Elizabeth and Nathan had married on September 26, 1876 in Hamilton County, Indiana. Their first child, a daughter, Pearl May BEALS, was born May 11, 1878 in Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Humboldt, Richardson County, Nebraska, where two more daughters were born: Nellie Myrtle BEALS born August 30, 1880 and Ethel Mabel BEALS born November 27, 1885.
I find it strange that Nathan's obituary and funeral notice in the Noblesville Ledger fail to mention the widow by name at all. She was simply the widow.
At the time of his death, daughter Pearl was married to Charles LAMBERTSON and living in Cicero, Hamilton County, Indiana and daughter Nellie was married to Arthur Edward STOEBER and living in Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana. Ethel had died February 11, 1900 at age 14 in Hamilton County, and was buried in the Cicero Cemetery.
I do not know where Elizabeth was living after the funeral of her husband until the time of the 1920 census, when I located her living in the Marion BLANTON household in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana. She was listed as widowed, age 63, working as a servant in a private home.
I'm curious as to why she wasn't living with one of her daughters in the 1920 census. By 1920, daughter Pearl and family were living in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana and had a full household. Daughter Nellie and family were living in Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana. Perhaps Elizabeth was financially able to provide for herself, but then why would the census show her working as a servant. I will definitely have to see if I can locate any city/county directories during the 1915-1920 time period to see if they will shed some light on this.
By the 1930 census, Elizabeth was living in Indianapolis, Center Township, Marion County, Indiana. Living with her are her widowed daughter, Nellie, and granddaughter, Ruby. Elizabeth was renting her home for $23 per month at 1963 Tallman Avenue.
Elizabeth died September 27, 1935 near Greentown, Howard County, Indiana, at the home of her daughter, Pearl LAMBERTSON, according to her obituary. In her obituary, she was referred to as the widow of the late N.T. Beals of Cicero. This obituary was in the Tipton, Indiana Tribune - there may be other more detailed obituaries to discover.
Elizabeth was buried in the Cicero Cemetery beside her husband, and next to her daughter Ethel. Later, daughter Nellie would be buried in the same cemetery, as well as daughter Pearl and her husband, Charles.
The census records just start to scratch the surface, now I need to locate her in the in-between years. There are also court records to search in Howard County, Indiana for an estate.
