Shanklin - Elizabeth Gray
Source: Crawfordsville Review Wednesday January 5, 1916
Elizabeth Gray SHANKLIN was born August 26, 1835 in the country home a few miles west of this city. She was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Gray who settled here in the early days of the county. Being the daughter of a pioneer she was taught early in life to be frugal and industrious. These traits were so firmly fixed in her character that they never weakened through the years. She loved to work and to save. Two members of her father's large family still live: Mrs. Mary Stout of this city and Mrs. Frances Ristine of Buckingham Iowa. On April 14, 1853 the deceased was married to John William Shanklin.
She then moved with her husband to a farm about 4 miles northwest of this city where she continued to live until the time of her companion's death, two years ago. She became the mother of 13 children. 10 grew to manhood and womanhood 9 are still living: Arthur, Charles and James died in infancy. One daughter, Mrs. Katie Thomas died in 1879. The living are: Thomas of near Wingate; Mrs. Anna Thompson, Mrs. Elizabeth Lawton, George, Harry, Willard and Mrs. Minnie Ditamore of this city and Mrs. Myrtle Hirst of Chicago. This good mother loved her family dearly. It was for them she toiled, for them she prayed and for them she lived. Her standard of a mother's life was high the, almost ideal. Only a few hours before she passed away her sons came to see her. When they turned to go out of the room she said, "Isn't that a large family of boys?" There are in the family 26 grandchildren and 9 greats. In 1859 Mrs. Shanklin and her husband united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Wesley. From that time to the day of her death, she lived a consistent devout Christian life.
With long life did she honor her Lord. She showed the world an example of the perseverance of the saints. Her beautiful character, made more beautiful by the Grace of the Lord won for her the esteem and respect of all who knew her. The sincerity of her life, the honesty of her purpose and the consecration of her soul to God were never doubted. Since the death of her husband she has made her home with two of her daughters, Mrs. Anna Thompson and Mrs. Minnie Ditamore of this city. The end came quietly and peacefully last Sunday afternoon. She lived 80 years 2 months and 23 days. -- typed by kbz