Birth state is listed on son's, Wiley Savannah's death certificate. No evidence has been found to verify this is true.

Elias was the son of John Dethrow and Elizabeth Clemmer who married in 1803. [parentage is per DNA with high DNA markers to Lanita)

After his mother died, Eli was sent off to live with a doctor who raced horses.

Hus. of Phebe ELLIOTT; bro. of David DOTHEROW and Dr. Joseph DETHERROW. Their mother drown in a raft or boating accident by 1827. Our story is that the father remarried (legend in all 3 lines who had not have any contact with each other in over 100 years to Louisa Clemmer) but he died a short time later. Because the stepmother had children by this same father, for inheritance reasons, she sent these 3 boys away. These brothers were separated around 1830. David and Eli saw each other a couple of times, but never saw brother, Joseph, again.

Because of the research of Lanita Sconce Miller Smith, in 2000, bloodlines [descendants] from all 3 brothers were able to be together for the first time since 1830s at a family reunion in Oregon Co., MO. Too special for words. All 3 lines had the same story about the 'boys' mother drowning. Astounding since, all 3 bloodlines had not been together since 1830, and David and Elias' had no contact with their brother, Joseph, since they were separated ca 1830. When Joseph's descendant relayed the same info that descendants of David and Elias had been told, without being told the story by the others, we all knew that it was true.

Married Eliza A. E. ALSOP in 1845 in Yalabusha Co., MS. To this union were born:

Christopher Columbus (1846-1864)
Mary Ann (Died as Child) (1850-1864)
Thomas J. (Died as Child) (1855-1864)
Susan Elizabeth (Died as Child) (1857-1864)

2nd wife was Mary Ann [maiden name unknown]

AD from Eli S. DETHROW
Macon, Macon County, Illinois
Jul 13, 1865

LOST FAMILY
Information wanted of Mary Ann Dethrow, wife of the undersigned, and his three children, consisting of Mary Ann, in her 15th year, crippled in her left hand, from a burn in her infancy; Thomas J. Dethrow, about ten years old, with a scar on his nose, caused by the bite of a dog, and Susan Elizabeth, about eight years old.

The undersigned became separated from his family about the 1st of August last, by being captured by the Guerrillas, three miles below Helena, Ark., and after an absence of two months returned and found his family gone, and that he had been reported to them as dead, and learned that they had obtained transportation to Cairo, in company with a man by the name of Tapp, and a widow woman and family called George.
Any information that will restore my family will be thankfully received and liberally rewarded.

Address:
Eli S. Dethrow
Macon, Macon Co., IL
Jul 13 1865

Married Phebe Elliott on Apr 21, 1866 in Union Co., OH. Their children were:

Charles "Charley" (Died as Infant) (1867-1867)
Hopia [Hopie] (1867-1956)
Georgia Anna "Annie" (1871-1950)
Eli David [Dave] (1873-1956)
Wiley Savannah (1877-1912)
Malissa Jane (1880-1955)
Emma Pearl [Emmie] (1883-1956)
Ray (1886-1975)
Elmer (1889-1979)

Oldest granddau, Grace Dethrow Gamet, remembered the following [taken with permission from her autobiography for her 90th birthday]

Grandpa and Grandma Dethrow lived in a 2-room log cabin in the Ozarks in Missouri. Grandpa Eli Samuel Dethrow was from Mississippi (Brooksville?) and Grandma Phoebe Elliott was from Ohio. Grandpa died when I was nine - my first sad time. Grandpa lived on one hill and Papa and Mama across a spring stream on the other hill in our two-room clapboard house where I was born. At age 2 1/2 I'd run off to Grandpa's and my Mama would come for me. That is all I can remember about living at that old homestead. Papa bought 80 acres of land three miles from Grandpa's house. He cleared the land and built a three-room house and a barn and moved Ma and me there in the Spring when I was three years old. Grandpa and Papa both were pioneers, I guess. This place was called Piney - a school and church in the same building. A road separated our house from the school-church.

Grandpa Dethrow left Mississippi as a young man, went to Ohio, married there and had three kids. Then, when the Civil War started he started back to Mississippi, as he was afraid he would have to fight against his brothers. Well, he nearly got there, but the Federal soldiers had bloodhounds after him and he ran and hid in a big gum tree log. The dogs mangled his leg and he was captured. After the War he went back to Ohio to see his family, only to learn they all had drowned in the Ohio River in a small boat. He married my Grandmother, Phoebe Elliott, in Ohio, and they came to the Ozark Mountains, in Missouri, and settled there on 80 acres and the log cabin. They had 7 kids. Some say we are German and others say Dethrow is French.

I used to ride behind my father in the night on a horse and go to Grandpa's when he was sick. I was 5 or 6 then, but he lived to be 86. I remember once when he shot a wild turkey and he was 84 years old and never needed glasses. I was 9 when he died, and I'd cry for years every time I'd hear Church singing. I'd think of him, and, so help me God, I still grieve for that dear old man with the snow white hair and long beard. I'd comb it and drink tea on his lap. You see, I was his oldest and first grandchild.