Elizabeth was the wife of Erastus Converse Sr, the son of Asa Convers of Pennsylvania. They settled for a time in Pennsylvania before moving on to Iowa in 1842. Erastus and Elizabeth had five sons and a daughter who died in infancy: * John Lyman Converse 1829-1909 * William Converse 1832-1916 * Henry B Converse 1835/6-1862 * George W Converse 1842/3-1864 * Erastus Taylor Converse b 1845 * Unknown daughter b 1837-1847 Erastus built a simple log house on his remote claim, a good 100 miles from the nearest trading post of Burlington in the southeast corner of Iowa. Wild game was plentiful but the family had to go without many common provisions and substituted wheat flour, sugar, and tea with hand-ground buckwheat flour, honey, and red root. The Converse claim laid only three miles from an Indian reservation where they maintained good relations with the neighboring Sac and Fox Indians and their chief, Keokuk. About 1847, Erastus went on a 70-mile horse ride, perhaps to Davenport on the Illinois border, to fetch a doctor for a sick son. Soon after his return he died from exhaustion at the age of 43. Elizabeth Van Wermer Converse died on October 30, 1899, in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, at the age of 87. From "The Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa," Lewis Publishing Co., 1891: "Mr. [Erastus] Converse [Sr.] lived to be the age of 43 years, dying from exhaustion brought on by riding 70 miles on horseback without a saddle for a [doctor] for his sick son. His widow is still living at the age of 80 years, with her son William. When she first came to Iowa, the Sac [Sauk] and Fox Indians were very numerous but friendly and Keokuk [1790?-1848?], the celebrated chief, used to come to their cabin, and frequently partook of their hospitality.
Elizabeth was the wife of Erastus Converse Sr, the son of Asa Convers of Pennsylvania. They settled for a time in Pennsylvania before moving on to Iowa in 1842. Erastus and Elizabeth had five sons and a daughter who died in infancy: * John Lyman Converse 1829-1909 * William Converse 1832-1916 * Henry B Converse 1835/6-1862 * George W Converse 1842/3-1864 * Erastus Taylor Converse b 1845 * Unknown daughter b 1837-1847 Erastus built a simple log house on his remote claim, a good 100 miles from the nearest trading post of Burlington in the southeast corner of Iowa. Wild game was plentiful but the family had to go without many common provisions and substituted wheat flour, sugar, and tea with hand-ground buckwheat flour, honey, and red root. The Converse claim laid only three miles from an Indian reservation where they maintained good relations with the neighboring Sac and Fox Indians and their chief, Keokuk. About 1847, Erastus went on a 70-mile horse ride, perhaps to Davenport on the Illinois border, to fetch a doctor for a sick son. Soon after his return he died from exhaustion at the age of 43. Elizabeth Van Wermer Converse died on October 30, 1899, in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, at the age of 87. From "The Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa," Lewis Publishing Co., 1891: "Mr. [Erastus] Converse [Sr.] lived to be the age of 43 years, dying from exhaustion brought on by riding 70 miles on horseback without a saddle for a [doctor] for his sick son. His widow is still living at the age of 80 years, with her son William. When she first came to Iowa, the Sac [Sauk] and Fox Indians were very numerous but friendly and Keokuk [1790?-1848?], the celebrated chief, used to come to their cabin, and frequently partook of their hospitality.
Inscription
"At Rest"
Elizabeth CONVERSE,
died Oct. 30, 1899,
aged 87Y, 10M, 16D
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Converse or Van Wermer memorials in:
- Oak Hill Cemetery Converse or Van Wermer
- Hancock Converse or Van Wermer
- Pottawattamie County Converse or Van Wermer
- Iowa Converse or Van Wermer
- USA Converse or Van Wermer
- Find a Grave Converse or Van Wermer
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
