ERNEST, Elbert

ERNEST, WILKINS, ALBEE, WATSABAUGH, WARNERE, BRAZZLETON, AMMONDS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/18/2014 at 10:21:34

Biography ~ Elbert Ernest

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 701-02:

ELBERT ERNEST, of Leon settled in Center Township in the fall of 1860, locating upon a new farm. He built a log cabin, 14 x 16 feet, in which he and his family lived one year, when he put up an addition. He continued to improve the place until November, 1862, when he entered the army as a member of Company C, Ninth Iowa Cavalry, serving nearly two years. In 1864 he lost his eye-sight by small-pox, and was confined in the pest hospital on Bloody Island, near St. Louis. Owing to his misfortune he was discharged in July, 1864. The year following he went to Davenport to receive treatment for his eyes, but it was without any beneficial result. In 1866 he entered the college of the blind, at Vinton, Iowa, where he remained a year and a half, learning the broom and brush making business. He then returned to Davenport and conducted a brush and broom factory until 1872, when he returned to Leon and purchased seventy-five acres of new land in Eden Township. Notwithstanding his misfortune he personally improved the farm, removing timber, building fences and planting an orchard, with his own hands. He made a beautiful house and occupied it until 1880, when he returned to Leon, and later sold his farm, and now lives a more rewired life. Mr. ERNEST was born in Sullivan County, Indiana, in 1883, where he was reared to the occupation of a farmer. His father, JACOB ERNEST, died in Indiana, and his mother ZERELDA (WILKINS) ERNEST, still lives in that State. He has been twice married. His first wife was SARAH ALBEE, and they were married in 1854. Mrs. ERNEST died in 1864, just four weeks after her husband’s return from the army. For a second wife MR. ERNEST married EMILY J. WATSABAUGH, of Leon. By his first marriage he had four children – Mrs. LOVINA WARNERE, of Burrell Township; LUELLA, wife of CLAYBORNE BRAZZLETON, of Center Township; NATHANIEL, a resident of Eden Township, and ZERELDA, wife of W. E. AMMONDS, residing in Hutchison County, Dakota. He has an adopted daughter, ETTA. Politically Mr. ERNEST is a Republican.

Transcribed by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historial Society Musuem, January of 2014