Life History

Notes

• Elizabeth's first married name was Long.  A couple of genealogies and some nearby families in the censuses indicate that Elizabeth's maiden name was Dickerson.  In the 1920 census, her son William is single and head of his household, and living with him is an aunt named Eliza Dickerson.  This name being a form of Elizabeth, it would not at first seem that this might be a sister of Elizabeth, but in fact that turns out to be the case.
  
  In the 1850 census, found after the later censuses, both Elizabeth and the younger Eliza Dickerson are reported as daughters of Simeon and Livie Dickerson.  (At least one genealogy reports her mother's name as Sivel, probably due to a misreading or mistranscription of the census entry.)
  
  1850 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas, 20 September, Precinct 1, page 8, Hse #52, Fam #56
  Simeon Dickerson 45 M Farmer $0 Real Estate Value declared b NC [b abt 1805]
  Livie Dickerson 58 F b NC [b abt 1792]
  Elizabeth Dickerson 22 F b Ala [b abt 1827]
  Ann Dickerson 14 F b Ala [b abt 1846]
  Eliza Dickerson 12 F b Ala [b abt 1838]
  Henry Dickerson 19 M Laborer b Ala [b abt 1831]
  Francis Dickerson 7 F b Tex [b abt 1843]
  John Dickerson 1 M b Tex [b abt 1849]
  William McCrow 18 M Laborer b Tex [b abt 1832]
  
  After Peter Christian's death, Elizabeth Long is still in Cass County in the 1880 and 1900 censuses.  In 1880 she is head of the household, but with the occupation of housekeeper.  She is still working a farm though, as indicated by the occupation of Farm Laborer for her 19-year-old son William S Long (who is called William S Christian by the enumerator).
  
  1880 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas, 18 June, Precinct 6, District 15, page 29 (scan 205), Hse/Fam #11
  Christian, Elizabeth W F 57 (Head) Keeping House AL NC NC [b abt 1843]
  Christian [Long], Edgar  W M 19 Son Single Farm Hand TX SC AL [b abt 1861]
  Christian [Long], Joan Lee W F 16 Dau Single At Home TX SC AL [abt 1864]
  
  In 1900 she is reported as a Farmer, head of household with her two children still in her household.  Her son William Long is still single at age 39, still working on the farm. Her widowed daughter Lee Tate, age 36, is living with them, as well as Lee's daughter, 9-year-old Cora.
  
  Also enumerated in the same household and family is Ransom Giles, a 25-year-old widowed black man, whose relationship is described as Servant, and whose occupation is described as Farm Laborer.
  
  The census reports that Elizabeth only bore two children.  Her daughter Lee is already a widow after 12 years of marriage and one child.  William is still single.  The census reports that Elizabeth was married for 48 years.  This would have to be the total for both marriages.
  
  Also she has been a widow since about 1878, when we think Peter Christian died.  That was 22 years before 1900.  So it appears the 48 years refers to how long since she first got married, which would be about age 25.  This seems late for a first marriage in those days.  So that figure of 48 years is uncertain.  But in the 1850 census Elizabeth is reported as 22 years old.
  
  1900 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas, 5 June, Justice Precinct 6, District 28, page 83A (283A), Hse/Family # 31
  Christian, Elizabeth Head W F  Nov 1826  73 Widowed Married 48 yrs [incl 2 marriages] 2 children/2 living AL AL AL  Farmer
  Long, William  Son  W M  Mar 1861  39  Single  TX AL AL  Farm Laborer
  Tate, Lee  Daughter W F  Aug 1863  36 Widowed Married 12 yrs [mar abt 1888] 1 child/1 living TX AL AL  House Keeper
  Tate, Cora  Granddaughter W F  July 1890  9 Single TX AL TX
  Ransom, Giles Servant B M  May 1875  Widowed 25 TX AL AL  Farm Laborer
  
  No death or burial record has been found for Elizabeth.  But it appears she died between the 1900 and 1910 censuses.  She does not appear with her children in 1910.  Her son William is living in the home of her daughter Lea Tate, who, though reported as a widow in the 1900 census, is now enumerated here with her husband John H Tate.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas, 3 May, Precinct 6, District 36, Page 16A, Hse/Fam #289
  Tate, John H Head M W 61 Marriage 1 Married 22 yrs AL AL AL Farm Laborer Owns
  Tate, Lea Wife F W 48 Marriage 1 Married 22 yrs 1 child/1 living Tex Ala SCar No Occupation
  Tate, Eva L Dau F W 18 Single Tex Ala Tex
  Long, William Brother-in-law M W 49 Single Tex Ala SCar Farmer

Sources

• 1. 1900 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas
  • 5 June, Justice Precinct 6, District 28, page 83A (283A), Hse/Family # 31
• 2. 1880 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas
  • 18 June, Precinct 6, District 15, page 29 (scan 205), Hse/Fam #11
• 3. 1850 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas
  • 20 September, Precinct 1, page 8, Hse #52, Fam #56
• 4. 1910 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas
  • 3 May, Precinct 6, District 36, Page 16A, Hse/Fam #289
• 5. Christian Family History, by Harold K Christian
  • p 2
• 6. 1920 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas
  • 15 January, Justice Precinct 6, District 31, page 6B,  Douglasville & Naples Road, Hse #107, Fam #114
• 7. 1900 Federal Census, Sevier County, Arkansas
  • 4 July, Bear Creek Township, District 149, page 5B, Hse #423, Fam #433
• 8. 1910 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma
  • 28 April, Oakdale, District 263, page 8B, Hse #146, Fam #153
• 9. Christian Family History, by Harold K Christian
  • p 6
• 10. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 11. 1860 Federal Census, Calhoun County, Mississippi
  • 25 September, Cherry Hill, page 163, Hse #1140, Fam #1156
• 12. 1900 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma Territory
  • August 3, Union Township, District 211, page 13A (147A), Hse/Fam #189
• 13. Christian Family History, by Harold K Christian
• 14. 1870 Federal Census, Titus County, Texas
  • 6 August, Mt Pleasant, page 161, Hse/Fam #1120
• 15. Oklahoma Gravestone Project, Oakdale Cemetery, Washita County, Oklahoma
• 16. Harold Keith Christian, Family Group Record, January 1990
• 17. 1900 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas
  • 13 January, Justice Precinct 3, District 22, page 13A, Hse/Fam #40
• 18. 1880 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas
  • 10 July, Precinct 3, page 59, Hse/Fam #559
• 19. Christian Family History, by Harold K Christian
  • p 8
• 20. 1900 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas
  • 9 June, Precinct 3, District 22, page 8B,  Hse/Fam #135
• 21. Broderbund Family Archive #018, Ed. 1, Family Queries: Everton's "Roots" Cellar
  • Judy Oldziewski, 3 Jan 2007
• 22. Broderbund Family Archive #018, Ed. 1, Family Queries: Everton's "Roots" Cellar
  • Bill Doty, 3 Jan 2007
• 23. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982