Rev. E[li] E[dwin] AUXIER was born in Mason County, Illinois, August 10 1846. His parents were Eli V[irgin] and Margaret (WHIPP) AUXIER, the former a native of Big Sandy, Kentucky, and the latter also a native of Kentucky. They were married in Menard County, Illinois, in 1838, and were the parents of six children, two of whom are living - E. E. and Lydia A.

Mr. AUXIER passed his early life assisting on the farm, and attending the district school, and studying at home. At the age of twenty-three he married Miss Paulina KILLIOM (sic), a native of Menard County [born circa 1852]. At the age of twenty-six, he united with the Missionary Baptist church. In 1870 he came to Ringgold County and purchased his present farm which contains eighty acres of well-cultivated land, a good, comfortable residence surrounded with trees, and orchard of 200 trees, and a large variety of small fruits.

He has in charge four church organizations - the Palestine Church, two and a half miles west of Leon; New Salem, five miles east of Davis City; Camden, three and a half miles northeast of Westerville, and Providence Church, three and a half miles southeast of Davis City, in New Buda Township [all in Decatur County].

Mr. and Mrs. AUXIER have one child - James W.

Mr. AUXIER is a zealous and consistent worker in the cause of his Master, and has been able to do much gospel work in Ringgold and Decatur counties. Postoffice, Kellerton.

NOTE: Eli Virgin AUXIER was the third of fourteen children born to Daniel and Mary "Polly" (VIRGIN) AUXIER. Daniel was born in Russell County, Virginia, in 1788. Mary "Polly" (VIRGIN) AUXIER was the granddaughter of Captain Resin VIRGIN. Daniel and Polly were married in Greenup County,Kentucky on February 14, 1815.

Centennial History of Mason County, Illinois, "Early Settlement of Salt Creek Township" - "The early settlement of what is now the township of Salt creek was in and around what was then so generally known as Big Grove. For a long time the improvements were all near the timber. . . [The town "Hiawatha"] gradually dwindled away, till now Ed. AUZIER's cornfield marks the site. In 1837, Edward SIKES, John and Eli AUXIER, John Y. SWAUR and John YOUNG, all from Ohio, came and settled near the grove. Edward SIKES settled on the farm formerly occupied by Robert MELTON, and now owned by F. AUXIER, where he since died, leaving a numerous family. John AUXIER settled in the eastern part of the GROVE, where he acquired, by raising and feeding cattle, a large tract of land, where he died, in 1859, leaving a numerous family, who have since moved to Iowa. Eli AUXIER had previously died [June 15, 1848 at the age of thirty-two], leaving a widow and two children, viz: Rev. E. E. AUXIER, who now owns the site of the obsolete town of Hiawatha, and a daughter, the wife of Nelson DODY. . . Coming down to the present time [1887], there are but few persons remaining that lived about Big Grove twenty-five years ago. . . Edmund E., son of Eli AUXIER . . . are the only ones remaining of the original settlers and their descendants. . . [I]n addition to those above named are . . .F. AUXIER, and others.

After Eli V. AUXIER's death, there was an auction of his personal property to settle his estate. Among the items listed in this auction was a bay horse and mare, two brindle cows, two pied cows, two colts, one yoke of oxen, one sheep, twenty-three pigs, fifty-seven hogs, twenty acres of corn, 100 bushels of wheat, a Jewett plow, wagonand harness, a patch of potatoes, rope, and two scythes. The auction raised $526.73, well above the appraised value.

Margaret (WHIPP) AUXIER was born December 1, 1812, and died May 20, 1894 with interment at Maple Row Cemetery, Kellerton, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Nelson DADY died at the age of 48 years, 6 months, and 8 days on February 26, 1881, and was interred at Sweet Home Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Eli Edwin and Paulina Anne AUXIER filed a land claim in Idaho in 1907, and were enumerated in the 1920 Federal Census as residing in Bosie, Ada County, Idaho. Eli Edwin AUXIER died December 2, 1932, Meridian, Idaho. Paulina Anne (KILLION) AUXIER was born February 8, 1852, and died March 13, 1922, Bosie, Idaho. James Wesley AUXIER was born March 28, 1872, and died May 2, 1850, Boise, Idaho.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 2, 1887.

COCHRANE, Joseph. "Early Settlement of Salt Creek Township." Pp. 40-43  Centennial History of Mason County, Illinois Rokker's Steam Printing House, Springfield IL. 1876

1880 Federal Census, Athens Twp., Ringgold Co. IA

1920 Federal Census, Boise, Ada Co. ID

Idaho Death Index, 1911-51

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z