My Genealogy Hound

ELI SHEARER, retired farmer; P. O. West Milton; born in Ashe Co., N. C., in the year 1805; is a son of Abraham and Anna Shearer; his father was born in the same State, his mother in Pennsylvania, but was reared in North Carolina, in which State they were married and resided till their removal to this county and township in the year 1813; they lived on the east side of the Stillwater till their death; his father was born in 1779; he and his son Absalom were drowned in 1828, by the upsetting of a canoe in the Stillwater River; five others were with them who escaped; his mother was born in 1791 and died in 1831 or 1832; they were parents of twelve children, who lived to manhood and womanhood, and, so far as is known, six survive, viz., Eli, Mary, Philip, Martin, Hugh and Rebecca. Our subject was brought up on the farm, and, being a natural mechanic, he engaged in wagon-making, which he followed in this township for thirty years. In 1826, he was married to Matilda Fonts, by whom he had nine children, seven of whom are living, viz., Henry, Davis, Abijah, Anna, Titus, John and Elizabeth; the deceased are Susanna and one in infancy. Mrs. Shearer died in 1844, aged 37 years. His second marriage was celebrated with Rebecca (Kintzey) Fouts in 1845; to them four children have been born—two living, viz., Oliver and Cornelius; he owns 114 acres of land, on which he has resided thirty-three years; he and his wife have been members of the German Baptist Church for many years; his deceased wife was also a member of the same church. Jesse Fouts, first husband of Mrs. Shearer, died in 1844; they had three children, two living, viz., Rachel and Ira; Silas, deceased.