Stephen A. Eley, 1834 - 1908
Research Report, the As It Is Series
This series was begun over at Reflections From the Fence (at Blogger).
This purpose of the series of posts, is to post in an efficient (make that speedy fast) manner to share some research on the ancestors. This is NOT intended to be the end all to end all report. It’s a work in progress, to show you what I have found, right or wrong. Kind feedback is welcomed via comments. As I add years to my existence here on Mother Earth, I hope to add more such posts, hoping that this format lasts long past when I have started pushing daisies. Leaving a record.
Let’s begin - -
Meet - - Stephen A. Eley, 1834 - 1908
With his first wife:
Research on Stephen’s parents has been done, needs updating. Research on Mary and her parents, ongoing. Research on their children, review would not hurt.
Stephen Ely in the 1850 United States Federal Census Name Stephen Ely [Stephen Eley] [Eley] Gender Male Race White Residence Age 15 Birth Date abt 1835 Birthplace Virginia Residence Date 1850 Home in 1850 Eastern District, Isle of Wight, Virginia, USA Line Number 40 Dwelling Number 540 Family Number 540 Inferred Mother Martha Ely Household Members (Name) Age Martha Ely 50 Virginia Ely 17 Stephen Ely 15 Solomon Ely 13 Stephen A Eley in the Virginia, U.S., Select Marriages, 1785-1940 Name Stephen A Eley Gender Male Marital Status Single Age 21 Birth Date 1834 Birth Place Isle of Wight Co, VA Marriage Date 18 Jan 1855 Marriage Place Isle of Wight, Virginia Father Ecum Eley Mother Martha Eley Spouse Mary L Hall FHL Film Number 2048457 Reference ID 94 *No copy of the marriage record in my file.
Not long after Mary’s death, Stephen married again, here he is with his second wife and their children:
Research on Ann and her children is more or less complete, research on her parents is non-existent.
Stephen A. Eley in the Virginia, U.S., Select Marriages, 1785-1940 Name Stephen A. Eley Gender Male Marital Status Single Age 25 Birth Date 1834 Birth Place Isle of Wight, VA. Marriage Date 01 May 1859 Marriage Place Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight, Virginia Father Ecum Mother Martha Spouse Ann H. Edwards FHL Film Number 32020 Reference ID P 6 In 21 * *No copy of the marriage record in my file. Stephen is enumerated on the 1860 census of Isle of Wight County, Virginia as follows: Stephan A., age 25, school teacher, value of personal property $350., born Virginia; Anne H., age 19, born Virginia. Stephen A. Eley in the Virginia, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1800-1890 Name Stephen A. Eley Residence Year 1860 Residence Place Eastern District, Isle of Wight, Virginia Title Va 1860 Slave Schedule Served in 16th Virginia Infantry with his brother Solomon. According to the history of the 16th VA Infantry, Company D, as found on the internet, Private Stephen Eley was a prisoner of war, taken September 14, 1862 at the Battle of Crampton’s Gap, Maryland. He was also listed as a deserter on October 2, 1863. Stephen A Eley in the U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 Name Stephen A Eley Age 27 Birth Year abt 1834 Enlistment Date 1861 Military Unit Sixteenth Infantry (Colston’s Regiment, Infantry; Twenty-Sixth Regiment, Infantry) * Compiled service record cards file is 39 images long, here is the first page. Complete file can be found at Fold3.
Found enumerated on the 1870 US census of Hardy Township, Isle of Wight County, Virginia: Stephen A., age 35, farmer, value of real estate $1000, value of personal property $800, born Virginia; Anne H., age 23, keeping house, born Virginia; Mattie S., age 8, born Virginia; J. W., age 3, born Virginia. Stephen is found on the 1880 US census of Isle of Wight County, Virginia: Stephen A., age 46, farmer, born Virginia, parents both born Virginia; Ann H., age 40, wife, keeping house, born Virginia, both parents born Virginia; Mattie S., age 19, daughter, at home, born Virginia; Jonas L., age 12, son, at school, born Virginia; Stephen W., age 5, son, born Virginia; Ann M (or Mary M., hard to read??), age 9 months, born September 1879, born Virginia. Stephen A Eley in the U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 Name Stephen A Eley Enumeration Date 30 Jun 1880 Place Isle of Wight, Virginia, USA Schedule Type Agriculture OS Page 44 Line Number 1 From the Norfolk Virginian, Norfolk, Virginia, published on Jan 6, 1892: “Mr. S. A. Eley, of Isle of Wight county, has removed his family to this city. Mr. Eley is interested in the new market house.” Appears in 1892-93 City Directory for Berkley, (Norfolk County), Virginia: Stephen A., treas. Berkley Market and Stock Yard Co., h 128 Chestnut, also listed at this address is one Hubert S. Eley, pres Berkley Market and Stock Yard Co., and S. Leslie Eley, confr 108 Berkley ave., h 128 Chestnut. Johah L. Eley is listed as sec Berkley Market and Stock Yard Co. h 120 Chestnut (maybe a typo?) 1983-94 city directory for Berkley, Virginia: Stephen A. Eley, salesman h 39 Berkley ave. 1900 city directory for Norfolk, Virginia: Stephen A. Eley, agt Singer Mnfg Co h Berkley, also listed is John L., agt Singer Mnfg Co h Berkley. Stephen appears on the 1900 US census of Berkley Town, Washington Township, Norfolk County, Virginia, as follows: Stephen A., born May 1834, 66 years old, married 40 years, born Virginia, parents both born Virginia, sewing machine agent; Anne H., wife, born Aug. 1841, 58 years old, married 40 years, 4 children, all of which survive, born Virginia, both parents born Virginia; Jonah L. Eley, son, born Nov. 1867, 32 years old, married 4 years, born Virginia, sewing machine agent; Leslie, son, born Sept.1875, 24 years old, single, born Virginia, salesman (groceries); Florence, daughter-in-law, born Feb. 1874, 24 years old, married 4 years, no children, born Virginia, parents both born Virginia. 1902 city directory for Norfolk, Virginia: Stephen A. Eley, salesman Singer Mnfg C h Berkley, also listed are Johan L. Eley, salesman Singer Mnfg Co h Berkley and Stephen L. Eley, trav. salesman 157 Water, h Berkley. 1903 city directory Norfolk, Virginia: Stephen A. Eley, salesman Singer Mnfg Co, h Berkley, also listed are Jno and Stephen L. From the Norfolk Landmark, Norfolk, Virginia, published on May 10, 1903 “Mrs. Mattie S. Johnson and little daughter, of Windsor, Va., are the guests of the family of Mr. S. A. Eley on Chestnut street.” 1904 city directory, Norfolk Virginia: Stephen A. Eley, trav salesman, The Singer Mnfg Co, h Berkley. Stephen L. is also listed. 1905 city directory, Norfolk, Virigina: Stephen A. Eley, salesman Singer Mnfg Co., h Berkley Found on 1908 directory of Norfolk, Virginia: Stephen A. Eley, agt Singer Machine Co., h. 302 Chesnut, B.; also at this address are found Miss Annie N. Eley and Stephen L. Eley, trav saleman A. Brinkley & Co. Not found on 1909 directory of Norfolk, Virginia, although his son Stephen L. is found in that year. His wife Ann H. is listed in the 1910 city directory of Norfolk, Virginia. Ann is also listed on the 1910 census in her son’s household as a widow. Stephen A Eley in the Virginia, U.S., Death Registers, 1853-1911 Name Stephen A Eley Gender Male Race White Marital Status Single; Married; Widowed; Divorced (Single) Age 74 Birth Date abt 1834 Death Date 29 Mar 1908 Death Place Norfolk, Virginia, USA Cause of Death Chronic Gastritis Father Axone Ely Mother Patsy Ely
From The Times Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, published on March 31, 1908: “Stephen A. Eley. [Special to The Times-Dispatch.] SUFFOLK, VA., March 30, - - Stephen A. Eley, formerly of Isle of Wight county, but who had for several years resided in Berkley, died yesterday in that town, aged about seventy-five years. The funeral will occur at 11 o’clock Tuesday morning from Antioch Church, in Isle of Wight, of which he was a deacon, and the leader of whose choir he was for upwards of thirty years.” From the Clinch Valley News of Tazewell, Virginia, published on the 10th of April 1908: “DEATHS Stephen A. Eley Mr. Stephen A. Eley, formerly of Isle of Wight County, but who had for several years resided in Berkley, died Sunday in that town, aged about seventy-five years.” From the Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg, Virginia, published on the 11th of April 1908: “DEATHS Stephen A. Eley Mr. Stephen A. Eley, formerly of Isle of Wight County, but who had for several years resided in Berkley, died Sunday in that town, aged about seventy-five years.”’ Thanks to my genie angel: www.archive.org The Christian Sun, Vol 60, No 17, April 22, 1908, p 14 “Eley At his home in Berkley, 8th, Ward, Norfolk, Va. March 29th, 1908, our much beloved friend, brother and father in Israel, Stephen A Eley, departed this life for that sweet life beyond the river, where sickness, sorrow, pain, and death are forever unknown. Uncle Stephen, as the most of us called him went through the Civil war and fought many a hard battle and gained many glorious victories, but the greatest victory was won on the 5th, Sunday March 29th at 1-45 pm when he over came the last enemy and gained heaven with all its blessed associations. Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter though into the joy of they Lord. He made profession of religion at Antioch, and united with the Christian church at the age of 19 years, was elected Deacon of the church soon after and begun the work of his Master in earnest for the betterment of humanity and the salvation of souls. He was faithful in the old church, in all the church work. He lead the singing there for years. Taught public school and also vocal music for years. He was truly a good man, greatly beloved by all who knew him. He will be greatly missed by us all. He moved to Berkley, Va, about 15 years ago and at one began to work for the Master there. He was the leader of the choir, the friend and the father of the preacher. I heard one young preacher say at his funeral service that on one occasion when he was much oppressed spiritually, while he was his pastor, that Uncle Stephen came into his study and said to him, “I love you as I love my own boys.” This young preacher had, according to God’s word found a Father, “ I will give you Father, Mother etc.” He leaves to mourn their loss a devoted wife, 4 children, 2 sons, 2 daughters, S L and J L Eley of Norfolk, Va, Mrs J H Johnson, of Norfolk, Va, Mrs W C Varner of Ivor, Va, one devoted sister, Mrs Virginia Watkins, mother of M M Watkins, Deputy clerk of Nansemond Co, Va, and a host of friends. His funeral service was conducted by the writer assisted by his pastor, Rev M L Bryant, Rev J O Cox and Rev R H Peel, at Antioch Christian church and his remains were laid to rest in the old church cemetery. The Lord bless and comfort the dear bereaved ones. H HB” www.archive.org The Christian Sun, Vol 60, No 18, April 29, 1908 p 14 “Eley At a called meeting of the Deacons and officers of Main St, Christian church, held March 29, 1908 the undersigned were appointed a committee to draft suitable memorial account of the death of our Senior Deacon, Bro Stephen A Eley, who passed into rest on March 29, 1908. Pursuant therefore to these directions and with loving respect to our departed brother, we offer this only a slight token of the regard and esteem in which he was held by all who knew him. Blessed with four years beyond the allotted three score and ten, vigorous until a few months before the end; loyal and true to the cause he so dearly loved; loved by all who knew him. With patience bearing up under afflictions, his only complaint being that he might be able to do more for his Master. He loved to sing the songs of Zion and a more faithful chorister could not be found. We shall miss him but our loss is his eternal gain. To his sorrowing friends and loved ones, and to his devoted companion we extend our heartfelt sympathy and commend them to our Father, who he loved. J O Wiggs Geo H Frey W H L Garlett Committee
Recently I discovered that Stephen has a Find A Grave memorial, # 285360304. His name is given as Stephen Alford Eley, I have never seen that middle name, something to try to follow up on . There is no photo of any headstone on the memorial. The only link, currently, in December 2025, is that to the memorial of his son. I have not located a memorial for either of Stephen’s wives.
Carol
* Disclaimers, I use Find A Grave, Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, several newspaper subscriptions, free sites, such as Virginia Chronicles, Virginia Chancery Cases online at the Library of Virginia and more to research my ancestors. I pay for subscriptions, full price.
** My judgements may or may not be correct. Transcriptions may or may not have errors. Transcriptions may or may not have been done by AI online web sites, such as Claude. Notification on the use of AI of transcriptions may or may not be included.
*** Links, URL’s, for the most part will not be included henceforth on my posts, as so many of them change and then I have to come back and try to re-discover and relink. Frankly folks, I have no desire to spend my limited time here on this side of the sod with those kinds of do overs. As researchers, or just members of the internet community, sites such as Find A Grave are easy to find, some are free to use and with the information I am sharing with you, hopefully, you can duplicate the research/findings. That said, I have seen memorials at Find A Grave be removed. If you have questions, I suggest you leave a nice comment for me.
**** Images may be digitally edited to fit my data base and for my ease of viewing, originals, are in most cases, maintained in an archival folder on my computer. Digitally editing may have been done by AI online sites or photo editing apps on my computer, such as GIMP, or on my phone using any number of apps. Photos edited by AI should have a disclaimer on the photo to that effect.
Nice work. Glad you were able to get the longer obituaries from your "angel." I've seen house number typos in city directories also, or in Jonah's case, maybe he was boarding nearby. Or, the 0 for 8 would not be too outrageous.