Joda E.3 McDonnell (Francis2, Bridget1 Blaney, DanielA) was born c. 1867, the daughter of Francis McDonnell and Mary Olive Brown. She was probably born in Illinois, where some of the McDonnells lived briefly before settling in Missouri, as the 1870 census gives her birthplace as Illinois.[1] Subsequent census records list it as Missouri. [2]
On 9 March 1887 she married George R. Elder in Austin, Cass Co. Missouri. [3] George was born in Pennsylvania on 2 May 1863. [4] He was the son of Josiah S. Elder and Sarah Rhodes, both Pennsylvania natives who brought their family to Cass Co. MO. c. 1870. [5]
The Elders did not remain in Missouri long. In 1888 their only child, Zelma, was born in Colorado. In 1900 they were living in Ekalaka, Custer (later Carter) Co. MT, where George was renting a farm. [6] By 1910 he was working as a carpenter and living on his own farm. [7] The farm was probably the homestead that he proved in 1913, suggesting that he filed his claim in 1908. [8] They were still farming there in 1920, when George filed for another 40 acres of grazing land. [9] By 1923, however, George apparently moved on, as he filed for another 640 acres then in Big Horn County, Montana. [10] By 1930 George had moved on again, and established a farm in Brawley, Imperial Co. CA, where he owned a farm. He and Joda had apparently separated, as he described himself as a widower in the 1930 census, although Joda was apparently still alive and living elsewhere. [11] When their daughter Zelma died in 1947, her death notice stated that "Mrs. Zoda Elder" [sic] was living in Twin Falls, Idaho. [12] George died in San Bernardino Co., CA on 17 March 1946. [13] Joda's place and date of death are unknown.
Joda E. McDonnell and George R. Elder had the following child:
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| i. | Zelma Elder was born in Colorado on 8 July 1888. She died in Miles City, Custer Co. MT on 6 October 1947. [14] |
