Some descendants believe Elisha had a total of 12 children.
Residences & events:
1820 Perryville Twp, Bond Co, IL. At census time his householdconsis ted of himself, age 16-26, 1 female under 10, and 1 at 16-26.He was en gaged in agriculture. Next door was brother "Randle," twodoors in the o pposite direction were his parents with brothers Johnand Mills farther d own. Polly's Pruitt family was in the samecounty.
6/15/1829 Morgan Co, IL, was his residence when he bought 80 acres,in t he same county, for $1.25/acre at a Federal sale. The land waslocated a t S36 T16N R12W.
12/12/1830 Morgan Co, IL, was still his residence at the next censust ime. There was also a Samuel Whitley in the same county. Elisha'sfam ily consisted of 1 male under 5, 1 at 5-10, he was 30-40, 2females und er 5, 2 at 5-10, and 1 aged 20-30. Next door neighborswere Fields Pre witt, followed by David Prewitt, father and brother ofwife Mary.
3/5/1832 He bought another 80 acres, again at Federal sale for$1.25/a cre, described as S2 T15N R12W, same county.
1833 N Okaw Twp, Coles Co, IL. Local history lists him among theearl y settlers of the township.
7/20/1836 Coles Co, IL. He had already moved to the county when hebo ught 80 acres there at S34 T14N R07E. The purchase price was still$1. 25/acre at Federal sale.
4/18/1837 Elisha acquired another 40 acre plot at S3 T13N R07E for$1. 25/acre from another Federal sale. He was still a resident of thecoun ty.
1840 Coles Co, IL. "Elish" was the only Whitley living in the countya nd his household consisted of 1 male under 5, 2 males aged 15-20,and h imself at 30-40, 2 females 5-10 and 2 females 10-15. None ofthe femal es listed were old enough to be his wife. Her whereaboutsat that time i s unknown. Next door was the David Hoots Sr familyand daughter, Bash ie, recently married to David Hoots, Jr, lived afew more doors down th e road
LDS records say he was born in Isle of Wight, VA but since the familyw as already in TN by 1800, that is unlikely. Some children told the188 0 census takers their parents were born in MO.
