Extract from the 1860 Census:
Name: Eliza Higdon
Age in 1860: 1
Estimated birth year: 1859
Birthplace: Illinois
Race: white
Sex: female
Relation to head-of-house: daughter
Home in 1860: Elmwood, Peoria, Illinois
Post office: Elmwood
Occupation: not listed
Siblings living at home: William (age 5) and Gilman (3)
Census place: Elmwood, Peoria, Illinois; Roll M653_217; Page: 548; Image: 178; Family History Library Film: 803217
Date: 20 Jul 1860

Extract from the 1870 Census:
Name: Eliza E Higdon
Age in 1870: 11
Birthplace: Illinois
Race: white
Gender: female
Home in 1870: Patton, Ford, Illinois
Post office: Paxton
Occupation: attending school
Siblings living at home: Wm J (age 15), Gilman H (13), Benjamin (9), Ulysses G (6), Celia (4), and Marietta (2/12)
Census place: Patton, Ford, Illinois; Roll: M593_221; Page: 69; Image: 139
Date: 28 Jun 1870

Extract from the 1880 Census:
Name: Eliza E Higdon
Age: 21
Estimated birth year: 1859
Birthplace: Illinois
Race: white
Sex: female
Relationship to head-of-household: daughter
Home in 1880: Patton, Ford, Illinois
Marital status: single
Father's birthplace: Ohio
Mother's birthplace: Ohio
Occupation: at home
Siblings living at home: William J (age 25), Benjamin F (18), Grant (16), Celia (14), Marietta (10), and Shotwell (7)
Census place: Patton, Ford, Illinois; Roll: T9_206; Family History Film: 1254206; Page: 357.1000; Enumeration District: 113; Image: 0717
Date: 1 Jun 1880

Extract from the 1900 Census:
Name: Eliza Higdon
Age at last birthday: 41
Date of birth: Jan 1859
Birthplace: Illinois
Race: white
Sex: female
Relationship to head-of-house: daughter
Home in 1900: Boone, Hancock, Iowa
Marital status: single
Able to read, write and speak English: yes
Father's birthplace: Ohio
Mother's birthplace: Ohio
Occupation: housekeeper
Census place: Boone, Hancock, Iowa; Roll: T623 434; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 118.
Date: 21 Jun 1900

Extract from the 1910 Census:
Name: Eliza E Shay
Age in 1910: 51
Estimated birth year: 1859
Birthplace: Illinois
Race: white
Sex: female
Relationship to head of family: wife
Home in 1910: Boone Township, Hancock, Iowa
Marital status: married
Number of years of present marriage: 8
Number of children: 0
Number of children now living: 0
Able to speak English: yes
Able to read and write: yes
Father's birthplace: Ohio
Mother's birthplace: Ohio
Occupation: none
Census place: Boone, Hancock, Iowa; Roll: T624_393; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 129; Image: 278
Date: 15 Apr 1910

Extract from the 1925 Iowa State Census:
Name: Eliza Shay
Age: 66
Estimated birth year: 1859
Birth location: Illinois
Race: white
Gender: female
Residence county: Hancock
Residence state: Iowa
Locality: Boone
Relation to head of house: wife
Marital status: married
Highest grade completed: 7
Father: Peter B Higdon
Father's age: not listed
Father's birth location: Ohio
Mother: Marietta Miller
Mother's age: not listed
Mother's birth location: Indiana
Parents' marriage location: Indiana
Religion: Catholic
Census date: 1 Jan 1925
Roll: IA1925_1738
Line: 20

Extract from the 1930 Census:
Name: Eliza E Shay
Age: 71
Estimated birth year: 1859
Birthplace: Illinois
Race: white
Sex: female
Relation to head-of-house: sister-in-law [sic - should be sister]
Living with: brother Shotwell (age 56) and wife Malinda Higdon (54)
Home in 1930: Britt, Hancock, Iowa
Marital status: widow
Education: able to speak English
Education: able to read and write
Father's birthplace: Ohio
Mother's birthplace: Indiana [sic]
Occupation: none
Census place: Britt, Hancock, Iowa; Roll: 657; Page: ; Enumeration District: 9; Image: 690.0
Date: 9 Apr 1930

Extract from the 1940 Census:
Name: Eliza Shay
Age: 81
Estimated birth year: 1859
Birthplace: Illinois
Race: white
Sex: female
Relation to head-of-house: sister [listed as lodger]
Living with: Shotwell and Linda Higdon, ages 67 and 65
Home in 1940: Britt, Hancock, Iowa
Address: 390 West 6th Street
Marital status: widow
Highest grade of school completed: "e"
Living on farm: no
Place of residence in 1935: same house
Occupation: housework
Has other income of more than $50: yes
Census place: Britt, Hancock, Iowa; Roll: T627_1164; Page: 18A; Enumeration District: 41-9
Date: 29 Apr 1940

Obituary from the "Globe-Gazette" of Mason City, Iowa dated 10 Apr 1942:
Conduct Rites
Of Mrs. Shay
- - -
Britt Resident Dies
at Home of Niece in
Gibson City, Ill.
- - -
Britt - Funeral services for Mrs. Eliza Shay, who died Monday at the home of a niece in Gibson City, Ill., were held Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the Methodist church in Britt with the Rev. C. K. McNary officiating. Burial will be in Britt Evergreen cemetery.
In 1896 she came to Iowa with her parents, settling on a farm in Boone township, Hancock county. She married Michael Shay March 28, 1902 living in the same neighborhood until his death July 14, 1928 when she came to Britt to make her home with her brother, Shotwell Higdon, where she lived until her death outside of visits with relatives in Illinois.
Surviving are her sister, Mrs. Charles Miller, of Gibson City, Ill., and two brothers, F. Higdon and Shotwell Higdon of Britt.