Information from Kenneth Booth, descendent of Eliza's sister-Effie McLoud Jones Daggs. Elizabeth "Eliza" McLoud was the youngest of 16 children born to Alexander McLoud and Winnie Myer-McLoud. Eliza was born with Scottish blood in her veins as her grandfather was born and raised in Scotland. Father Alexander married and farmed in Mississippi where seven children were born. The family migrated to Louisana in 1840 where seven more children were born. Alexander moved the family to Milam County, Texas about 1851 where a son, Norman was born in 1853 and a daughter Elizabeth was born May 11, 1856 in Milam County, Texas. Eliza, Lyda or Lydia were names she was called. She is listed on the 1860 Texas census in Milam County living at home with both parents. Eliza's father purchased 640 acres 16 miles south of the town of Goliad, in Goliad County, Texas where they intended to farm. The entire family moved to that location in the summer of 1860 after the census was taken. Father Alexander died just prior to January 1, 1862. The Civil War interrupted the McLoud's lives as the four oldest sons went off to the war leaving the farm in Goliad and the rest of the family. Malcomb, Alexander, Anguish, and Murdock left in March 1962 to fight with the Victoria Texas 6th Infantry.

In 1865, the end of the Civil War brought back two of the four brothers: Malcomb and Murdock returned home leaving Alexander and Anguish who were killed in Battle. The family started seperating through marriage and moved some of the family back to Milam County. Eliza at the age of 14 is found in the 1870 census in Millertown, Milam County, Texas with her mother, brothers and sisters.

Eliza married Murphy Frank Elliott in Coryell County, Texas on December 16, 1875. M.F. Elliott was born February 9, 1847 in Tennessee on according to the 1880 census. Murphy was the son of Frank and Elizabeth Elliott. Murphy was the son of a farmer who married a farmer's daughter. Murphy and Eliza continued at farming and had five children.