More Information:

About John Absalom Eiland:

The youngest child in the family, John Absalom, reared his family in the Red Oak community where he and his wife, Rhoda Rebecca (Milligan), are buried in the Red Oak Baptist Church Cemetery. In 1899, he homesteaded 160 acres of land in that community. He has been remembered as a very industrious person who had many skills. In addition to operating a general store for which he would drive to Searight to get supplies, he worked as a carpenter and bricklayer. Among his special contributions to the community was using his woodworking ability to build fine coffins. He also served for a time as a Justice of the Peace

1930 Census - George, Covington Co, Al
1920 census taker for part of Covington Co was J A Eiland

Home in 1910: George, Covington, Alabama
John A Erland 49
Rhoda R Erland 48
Rebcca T Erland 23
Willie May Erland 18
Charles C Erland 16

1920 United States Federal Census
Home in 1920: George, Covington, Alabama
John A Eiland 58
Rhoda R Eiland 58
Adarine S Bulger 3

Red Oak Baptist Church
This church was established in 1901.
Missionary Pierce Donald Bulger preached in a "protracted meeting" for several days at the little one-room schoolhouse known as Liberty Grove School. During this period a number of families came together with others from the Shiloh Baptist Church to establish the new church. There were some 37 persons who became the charter members. The first candidates for baptism at Liberty Grove were Tolue (Eiland) Sightler, Carrie (Eiland) Acree, Fannie (Soles) Bulger, Mary (Soles) Martin, Mae (Soles) Clary and Rhoda Eiland.

P.D. Bulger became the first pastor and served until 1906. In 1904, the Cole and Kennedy Turpentine Company donated a piece of property to the church for the erection of a building. J.A. Eiland and A.P. Hilson were the first two deacons appointed. The young church became known as Liberty Grove and was known as such until the church body voted in 1915 to change it to Red Oak.

About Rhoda Rebecca Milligan:

Name: Rhoda Rebecca Eiland
Death date: 16 Mar 1951
Death place: Andalusia, Covington, Alabama
Gender: Female
Race or color (on document):
Race or color (expanded):
Age at death: 89y 3m 9d
Estimated birth year: 1862
Father name: John G. Milligan
Mother name: Rebecca Athey
Burial place: Covington Co, Alabama
Burial date: 18 Mar 1951

1940 United States Federal Census
Home in 1940: George, Covington, Alabama
Street: Rock Hale Bridge Road
Farm: Yes
Residence in 1935: Same House, Covington, Alabama
Resident on farm in 1935: Yes
Rent/home value:
Rhoda R Eiland 78 , Wd, Al, housework, own home
Adirene Bulger 23 , granddaughter, Al, seamstress, textile factory