We know very little about Elijah and have many unanswered questions. The biggest problem is that there were several Elijah Mears in the same area at the same time. I do believe the following deed is for this Elijah:
Cannon Co. TN Deed Abstracts, Book D, pp 118-120 - reg. June 11, 1842
100 acres, District 6 line of Benjamin Sapp, Wm. PRESTON, Daniel James
wit: E. Neely, James MEARSElijah married Nancy Bailey April 24, 1840 in Cannon Co., TN. It is believed that she was the d/o Eli Bailey and that she probably died between 1845 and 1850 - possibly in childbirth. Elijah is listed twice on the 1850 census - with the Eli Bailey family and with the Ruehamy Sullivan family. On both, his occupation is listed as a tanner. It is not known when Elijah or his children went after the 1850 census.
Selah Elizabeth Mears
--b. February 1, 1841 District 6, Cannon Co., TN
--d. February 28, 1921 Harris Co., Texas
----buried East Hill, Old Palestine Cemetery, Anderson Co., Texas
--m. Wiley Henton BOWEN
--October 17, 1868 Palestine, Anderson Co., Texas
----b. 1830 Georgia
----d. February 19, 1881 Palestine, Anderson Co., Texas
------buried Palestine, Anderson Co,. Texas
----Wiley m/1 Martha I. DODSON August 13, 1856 Anderson Co., Texas
----Wiley m/2 Louisa GARDNER January 4, 1859 Anderson Co,. Texas
- 1850 - Cannon Co., TN , page 181, District 6
- 1870 - Anderson Co., Texas
- 1880 - Palestine, Anderson Co,. Texas
- 1900 - Anderson Co., Texas
- 1910 - Anderson Co,. Texas
- 1917 - Houston, Harris Co., Texas City Directory
* * * * *
Tombstone of Selah (Mears) and Wiely Bowen
Children of Selah Elizabeth Mears and Wiley Henton Bowen
- William Henry 'Willie' Bowen --b. December 1869 Palestine, Henry Co., Texas
--d. 1870/80 Palestine, Henry Co., Texas
- James Colley Bowen --b. January 17, 1875 Palestine, Anderson Co., Texas
--d. October 12, 1918 Palestine, Anderson Co, Texas
--m. Anna ELROD
----b. Decmeber 1878 Hatchisbey, Alabama
----d. 1955
* * * * *
Tombstone of James C. Bowen
Children of James Colley Bowen and Anna Elrod
James Wiley 'Jim' Bowen
--b. November 20, 1906 Palestine, Anderson Co., Texas
--d. February 16, 1937 Palestine, Anderson Co., Texas
* * * * *
Tombstone of Jim W. Bowen
Thomas Elijah Bowen
--b. July 15, 1878 Palestine, Anderson Co., Texas
--d. March 13, 1951 Houston, Harris Co., Texas
--m. Birdie Hodges LOW
----b. 1890
James Madison 'Jim' Mears
--b. September 1843 District 6, Cannon Co., TN
--d. March 26, 1911 Palestine, Anderson Co, Texas
--m. Margaret Elizabeth 'Lizzie' BORDEAUX
--April 19, 1866 Palestine, Anderson Co, Texas
----b. 1846 NC
----d. February 3, 1920 Taylor, Williamson Co, Texas)
- 1850 Cannon Co., TN , page 181, District 6
--James is age 5 with parents- 1860 Anderson Co., Texas, Palestine, #211
--James is age 16 with Bailey grandparents- 1870 Palestine, Anderson County, Texas (page 112, dwelling 841, family 824, lines 37-39)
- 1880 nderson Co., Texas, Palastine, page 7A
--listed as James Meurs- 1900 Palestine, Anderson County, Texas (ward 3, precinct 1, supv. dist. 7, enum. dist. 5, sheet 5B, dwelling 91)
- 1910 alestine, Anderson County, Texas (ward 3, enum. dist. 9, sheet 8A, dwelling 133, family 137)
- Williamson Co,. Texas,Taylor Ward 2,District 170, sheet 15a, #502-338-348
--Margaret, a widow, is with daugther Julia
Children of James Madison Mears and Lizzie Bordeaux
Photos for Rena and her family
Courtesy of Erven Thoma
Erven's Entry Page and Rena's PageRena Priscilla (Mears)Vossler
--b. March 19, 1868 Palastine, Anderson Co., TX
--d. Houston, Harris Co., Texas
----buried Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery Houston, Harris Co, TX
--m. John William VOSSLER
--September 30, 1891 Anderson Co., Texas
----b. 1864
----d. May 24, 1939 Houston, Harrix Co, TX
------buried Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery Houston, Harris Co, TX
------s/o Christoph G. Vossler and Sibilla Therese BREYNCK
--------gs/o Jacob Vossler and Theresia HECKER
--------gs/o Andreas Breynck and Johanna OSTHEIMER
Right: Rena (Mears) Vossler
- 1880 Anderson Co, Texas Census
- 1900 Anderson Co., Texas Census
- 1910 Anderson Co,. Texas Census
- 1917 Houston, Texas City Directory
- 1920 Harrison Co., Texas Census
- 1930 Anderson Co., Texas Census
Below: John William Vossler and wife, Rena (Mears)
Vossler House in Palestine, Anderso Co, Texas
Taken before 1917
Taken 1923 - Rena with 2 of her grandchildren
Graves in Forest Park Lawnsdale Cemetery
Children of Rena Mears and John William Vossler
James Mears Vossler
--(August 1892 Anderson Co., Texas - 1950)
--m. Miriam Genevieve McCLEARY
----(1894-1978)
1914/15 - James at Texas A & M University
Engineering Student and Cadet in Military Program
1945 - Miriam (McCleary) and James Mears Vossler
Alma (Vossler) Austin
--(October 2, 1894 Anderson Co., TX - March 1975 Macon Co., IL)
----buried New Salem Cemetery, Couch, MO
--m. Amory Emory AUSTIN November 1921
1913 - Alma's High School Graduation
Alma (Vossler) and Amory Austing
Taken November 1921 - Month of their Marriage
Julia M. (Mears) Guyot
--b. November 28, 1873 Palestine, Anderson Co,. Texas
--d. August 22, 1970 Arlington, Tarrant Co., Texas
--m. John Henry GUYOT
--June 1, 1892 Anderson Co., Texas
----b. abt 1873 Wisconsin
----d. aft 1920 Texas
- 1880 Anderson Co., Texas
--listed as Julia Meurs, age 6, with parents
- 1900 Anderson Co., Texas
--listed as Julia M. Guyot, born Nov 1873, age 26
- 1910 Travis Co., Texas
--listed as Julia M. Guyot, age 36
- 1920 Williamson Co., Texas
--listed as Julia Guyot, age 46
Kate Mears
--b. October 1876 Palestine, Anderson Co., Texas
Continue to - Goldsborough 'G. B.' Mears
Ann (Jobe) Brown ***Contact US*** Cindy (Cantrell) Mears
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