Civil War - Civil Union: 
The Story of David & Mary Elderkin

Introduction

Photographs

Descendancy Chart  (to come)

For Questions or Corrections, contact:
Susan Elderkin
susan@1000friends.org

I began investigating my family’s roots by focusing on the life of David Troop Elderkin, who I suspected played a formative role in the history of my Elderkin ancestors in the United States. 

However, I soon discovered that David T. Elderkin’s life was altered dramatically by one Civil War battle and that his impact on the family was far different than I first imagined.  In fact, the future of the family was charted to a surprisingly large extent by the actions of David’s wife, Mary Jane (Finity) Elderkin.  Mary’s tenacity and perseverance saved the family from a life of hopelessness.  She raised seven children, many of whom went to college.  She ran the family’s farming business, relentlessly pursued David’s elusive honorable discharge and military pension, and cared dutifully for her sick husband for more than 25 years.  Mary was the glue that held the family together.

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