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Emma Alice McElfresh (Ashbrook)

May 4, 1886 - January 9, 1927

Following are the “pieces of the McElfresh family puzzle” gathered as of January 10, 2000, on the Sedalia, Pettis County, Missouri, McElfresh family. As you will see, we have less pieces of the puzzle on the McElfresh side than the Ashbrook side! (sigh) Any - and all - assistance welcome in this project! :)

Emma Alice's Birth ...
We do know that Emma Alice McElfresh was one of seven children born to Robert McElfresh and Mary Jane (Moncrief) McElfresh. Emma was born in Sedalia, Pettis County, Missouri, or in Higginsville, Missouri, on May 4, 1886.

Emma's life before James ...
The picture below is of Emma with her brother, Joe McElfresh (don't know if that was short for "Joseph" or not). The date of the picture is uncertain. If you look closely at either picture, you'll notice that Emma was a very petite, small-boned woman. I doubt that she was more than 5 foot tall. Her hair, when taken down, supposedly went clear down her back. (Doesn't it look absolutely luscious even in the picture?)

Emma Weds James ...
We know that Emma Alice McElfresh married James Homer Ashbrook, on December 23, 1908, in Sedalia. Five children were born to that union: Hazel Virginia, Lily Belle "Billie" (there's a story that goes with this one! - we'll get to that on another page - so be patient! :), Georgia Velma, Olive (another story - later, though, ok?), and the only son, Homer Grant.

| James Homer Ashbrook
|            bd. May 2, 1882, (Indianapolis, Marion County, IN)
|            dd. May 7, 1962, (Sedalia, Pettis County, MO)
|    Homer Grant "Demp" Ashbrook
|    Hazel Ashbrook
|    Lily Belle "Billie" Ashbrook
|    Olive Ashbrook
|            bd. 1919, (Sedalia, Pettis County, MO)
|            dd. San Diego, CA
|    Georgia Velma "Tiny" Ashbrook
|            bd. 1917, (Sedalia, Pettis County, MO)
|            dd. Jul 1, 1923, (Sedalia, Pettis County, MO)
|Emma Alice (McElfresh) Ashbrook
|             bd. May 4, 1886 (Sedalia, Pettis County or Higginsville, MO)
|             dd. January 9, 1927 (Sedalia, Pettis County, MO)

The picture to the right is of Emma and James, date unknown.

Emma's parents ...
We know that Emma’s parents were Robert W. McElfresh and Mary Jane Moncrief. They were married in Vernon County, Missouri, in October 12, 1873. Mary Jane's father signed the papers for the marriage.

Emma's mother, Mary Jane Moncrief ...
According to a relative, Emma's mother, Mary Jane, is purported to have been of French and Cherokee descent. (I have not been able to prove - or disprove - this statement.) She was born on April 3, 1852. Mary Jane Moncrief lived in a Cherokee settlement outside of El Dorado Springs, Cedar County, Missouri. It has been stated that she had a brother named Sam Moncrief who became a barber in El Dorado Springs.

Mary Jane passed away on August 3, 1896, at the age of 44 in Dresden, Missouri. Emma was between 9 and 10 years old at the time of her mother's death.

Emma's father, Robert W(illiam?) McElfresh ...
Robert W. McElfresh was born on November 5, 1837, in Kentucky. While lying on his death bed he is reported to have rambled on about his fine Kentucky home. I've not been able to trace him to this state as yet.

Robert was a private in the Confederate Army and it has been stated that he fought under John H. Morgan (Morgan's Raiders). Later he served under Breckinridge. He was wounded during battle and carried a mini-ball (a type of bullet used during the Civil War) in his arm for the duration of his life. He evidently could have had the mini-ball removed but left it there. It sat directly under the skin and he could move it back and forth!

Robert died on March 19, 1906, at the age of 69. He is buried at Dresden, Missouri. Emma was 20 years old at the time of her father's death.

Note: Part of the puzzle here is why Robert did not return to his beloved Kentucky. He evidently missed it towards the end of his lifetime. We also do not have any idea how - when - or why - he ended up in Missouri.

Still tracking ...
We can easily trace the family line downward from Robert and Mary but upward is a bit of a puzzle at this time. An elusive family? So it seems at this point. But where there’s “one” document – there has to be others. We’ll keep searching for them. The hunt has just begun!

(Note: August 6, 1999, Robert McElfresh may possibly have been from Bracken County in Kentucky per email suggestion received by Mac.)

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Happy Genealogy Hunting. May God Bless All Your Endeavors.

If you have comments or suggestions, email me at mcomer@iland.net

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Emma Alice McElfresh (Ashbrook)

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