The 1867 Erskine Family Bible

I didn't know that we had a family Bible in our family's possession until a few years ago. My mother gave the Bible to my brother and he told me about it. Publication date was 1867. The "family record" pages are all filled out, including marriage and other events that pre-date the publication. I took several pictures of the Bible, from all angles, and all pages with writing on them. The last two pages of the Bible are almost completely gone.

The Bible belonged to my 2nd great-grandfather, Thomas Erskine 1836-1904 and his wife Evelinah Huff 1836-1909. He wrote his marriage date and place in the Bible on one of the Family Record pages. The couple had five children, Cyrus Melvin, Frances Wilda, Mary Jane, Charles Clarence, and Florence Lillian. (Charles is my great-grandfather.) The two daughters, Mary and Florence, preceded both Thomas and Evelinah in death.

Thomas Erskine was 5' 9" tall, light complexion, auburn hair, and blue eyes. He joined the Ohio Volunteer Infantry at McArthur, Vinton Co., Ohio on 10 March 1864. He was captured in the battle of Gainesville, Florida and taken to the Andersonville Prison. Thomas was one of the very few who escaped from Andersonville. He was discharged 13 June 1865 and went to Missouri where his was Charles was born.

Thomas died on 8 May 1904 at Menomonie, Dunn Co., Wisconsin and was buried at the Evergreen Cemetery. His wife Evelinah went to live with their oldest son Cyrus in Cloquet, Carlton, Minnesota after his death. Eventually she moved to California and lived with their daughter Frances. Evelinah died 9 February 1909 at Ukiah, Mendocino Co. California.