BIRTH: 4 Aug 1847 • Alexandria, Clark, Missouri
DEATH: 31 Jan 1927 • Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa
MARRIED: 28 Mar 1869 • William Henry Ellenwood
Matilda Emeline Stipe was born August 4, 1847 in Alexandria, Missouri to William McVicker Stipe and Ann Caywood. Matilda was named for her grandmother, Matilda Washam. Ann Caywood was born in Sullivan County, Tennessee in 1826. By 1839 when Ann was 13, her father purchased 160 acres in Will County, Illinois. In 1841, the Caywood family moved to Van Buren County in Iowa, where he purchased 80 acres of land.
William McVicker Stipe was born in Frederick County, Virginia in 1820 and lived in Hampshire, Virginia at the 1830 Census. Like the Caywoods, the Stipes moved the entire family west to take advantage of the Land Act, where Ann and William met and married 8 Oct 1846 in Wapello, Iowa.
The family moved to Clark County, Missouri where Matilda and her sister Georgianna were born. They lived and farmed in Missouri for 4 years before settling in Iowa.
On March 28, 1869 Matilda married William Henry Ellenwood son of Giles Ellenwood and Almira Bancroft of Grand Manan, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada. William Henry emigrated to Iowa from Canada in 1865. The Ellenwood family tree traces back to 1639 Beverly, Massachusetts, when Ralph Ellingwood migrated to New England from England. The family tree took a turn toward Canada during the American Revolution, possibly because they were loyal to British Crown and felt safer there than in rebellious Massachusetts.
William and Matilda had seven children, one died in infancy:
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, social activities for farm families were limited. Most families made few trips to town. Family members looked to each other for companionship and socializing. Families gathered at neighborhood schools several times each year for Christmas programs, spelling bees, and annual end-of-the-year picnics.
1880 US Census - Montgomery County, Iowa
1920 US Census - Montgomery, Iowa
William Henry Ellenwood died on August 7, 1925 in Montgomery county. Matilda died on January 31, 1927 at the home of her daughter, Anna Stipe. She is buried next to her husband in Grant City, Iowa.
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The family moved to Clark County, Missouri where Matilda and her sister Georgianna were born. They lived and farmed in Missouri for 4 years before settling in Iowa.
In 1850, William appears in the Mud Springs, California 1850 US census. Originally a camp on the old Carson Trail, by 1850 it had become the center of a mining district and the crossroads for freight and stagecoach lines. At the height of the rush its large gold production supported a population of several thousand.
Ann, Matilda and Georgianna stayed with Allen Caywood during William's absence. When William returned from California after a 5 month absence, he and his wife and two daughters moved to Douglas Township, Montgomery County, Iowa, where they acquired the first land deed in the county. A third daughter, Sarah Jane was born in 1852. By the 1850s the migration to Iowa had become a great wave. Families camped at the Mississippi, waiting their turn for ferryboats to the other side. In only a few years these settlers would turn the prairies into plowed fields.
By 1860, William and Ann Stipe owned an 800 acre farm and were well respected, prominent founding members of the township.
Schools and Churches were quickly organized in the early days of the county's settlement. William Stipe, Matilda's father, built the first schoolhouse in Douglas Township in 1855. It measured 14x16, was made of log, had a clapboard roof and a fireplace. This is probably where the Stipe girls attended school.
1860 US Census - Douglas, Montgomery, Iowa
The Civil War
Ann, Matilda and Georgianna stayed with Allen Caywood during William's absence. When William returned from California after a 5 month absence, he and his wife and two daughters moved to Douglas Township, Montgomery County, Iowa, where they acquired the first land deed in the county. A third daughter, Sarah Jane was born in 1852. By the 1850s the migration to Iowa had become a great wave. Families camped at the Mississippi, waiting their turn for ferryboats to the other side. In only a few years these settlers would turn the prairies into plowed fields.
By 1860, William and Ann Stipe owned an 800 acre farm and were well respected, prominent founding members of the township.
Schools and Churches were quickly organized in the early days of the county's settlement. William Stipe, Matilda's father, built the first schoolhouse in Douglas Township in 1855. It measured 14x16, was made of log, had a clapboard roof and a fireplace. This is probably where the Stipe girls attended school.
1860 US Census - Douglas, Montgomery, Iowa
- William Stipe - 39
- Ann Stipe - 35
- Matilda - 12
- George Ann - 11
- Sarah Jane - 7
- Mary McClary - 4
The Civil War
By 1860, Iowa had achieved statehood and the state continued to attract many settlers, both native and foreign-born. After almost 30 years of development, Iowans found their lives greatly altered with the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Iowa was anti-slavery and many Iowans served in the Union Army. William Stipe appears in the Civil War draft registration, but he did not serve. Iowa women also served their nation during the war. Hundreds of women knitted sweaters, sewed uniforms, rolled bandages, and collected money for military supplies.
By the 1870s, farms and small towns blanketed the entire state.
Marriage and Family for Matilda
By the 1870s, farms and small towns blanketed the entire state.
Marriage and Family for Matilda
On March 28, 1869 Matilda married William Henry Ellenwood son of Giles Ellenwood and Almira Bancroft of Grand Manan, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada. William Henry emigrated to Iowa from Canada in 1865. The Ellenwood family tree traces back to 1639 Beverly, Massachusetts, when Ralph Ellingwood migrated to New England from England. The family tree took a turn toward Canada during the American Revolution, possibly because they were loyal to British Crown and felt safer there than in rebellious Massachusetts.
William and Matilda had seven children, one died in infancy:
- Julia Almira - 1869-1961
- Georgianna - 1871-1955
- Elizabeth - 1874-1953
- Grace Ellen - 1876-1934
- Sarah Delores - 1878-1880
- Mary Althea - 1880-1954
- Giles Henry - 1883-1946 (my great-grandfather)
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, social activities for farm families were limited. Most families made few trips to town. Family members looked to each other for companionship and socializing. Families gathered at neighborhood schools several times each year for Christmas programs, spelling bees, and annual end-of-the-year picnics.
1880 US Census - Montgomery County, Iowa
- William - 28 - Farmer
- Matilda - 32
- Julia A - 10
- Georgia - 7
- Lizzie - 6
- Grace - 4
- Sarah - 1
Matilda’s mother Ann Caywood Stipe died in 1897 at 71 years of age. Excerpt from her obituary:
"She was a constant member of the Methodist E. Church for 44 years and until death. Her husband and three children survive her. Her children are Mrs. Charles W. Mercer, living near Elliott, Mrs. William H. Ellenwood and Mars Sarah Jane Beals. Mrs. Stipe was one of the pioneers of this county. She knew the privileges of pioneer life, patiently toiled and lived to enjoy the fruits of a life of toll."
1900 US Census - Montgomery, Iowa:
- Henry (William) - 58 - farmer
- Matilda - 52
- Grace - 23 - dress maker
- Mary - 19 - teacher
- Giles - 16 - farm laborer
- William - 67 - farm laborer
- Matilda - 63
- Anna- 38 - trimmer
1920 US Census - Montgomery, Iowa
- William - 77 - retired farmer
- Matilda - 72
William Henry Ellenwood died on August 7, 1925 in Montgomery county. Matilda died on January 31, 1927 at the home of her daughter, Anna Stipe. She is buried next to her husband in Grant City, Iowa.
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| Wm Ellenwood, Anna, Giles (my great-grandfather), Lizzie, Matilda, Mary, Julia & Grace |
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| William McVicker Stipe, Matilda's father |
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| Wm & Matilda Headstone, Grant Cemetery - Montgomery County, Iowa |
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| Stipe Headstone |
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