Eliza Cantrell

Eliza Cantrell was born in 1838 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She was the daughter of William Lanceford Cantrell and Martha Patsy (Cantwell) Cantrell. Little is known about Eliza.

Eliza was married to Joab M. Deyton/Dayton/Deaton on or about 22 March 1860. Her husband, Joab M. Deyton died on 22 July 1862 while in the service with Company D, of the 24th Regiment, of the Georgia Volunteers (CSA). He died of Fever in the hospital located in Richmond Virginia. He is listed as Joal M. Dayton on the CSA military roster. Eliza received a pension from the Widows' Pension in the State of Georgia from 1891-1897. Eliza had four children total: 

Silas L. Dayton born 1861 (Lived with his paternal grandparents after father died in Civil War).  John Starlin Deaton born 1868 (Headstone is incorrect) and father is unknown. Martha Ann Deaton Wheeler born 1870 (Death Certificate says 1869) and father was Jeremiah Marion Osborn. James Wesley Dayton born 1873 and father was Wyle Trusty.

 

The 1870 Census for Towns County Georgia shows Eliza living with her mother, Martha Patsy Cantrell, with three children in the house: Francis 13 years, John S. 3 years, and Martha A.E. 9 months. The same census shows Silas living in the household of John and Sarah Deaton, who were parents to Joab M. Deyton. The 1880 Census for Towns County Georgia shows Elizer Denton as head of household with three children in the house: John S. 13 years, Martha A. 10 years, and James W. 6 years. No mention of Eliza Cantrell Deyton/Denton/Deaton can be found in the Census of 1900. It is presumed she passed away sometime between 1897, the last recorded year of her receiving a Widows' Pension, and 1900 when the Census was taken. Eliza's parents and some siblings are reported to be buried in the Upper Hightower Cemetery, Hiawassee, Towns County, Georgia. It is believed by the Towns County Historical Society, Eliza is also buried in the same cemetery, but no record of her burial there can be found. Most probably one of the graves with crumbled headstones.

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