Elizabeth Rowena (McRae) New was born February 4th, 1845. She was the daughter of John Harris McRae and his first wife, Rowena Williamson. Elizabeth was the 2nd wife of U.S. Treasurer, John Chalfant New. His first wife was Melissa Beeler. Melissa was the mother of Harry Stewart New, U.S. Postmaster General, and she died very young, so Elizabeth became Harry's stepmother. Elizabeth had also been a step-child, after her mother died young. Elizabeth's step mother was Sarah Agnes (Sanders) Davidge McRae. Sarah was a widow of Charles Davidge, prior to marrying her father. Sarah had two children (Charles Jr. & Honor) from the Davidge marriage, and two daughters (Agnes & Zerelda) from her marriage to Elizabeth's father. Sarah was a sister in law of gun maker, Richard Jordan Gatling, and Governor David Wallace. Sarah was a 2nd cousin of Elizabeth New's husband, John C. New, as his grandmother, Maria (Gray) Chalfant, was a sister of Sarah's great grandfather, Presley Gray. Elizabeth lived at 1101 N. Delaware St. at the time of her death. This home (still standing & recently renovated) is known as "The Fishback House", named for the first owner, William Pinckney Fishback, a law partner of Benjamin Harrison. Elizabeth, as mentioned, was a step-niece of Indiana Governor David Wallace. David Wallace was the father of lawyer William Wallace, who was the law partner of Benjamin Harrison, prior to his partnership with Fishback (noted above). William's brother was General Lew Wallace, famous for, among other things, being the author of "Ben Hur". Lew's wife was a sister of Aaron Blair, who bought 1101 N. Delaware from the Fishback family. Aaron Blair sold it to a former Asst. Postmaster General (under Pres. Polk), William J. Brown. 1101 N. Delaware was next rented by the Browns, to Mr. & Mrs. Anton Vonnegut. Mrs. Vonnegut was the daughter of John C. and Elizabeth New (our subject). After her daughter's occupancy, Elizabeth New bought the house from the Browns, in May of 1923, when plans were made by the City of Indianapolis, and State of Indiana, to remove her old home at 518 N. Pennsylvania Street, to make way for the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza.
Elizabeth Rowena (McRae) New was born February 4th, 1845. She was the daughter of John Harris McRae and his first wife, Rowena Williamson. Elizabeth was the 2nd wife of U.S. Treasurer, John Chalfant New. His first wife was Melissa Beeler. Melissa was the mother of Harry Stewart New, U.S. Postmaster General, and she died very young, so Elizabeth became Harry's stepmother. Elizabeth had also been a step-child, after her mother died young. Elizabeth's step mother was Sarah Agnes (Sanders) Davidge McRae. Sarah was a widow of Charles Davidge, prior to marrying her father. Sarah had two children (Charles Jr. & Honor) from the Davidge marriage, and two daughters (Agnes & Zerelda) from her marriage to Elizabeth's father. Sarah was a sister in law of gun maker, Richard Jordan Gatling, and Governor David Wallace. Sarah was a 2nd cousin of Elizabeth New's husband, John C. New, as his grandmother, Maria (Gray) Chalfant, was a sister of Sarah's great grandfather, Presley Gray. Elizabeth lived at 1101 N. Delaware St. at the time of her death. This home (still standing & recently renovated) is known as "The Fishback House", named for the first owner, William Pinckney Fishback, a law partner of Benjamin Harrison. Elizabeth, as mentioned, was a step-niece of Indiana Governor David Wallace. David Wallace was the father of lawyer William Wallace, who was the law partner of Benjamin Harrison, prior to his partnership with Fishback (noted above). William's brother was General Lew Wallace, famous for, among other things, being the author of "Ben Hur". Lew's wife was a sister of Aaron Blair, who bought 1101 N. Delaware from the Fishback family. Aaron Blair sold it to a former Asst. Postmaster General (under Pres. Polk), William J. Brown. 1101 N. Delaware was next rented by the Browns, to Mr. & Mrs. Anton Vonnegut. Mrs. Vonnegut was the daughter of John C. and Elizabeth New (our subject). After her daughter's occupancy, Elizabeth New bought the house from the Browns, in May of 1923, when plans were made by the City of Indianapolis, and State of Indiana, to remove her old home at 518 N. Pennsylvania Street, to make way for the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza.
Gravesite Details
burial: FEB 22,1935
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