Individual Details

Mahala married Elijah Easterling after the death of her sister Mary.

1860 Census. Coosa Co, AL, Hh 247
Aa. Taylor, 21
M. Taylor, 20, female [She was already 13 in 1850]
Mary E., 2
T. G., male, age 6 months.

1870 Census. Prec 4, Baker, AL, Chestnut Creek P.O., Hh 184
Elijah "Eastlin", age 33. Mahala, 32.
Bennett 15. William 13. Elizabeth 12. [surely children of Mary]
Elizabeth Taylor, 11. Thomas Taylor, 10. [Mahala's children by Aaron Taylor]
Newton Eastlin, 5. John Eastlin, age 1 [children of Elijah & Mahala]

1880 Census. Coppers, Chilton,k AL
Elijah Easterling, 43. Mahala, 43, wife.
Newton E., age 14, son. John H., 11, son. George S., son, 8. James L., son, 6. Eliza, dau, 4. Andrew J., son, 2
Rebecca Moats, age 25, no relationship stated. Evaline Moats, age 2, her daughter
Note: Elijah had a half-sister, Rebecca Moats, b. 1855, but Moats was her maiden name.

The 1900 Census seems to be totally messed up. Elijah had died in 1890, Mahala is shown as head of household, b. Jul 1842, age 57 with as "wife, marked as a female - David D. Easterling, age 17", b. Nov 1883. They had not been married a year and had no children (which isn't surprising!) I believe David was her youngest son....
Also Becky Ann Motes, age 24, widowed sister-in-law who has had two children - seems not to have aged and there is a Beulah Motes, age 13, niece

1910 Census. Clanton, Chilton, AL, Hh 478
Mahala Easterling, age 72
Bennett, grandson, 16. Elijah, grandson, 14. Lena B., granddau, 13. Addie, granddau, 10.

1920 Census. Clanton, Chilton, AL, Hh 542
Andrew "Easterland", age 42. Mollie, wife, 29
Enoc, son, 18. Wilmer, dau, 8. Ferris, son, 4 years, 3 months
Mahala, mother, 80, widow

26 Apr 1922. Mahala filed for Confederate widow's pension. She was age 81 and had lived in Alabama all of her life, but she provided little information about Elijah's service. She did say he was a private in the infantry and served in Jeff Davis's Legion - this seems unlikely in that the Legion was composed entirely of cavalry some of which was from Sumter & Barbour Counties in Alabama. However, she does state that he served about four years and one finger was shot off. She did say he was paroled, but not ever taken prisoner. She gave his full name as Elijah Easterling and said they had married in 1867. She had property worth about $2000 (180 acres and a tenant house) and income of about to $50 per year. Her children living were Louis Easterling, farmer; Andrew Easterling, farmer; Charlie Easterling, farmer, Dave Easterling, rural mail carrier. She was living in her own home with a tenant. Mahala signed with her mark. Moses Robinson, a pensioner, claimed that he knew Elijah had served as stated - Moses stated his regiment was the Jeff David Legion. No service record was included and there is no indication of whether or not pension was allowed.

Her death record states she died 31 Jan 1926, Clanton, and was buried 1 Feb, Walnut Creek Cemetery. FindAGrave places her in Concord Cemetery, but there is no picture - there is a picture of her stone posted on Ancestry that is said to be Walnut Creek. She was a widow - had been married to Elijah Easterling. Her father was Elijah Mims, her mother Mahala Popwell - both born in South Carolina.

From Union Banner, February 4, 1926
Mrs. Mahala Easterling Died Last Sunday.
Mrs. Mahala Easterling, age 88 or 89, died last Sunday, January 31, 1926, at the home of her son, Lewis Easterling, 5 miles east of Clanton. She was the wife of Elijah Easterling who died in 1889.
"Grandma" Easterling, as she was affectionately known, was one of the oldest citizens of Chilton County. She leaves a warm place in the hearts of hundreds of friends and relatives who have found good counsel with her for many years.
Burial was made beside her husband at Walnut Creek Monday, with a great throng of sorrowing friends and relatives paying their last tribute of respect. Rev. F.A. Gibson conducted the funeral.

Birth	1837	Autauga County, Alabama
Marriage	10 Jan 1858	Autauga County, Alabama - Aaron W. Taylor
Marriage	29 Dec 1867	Autauga County, Alabama - Elijah Easterling
Death	31 Jan 1926

Spouse	Aaron W. Taylor (1839 - 1863)
Child	Mary Elizabeth Taylor (1859 - )
Child	Thomas Gipson Taylor (1860 - 1954)

Spouse	Elijah Easterling (1837 - 1890)
Child	Newton Easterling (1868 - )
Child	John H. Easterling (1869 - 1914)
Child	George Samuel Easterling (1871 - 1903)
Child	James Louis Easterling (1874 - 1960)
Child	Eliza Mahala Mae Easterling (1872 - 1934)
Child	Andrew Jackson Easterling (1878 - 1948)
Child	David Daniel Easterling (1883 - 1943)

Father	Elijah Mims (1808 - 1887)
Mother	Mahala Popwell (1810 - 1841)
Sibling	George Washington "Dock" Mims (1827 - 1903)
Sibling	Martha Jane Mims (1828 - 1899)
Sibling	John Jackson Mims (1831 - )
Sibling	William E. Mims (1832 - )
Sibling	Elizabeth Mims (1834 - 1900)
Sibling	Mary Mims (1835 - 1859)
Sibling	Elijah Mims (1839 - 1866)