Lucinda Deskins was born 17 August 1811. One branch of the Boyd County descendants has a later bible, not contemporary to the times, with a different date. Based on ages supplied the census taker in 1850 and 1860 the August date appears to be the correct date. She was the daughter of Daniel Deskins and Margaret Francisco. She grew up in the shadow of Deskins Mountain and Deskins Valley about five miles west of Baptist Valley in Tazewell County.

Lucinda did not marry until she was 28 years old. She married William Elswick 08 May 1839 in Tazewell County. This was William’s second marriage. William had seven children by his first marriage. His wife died sometime after the birth of a son in February 1839 leaving him with children and infants all under the age of twelve.

Lucinda took up house keeping caring for a new born infant and William’s other children. Lucinda and William had six children of their own. Five of the children were girls. Our ancestor Elzema was born 14 November 1844.

In 1856 her husband got a grant of 104 acres on Red Oak Ridge located near Carbo in Russell County. The Christian family also got a grant on a spur of Red Oak near Dismal Creek. However the family remained and raised the children within the bounds of Tazewell County. In 1860 their closest neighbors were the Chambers family and Elswick relatives.

The county was overrun with deserters and other soldiers who stole and destroyed property during the Civil War. William, like many others in his county, had deep financial trouble with so many family members depending on him. George W. Deskins [a first cousin once removed] held foreclosure on William. By August 1864 the destitution of the county was so bad that the court appealed to the Confederate States asking that the citizens of the county be exempt from payment of taxes and explaining that grain was almost gone while many lived on bran obtained with difficulty.

Lucinda and William’s daughter Elzema had married in January 1864. After serving as a prisoner of war her husband returned at the end of the war only to find their homes wrecked and livestock driven off. What was left by the thieves and soldiers may well have been taken by county officials. The April term of Tazewell Court had appointed agents to take possession of horses, Cattle, hogs and food stock abandoned by the Confederate States of America to be distributed first to widows of soldiers who had fallen in defense of the country, then to orphans of soldiers and finally to families of indigent soldiers. Since Elzema’s husband had fought for the Confederate Army it is possible that in desperation any remaining items were taken in this last act in the name of war. Elzema’s husband, James P. McGlothlin, removed his family to Kentucky and is said to have then returned to purchase the properties in foreclosure in Virginia to help his distraught in-laws.

Lucinda died 12 May 1868, Tazewell County age of 56 years 8 months 25 days. Her husband, William Elswick went to live with daughter Arminda and son-in-law David Christian on Bear Wallow Ridge, Buchanan County. He lived until 2 February 1885.