Bio: Best, Elisha Crosby (1868 - 1951)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Best, Austin, Reese

----Sources: Federal Census, Wis. Birth Records, Family Archives

Elisha C. Best was born New Year's Day, 1868 in Tiffany, Dunn Co., Wisconsin, the son of Solon Packer Best (20 Mar 1832, Portage Co., OH - 19 Mar 1883, Dunn Co., WI) and Elizabeth Reese Best (15 Dec 1831, OH - 26 Apr 1895).  Solon was the son of John and Sarah (Bottom) Best.  Solon Best married Elizabeth Reese, the Fourth of July, 1853 and they had seven children:  John William Best b: Abt. 1854; James Ed Ramsey Best b: Abt. 1856; Sarah Amilda Best; Ida Elizabeth Best; *Elisha Best b: 1 Jan 1868, Edith Agnes Best; Oscar Best.

Elisha married Lillian Rosella Austin, 2 Jul 1891.  Their According to family records, he died in 1951.

1870 Federal Census, Wisconsin, United States

Elisha Best, white, male

Household Members
Solen Best M 37y (1833 Ohio)
Elizabeth Best F 37y Ohio
John Best M 16y (1854 Illinois)
James (Edward) Best M 14y Wisconsin (17 Apr 1856 - 30 Nov 1940)
Elda Best F 7y Wisconsin
Ida (Elizabeth) Best F 4y Wisconsin (20 Feb 1866)
Elisha Best M 2y Wisconsin

1900 Federal Census, ED 23 Hixon & Longwood townships, Clark, Wisconsin, United States, pg. 2, family 26.

E Best, white, married, male
father's birthplace: Canada Eng
mother's birthplace: Ohio
years married: 8
estimated marriage year: 1892

Household Members
head E Best M 31 (Jun 1868 Wisconsin)
wife Lillian Best F 24 (Jan 1876 Wisconsin), 2 living children, father b. Maine, mother b. Maine
daughter Louana Best F 8 (May 1892 Wisconsin)
daughter Inez Best F 7 (Oct 1893 Wisconsin)

1905 Wisconsin State Census, Prairie Farm village, Barron, Wisconsin, family 36, pg. 414, line 2.

Elisha C Best, white, married male
place of birth: parent 1: Ohio
place of birth: parent 2: Ohio

Household Members
head Elisha C Best M 38y Wisconsin
wife Lillian Best F 30y Wisconsin
daughter Louana Best F 13y Wisconsin
daughter Inez Best F 11y Wisconsin

1910 Federal Census, Spokane Ward 5, Spokane, Washington, pg. 8, family 186

El Best, white, married, male

Household Members
self El Best M 42y Wisconsin
wife Lillian Best F 35y Wisconsin
daughter Louana Best F 18y (1892 Wisconsin)
daughter Inez Best F 16y (1894 Wisconsin)

1920 Federal Census, Willows Town, Glenn, California

E C Best, white, married male

Household Gender Members
Sam Martin M 35y Illinois
J Mendez M 34y California
S N Gillespie M 35y California
Gladyce Pavis F 22y Oklahoma
C R Tucker M 60y Ohio
Manghe Singh M 27y India
Jules Dupras M 35y California
Guy Hitchcock M 47y California
H A Kelly M 39y Kentucky
Byrant Mclechlan M 42y Canada
Jessie Moho M 25y Michigan
C C Grimes M 47y Indiana
Frank H Delancy M 27y Massachusetts
David Smith M 56y Illinois
Matt Gillen M 64y Germany
T F Carerz M 21y Rhode Island
E P Smith M 53y Iowa
H D Wyant M 29y Pennsylvania
Clare Hulburt M 27y California
R L Clifton M 43y California
James Miller M 42y California
Hungman Lee M 36y Korea
Kuang Lee M 19y Korea
Chas Mccarthy M 45y Massachusetts
P D Marysin M 22y Virginia
Jas W Mccarthy M 10y Pennsylvania
James Allen Mcoovitt M 35y Rhode Island
George Hampton M 27y California
Raymond W Tabor M 19y California
Clarence N Holder M 29y Arkansas
Harold B Laforge M 21y Nevada
Richad J Nickerson M 17y Nevada
George H Murphy M 37y Wisconsin
R H Martons M 53y Iowa
Hugh P Mcavoy M 29y California
Ross Collins M 58y Canada
John Wuelger M 24y California
Joe Mccampbell M 43y United States
R F Monson F 20y California
Edward Mcalden M 28y England
O E Ryan M 29y California
Edna May Ryan F 22y Nevada
M Murray F 54y Portugal
James Munro M 59y Canada
E C Best M 52y Wisconsin
E C Best F 44y Wisconsin
Edward C Florey M 44y Illinois
Effie Zelma Florey F 22y California

1940 Federal Census, Willows, Judicial Township 4, Glenn, California, United States, enumeration district 11-10B, family 155, line 3

Elisha C Best, white, married, male
residence in 1935: Same Place

family number: 155
sheet number and letter: 7A
line number: 3

Household Members
head Elisha C Best M 72 Wisconsin
wife Lillian R Best F 65 Wisconsin