I've been doing a little research this week into the lives of two powerful Chariton women --- Elizabeth Clark Stokesbury and Susan Joplin Scott.
Elizabeth, widowed in 1867 at age 43 after giving birth to 16 children, arrived in the south of Iowa from Ohio that fall with many of her children and moved into Chariton from northern Wayne County during 1883. Susan, born into slavery, arrived in Chariton during the Civil War with her husband, George Scott, and children, fleeing north from Trenton, Missouri, in search of freedom.
The two are connected because Elizabeth's daughter, also Elizabeth, and Susan's son, Napoleon Bonaparte Nailen, fell in love and married in Chariton on the 7th of April 1881. She was 20 at the time and he was 29. He was night clerk at the Bates House hotel and she, reportedly, was employed there as a chamber maid. This was a marriage that endured 40 years, until his death, but was considered scandalous by some at the time it occurred.
I'll come back to Susan's story another time and focus today on Elizabeth.
The first item transcribed here was published with a five-generation photograph in The Chariton Herald of Jan. 2, 1908, as follows:
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Rarely in the rush and whirl of these modern times, when men and women consume a long life's energy in a few short years in a wild effort to win wealth and distinction, do we have the pleasure of knowing full well our children's children; and when now and then someone lives to a grand old age and can look upon their great-grandchildren, their pleasure is the envy of hosts. Mr. Elizabeth Stokesbury, who now lives in the southwest part of our city, surely enjoys the crowning glory of old age; for it is her proud distinction to look no only upon her children's children, but upon her children's children's children's children.
Miss Elizabeth Clark was born in Fayette County, Ohio, in 1824, was married to John Stokesbury in 1840, and to them were born 16 children, nine of whom are living; they are Robert M., of Keller, Washington; Mrs. Angeline Wells, of Fayette Co., Ohio; Mrs. Sarah Walbridge and James H., of Los Angeles, Cal.; David C., of Forest Grove, Oregon; Rev. John W., of College Springs, Ia., Mrs. Elizabeth Nailen, of Cedar Rapids, Ia., Mrs. Clarissa Stokesbury and Mrs. Launa Mitchell of Chariton.
In 1867 she was left a widow and the same year came overland with two teams, her few belongings and seven of her children to Iowa, settling in Wayne county on a farm, where she resided for several years; in 1883 she moved to this city and it has since been her home. She is a faithful member of the Methodist church and though her life has been one of toil beset with many hardships which at times made the way seem very dark, she expresses her belief that the Lord was always with her and has perfect faith in his power; she is loved and respected by a host of friends and though not a woman of great means or one who mingled with those of society's realm, she is remembered by many for her kind acts and deeds in times of sickness and distress.
Mother of 16 children, has 27 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, making a total of ninety descendants. It is also quite worth of mention that in this long line of descendants there is no trace of insanity, no deformities and no criminal offenses to record. Mrs. Stokesbury enjoys good health, does her own work and often walks 25 blocks at a time. She often enjoys a visit with her great-great-grandchildren at the home of Mrs. John A. Book, of this this city, where in company with Mrs. Book's mother, Mrs. Clarissa Stokesbury, the four generations have a merry time. At her death she will leave no millions, no thousands, nor even hundreds of dollars for her people to inherit, but surely wealth which often brings so much misery and untold troubles seems mean and small besides such glory as this.
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Two years later, Elizabeth died. Her obituary in The Chariton Leader of Oct. 13, 1910, provides a few additional details about her life and personality:
Mrs. Elizabeth Stokesbury, who recently suffered a stroke of paralysis, died on Wednesday evening, October 5, 1910, at ten o'clock at the age of 86 years, 5 months and 24 days.
Elizabeth Clark was born in Fayette county, Ohio, April 11, 1824. On October 28, 1840, she was united in marriage to John Stokesbury, and to them were born 16 children, eight of whom are still living. In May, 1867, her husband died and in October of the same year with part of her family she took two teams and drove overland from Ohio to Wayne county, Iowa, and settled on a farm nine miles north of Corydon, where she lived for 16 years, when she came to this city, settling in the southwest part of town, living there until her death except in winter when she lived with her daughter, Mrs. Mitchell, east of town.
In her early life she was associated with the Dunkards, but on coming to Iowa and finding her sisters in the Methodist church, she united with that church on the New York charge, under the pastorate of Rev. W. F. Bartholomew, and has lived a faithful member of the church ever since. Whenever possible, even in her old age, she found her way to God's house and her modest, quiet testimony was always given for her master.
"Mother" Stokesbury had a strong personality. She was a great reader and especially of her Bible, which she had read until she knew the way of life perfectly. She was the last member of a large family as well as the living head of a fifth generation.
Though often besought to break up housekeeping, she preferred to keep her own house, where she lived until the summons came in a stroke of paralysis as she stood in her yard on Saturday, September 24, but she lingered for 12 days, then without a struggle her tired spirit took its flight to be with her Lord forever.
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