back, owing to illness, and thereafter went to his old home and remained there until 1853. He crossed the plains during that year with the Summervilles, starting April 9, and arriving in Oregon September 15, and bought a claim of one hundred and sixty acres four miles east of Harrisburg.
The following year, in 1854, he went to California to engage in mining, but seems not to have been successful, for he soon returned and started improving his ranch. Later he visited with more success the mines of Eureka, and Shasta county, and finally located permanently on his farm, where he engaged extensively in the stock business, raising principally F. B. Shorthorns, and, Cotswold and Shropshire sheep. As his enterprises grew in magnitude more land was required, and at one time he owned ten hundred and forty acres in one body. From time to time he disposed of this large holding. until he had but four hundred and forty acres left, that being disposed of in 1902. At the height of his stock raising enterprise he had as many as two thousand sheep roaming on his meadows. He was a good manager and excellent business man, and had the good sense to realize that the best stock brought the best prices. Consequently, the finest breeds on the market were sold from the Wyatt farm, and had an unexcelled reputation throughout this and the adjoining states.
For the last twenty-five years Mr. Wyatt has spent a great deal of his time in Harrisburg, and four years in Eugene, and in 1902 he located permanently in Albany. He is enjoying life in comfort, feeling that his unceasing toil for many years entitles him to a respite from business cares. A stanch Republican in politics, he has never aspired to office, but his interest in education has led him to serve as a member of the school board. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a trustee and one of the organizers and promoters of the church in Harrisburg. In Linn county, Oregon, Mr. Wyatt married his first wife, Martha Froman, who was born in Illinois, and who bore him six children.
The support of so large a family naturally taxed the resources of the Edgar county farm notwithstanding the fact that the boys were all trained to make themselves useful, and diligently performed their respective tasks. At the age of thirteen Eli Franklin relieved the family of his support by going to live with a brother-in-law in Green county, Virginia, and after a year he made his way to the lead mines of Galena, Illinois, where he worked for a couple of years. He next went to Monona County, Iowa, and while there made preparation to cross the plains to California. Getting as far as St. Joe, Missouri, he was obliged to turn back, owing to illness, and thereafter went to his old home and remained there until 1853. He crossed the plains during that year with the Summervilles, starting April 9, and arriving in Oregon September 15, and bought a claim of one hundred and sixty acres four miles east of Harrisburg.
The following year, in 1854, he went to California to engage in mining, but seems not to have been successful, for he soon returned and started improving his ranch. Later he visited with more success the mines of Eureka, and Shasta county, and finally located permanently on his farm, where he engaged extensively in the stock business, raising principally F. B. Shorthorns, and, Cotswold and Shropshire sheep. As his enterprises grew in magnitude more land was required, and at one time he owned ten hundred and forty acres in one body. From time to time he disposed of this large holding. until he had but four hundred and forty acres left, that being disposed of in 1902. At the height of his stock raising enterprise he had as many as two thousand sheep roaming on his meadows. He was a good manager and excellent business man, and had the good sense to realize that the best stock brought the best prices. Consequently, the finest breeds on the market were sold from the Wyatt farm, and had an unexcelled reputation throughout this and the adjoining states.
For the last twenty-five years Mr. Wyatt has spent a great deal of his time in Harrisburg, and four years in Eugene, and in 1902 he located permanently in Albany. He is enjoying life in comfort, feeling that his unceasing toil for many years entitles him to a respite from business cares. A stanch Republican in politics, he has never aspired to office, but his interest in education has led him to serve as a member of the school board. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a trustee and one of the organizers and promoters of the church in Harrisburg. In Linn county, Oregon, Mr. Wyatt married his first wife, Martha Froman, who was born in Illinois, and who bore him six children.
Spouses
Birth Date20 Apr 1844
Birth PlaceVermilion County, Illinois
Death Date10 Mar 1934 Age: 89
FlagsWyatt Lineage
FatherFROMAN, Thomas Sr. (1798-1880)
MotherRAND, Elizabeth Carder (1802-1886)
Marr Date11 Dec 1862
Marr PlaceLinn County, Oregon