M. 24 Nov 1868 in Knox County, Indiana2
Wife: Mary Louise Ravellette
D. before 24 Oct 1876 in (probably) Knox County, Indiana3
William Edeline was a man whose life was cut short, and as a result, very little is known about him. He was born in Vincennes, Indiana sometime in about 1848, the youngest child of Jean Baptiste Edeline and Isabelle Hunter.1,2 There had been seven children born before William, two of whom died before he was born, and another (a married sister) who died when he was three. His father was of French heritage going back to the mid-18th century in Vincennes, and his mother was English and Scots-Irish.
There are no photos of William, but this is his brother John Edeline.
William’s father died when he was still an infant,4 and his mother never remarried. Life must have been challenging for the Edelines, but William did attend school at least until the age of 12.5 At age 20, on November 24, 1868, he married Mary Louise Ravellette.2 They had four children together, two boys, then two girls, and the family lived on 40 acres just south of Vincennes.1 Life seems to have been a struggle for William; in 1870, his farm was valued at $120, much less money than the others around it.1
Then in 1876, something happened to William and he died; he likely passed away in late summer or early fall.3 There are no death record or burial record for William, only a brief probate file dated October 24th that shows that he died intestate, and his entire wealth amounted to $231. The probate inventory lists some insignificant possessions, plus the farm itself, now valued at $200. And he left 55 bushels of corn which was estimated to be worth $10.3
Children:
1. John Edeline (AKA James William Elwood) — B. 18 Sep 1869, Vincennes, Indiana;6,7 D. 5 Nov 1925, Los Angeles, California;6 M. Eleanor Mabel Hewes (1880-1942), 18 Feb 1898, Los Angeles, California8
2. Robert Edward “Ed” Edeline — B. 10 Oct 1871, Vincennes, Indiana;9 D. 2 May 1963, Evansville, Indiana;9 M. Frances Rebecca Shappard (1871-1917), 12 Aug 1902, Knox County, Indiana10
3. Susan Isabelle “Bell” Edeline — B. Dec 1873, Vincennes, Indiana;11 D. 14 Apr 1941, Vincennes, Indiana;11 M. (1) George W. Hill, 17 Jun 1891, Knox County, Indiana (annulled);12 (2) Frank June Payton (1868-1926), 13 Jun 189513
4. Nora Marguerite Edeline — B. 20 Mar 1876, St. Francisville, Illinois;14 D. 19 Jan 1938, Vincennes, Indiana;14 M. (1) Fred F. Eads (1874-?), 1 Mar 1899, Vanderburgh, Indiana;15 (2) Claude Burton Campbell (1882-1950), 19 Jan 1909, Vincennes, Indiana16
Sources:
1 1870 United States Census, entry for Wm Edeline and Mary Edeline, Knox County, Indiana, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of Mr. William L. Edeline and Miss Mary Ravalett, Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, FamilySearch.org
3 Probate record of William Edeline, 24 Oct 1876, Knox County, Indiana
4 “My Ancestry & their descendants plus misc research,” Denis Paul Edeline, RootsWeb.Ancestry.com
5 1860 United States Census, entry for Robert Edline and Isablle Edline, Knox County, Indiana, FamilySearch.org
6 Death record of James Ellwood, California Death Index, 1905-1939, FamilySearch.org
7 1900 U.S. Census, Los Angeles, California
8 Marriage record of James William Elwood and Eleanor Mabel Hewes, California Marriages, 1850-1945, FamilySearch.org
9 Death certificate of Robert Edeline, 3 May 1963, Evansville, Indiana
10 Marriage record of Robert Edeline and Frances Sheppard, I.M.
11 Find-a-Grave listing of Susan Isabelle Edeline Payton
12 Marriage record of George W. Hill and Belle Edeline, I.M.
13 Marriage record of Frank J. Payton and Susan I. Hill, I.M.
14 Find-a-Grave listing of Marguerite Nora Edeline Campbell
15 Marriage record of Fred F. Eads and Nora M. Edeline, I.M.
16 Marriage record of Claud B. Campbell and Margarette Adeline, I.M.
