7.

INDEX to WELLMAN, IOWA CENTENNIAL 1879-1979
Deen Eli 147
Deen George B.

Washington Co., IA - Farmers, circa 1892
Deen Eli Wellman 51

Someone posted an Eli Deen married to Caroline Boeme, 17 February
1840 in Bristol Township, Morgan County, Ohio. More research
required to clear up the confusion. Possible Caroline was born in
1840 in Morgan.

Notes for ELI DEEN:
From the book: Portrait and Biographical Album: Washington County, Iowa

"ELI DEEN, a farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 7, Lime
Creek Township, was born in McLean County, Ill., May 17, 1846. He is
the son of Enos and Lucy Deen, the former a native of
Virginia, and the latter of Ohio. the father was reared on a farm in
his native State, and followed the vocation of a farmer. He moved to
Ohio, where he became acquainted with and was united in marriage with
Miss Lucy Fordice, the marriage being celebrated Dec. 27, 1827. She
was the daughter of Stanton Fordice, a native of Scotland, who
emigrated to America in the year 1801. He was in the War of 1812, and
therefore had only been a citizen of America eleven years when he was
called to defend her borders. He died in Illinois in 1840. Mrs. Deen,
the mother of our subject, was born in Morgan County, Ohio, March 14,
1809, and is now making her home with her son, Eli, and is a well-
preserved woman both in body and mind. Her father was a farmer in
Ohio. He improved a farm in that State and then removed to McLean
County, Ill., in 1850, and there bought 160 acres of land, which he
improved and made his home until the fall of 1852, when he removed to
Wapello County, Iowa, remaining there until the spring of 1853, when
he came to Lime Creek Township, Washington County, where he bought
220 acres of land, and was one of the first settlers in the township.
He will be well remembered by all old settlers in the county.

Mrs. Deen has lived to witness the many wonderful changes that have
been made in the county since her first arrival, and has shared the
sorrow and the pleasure of the people of Lime Creek Township for many
years. She was separated from her life companion Dec. 31, 1855. He
was a minister of the United Brethren Church, and was engaged in that
work for about fifteen years. While living in Illinois their house
was the home of all traveling ministers, and many were brought to see
the light and truth of the Gospel within their walls. Ten children
were born unto them: Nancy died and was buried in Ohio; Susanna was
the wife of George Phillips, and is deceased; James M. and John are
deceased; Lucinda, deceased, died about six weeks after her marriage;
Amanda M., deceased, was the wife of A. J. Treadwell; George died in
Illinois; Enos and Lucy both died in infancy; Eli, the subject of
this sketch is the only ne living of the ten children. The mother,
now seventy-eight years of age, looks back over her life, and
notwithstanding the many sorrows that have come to her, still knows
that she has done her part in life, and now only awaits the call to
meet her loved ones on the other shore. She united with the Methodist
Episcopal Church in 1824, and has lived a faithful Christian life for
sixty-three years, and by her example many have been led to see the
way that leads to life everlasting.

The early life of Eli Deen, the subject of this sketch, was spent
upon the farm an in attending the common schools. At the age of
eighteen he was called to the management of the farm, but he was
fully competent for the undertaking, and under his care it has
steadily been improved. He now owns 220 acres of fine land, with a
good farm house and all necessary out-buildings, and also has on hand
a fine grade of Short-horn cattle. He was united in marriage with
Miss Caroline C. Beohme, Feb. 17, 1870. She was born Oct. 12, 1851,
in Vermont, and is a daughter of William and Mary A. Beohme,
the former a native of Germany and the latter of England. they are
residents of English River Township. Mr. and Mrs. Deen are the
parents of three children: Clara E., born Dec. 17, 1871; George B.,
Jan. 24, 1874, and Elsie A., Nov. 5, 1876. They are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically, he is a Republican.

Benjamin Deen, the grandfather of our subject, came from England at
the age of twelve years, and settled in Virginia, where he was bound
out to a man by the name of Collins, and at the age of sixteen, entered the
army and served five years in the Revolutionary War. He then re-
enlisted and served three years longer, Collins receiving the sum due
for his services. He then returned to Virginia, where he afterward
lived and reared a family."

page 301


Burrell, Howard A., “History of Washington County, Iowa”, 1909; “Eli Deen”, p. 130.  It states and I quote “The father was twice married.  By his first union there were seven children, but of the entire family of seventeen Eli Deen in now the only one living”.