Eli Lilly (1838 - 1898)

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Biography

Eli Lilly is Notable.

Eli Lilly was an American soldier, pharmacist, chemist, and businessman who founded the Eli Lilly and Company pharmaceutical corporation.

Eli Lilly, son of Gustavus Lilly and Esther Elizabeth Kirby, was born on 8 July 1838 in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was christened on 13 February 1839 at the First Methodist Episcopal Church.^[1] Eli was the first of eleven children born to Gustavus and Esther.

When he was a young child Eli's family moved to Kentucky. By 1850 they were living on a farm in Gallatin County. ^[2] They later moved to Greencastle, Indiana, where Eli would eventually open his first drugstore. ^[3]

Marriage and Family

On 31 January 1861 in Putnam County, Indiana, Eli married (1) Emily Lemon. ^[4] Emily and Eli Lilly had one child, Josiah Kirby Lilly (1861-1948). Emily died in 1866.^[5]

On 23 November 1869 in Marion County, Illinois, Eli married (2) Maria C. Sloane. ^[6] Maria and Eli had one daughter, Eleanor Wallace Lilly (1871-1884). ^[7]

Eli Lilly in the Civil War

Eli was in a Civil War Soldier Database Index record on 25 August 1865 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was in the Cavalry, Battery, Unit: 9th Cavalry; Regiment: 121.^[8]

Eli was in the U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865.^[9]

Death

Eli Lilly died 06 June 1898 in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery. ^{[10] [11]}

Eli's estate passed probate on 12 May 1898 in Kosciusko, Indiana, United States.^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995"
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007576045; FHL microfilm: 13697; Record number: 578; Packet letter: A
   FamilySearch Record: F4Z6-G98 (accessed 13 October 2023)
   Ely Lilly baptism on 13 Feb 1839 (born 8 Jul 1838), son of Gustavus Lilly & H., in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
2. ↑ 1850 Census: "United States, Census, 1850," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: M65S-K1D : accessed 15 January 2026)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-DYL8-ZMC
   Eli Lilly (14) in Gallatin, Kentucky, United States. Born in Maryland
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M432; Line: 6; Digital film/folder number: 004192490_004_M9C8-92M; FHL microfilm: 442968; Image number: 65; Record number: 21182; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01097-6.
3. ↑ 1860 Census: "United States, Census, 1860," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: M4NG-QQL : accessed 15 January 2026)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9B9J-96H7
   Eli Lilly (22) in Green Castle 4th Ward, Putnam, Indiana, United States. Born in Md. Occupation: Druggist.
   citing Page: 65; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M653; Digital film/folder number: 005166252; FHL microfilm: 803291; Image number: 397; Record number: 15279; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01713-6.
4. ↑ Marriage: "Indiana, Marriages, 1811-2019," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: K62H-4J7 : accessed 15 January 2026)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GTM7-9LYF
   Eli Lilly marriage to Emily Lemon on 31 Jan 1861 in Putnamville, Warren Township, Putnam, Indiana, United States
   citing Page: 157; Digital film/folder number: 005014424_002_M9DH-GGH; FHL microfilm: 001315786; Image number: 119; Record number: 1370; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: M03676-4.
5. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #27387747 for Emily Lemon Lilly; includes image of headstone with dates "1844-1866."
6. ↑ Marriage: "Indiana, Marriages, 1780-1992," database
   (FamilySearch Record: XF8X-5FM : accessed 15 January 2026)
   Eli Lilly marriage to Maria C Sloane on 23 Nov 1869 in Marion, Indiana, United States
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007578776; FHL microfilm: 499370; Record number: 3848; Packet letter: A.
7. ↑ 1880 Census: "United States, Census, 1880," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: MH9G-MBG : accessed 15 January 2026)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYBD-BFC
   Eli Lilly (42), married, Chemist, head of household in Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, United States. Born in Maryland, United States
   citing Volume: 2; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Line Number: 00073; Digital film/folder number: 005157836; FHL microfilm: 1254294; Image number: 780; Record number: 13344998; Sheet number: 143; Sheet letter: B; Indexing batch: C55801-3.
8. ↑ Civil War: "Web: Indiana, U.S., Civil War Soldier Database Index, 1861-1865"
   Original data: Civil War. Indiana State Digital Archives. https://secure.in.gov/apps/iara/search/: accessed 2 February 2015; URL: https://secure.in.gov/apps/icpr/search/Home/Detail?rId=1142155
   Ancestry Record 9762 #83082 (accessed 13 October 2023)
   Name: Eli Lilly; Birth Year: abt 1839; Age: 25; Enrollment Date: 1 Mar 1864; Discharge Date: 25 Aug 1865; Place: Indianapolis, Indiana; Cavalry, Battery, Unit: 9th Cavalry; Regiment: 121; Notes: Promoted from Capt. 18th Battery. Lt. Col., December 28, 1864.
9. ↑ Military: "U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865"
   Historical Data Systems, Inc.; Duxbury, MA 02331; American Civil War Research Database
   Ancestry Record 1555 #1549031 (accessed 13 October 2023)
   Name: Eli Lilly; Enlistment Age: 23; Birth Date: 8 Jul 1838; Birth Place: Baltimore, Maryland; Enlistment Date: 24 Jul 1861; Enlistment Place: Greencastle, Indiana; Enlistment Rank: 2nd Lieut; Muster Date: 29 Jul 1861; Muster Place: Indiana; Muster Company: E; Muster Regiment: 21st Infantry; Muster Regiment Type: Infantry; Muster Information: Commission; Rank Change Date: 4 Aug 1862; Rank Change Rank: Capt; Rank Change Information: As of 18th Light Artillery; Imprisonment Date: 26 Sep 1864; Imprisonment Place: Sulphur Branch Trestle, Alabama; Muster Out Date: 9 Dec 1861; Muster Out Information: Resigned; Side of War: [Union] [Union]; Survived War?: [Yes] [Yes]; Was Officer?: [Yes] [Yes]; Was POW?: [Yes] [Yes]; Residence Place: Greencastle, Indiana; Last Known Residence Place: Indianapolis, Indiana; Death Date: 6 Jun 1898; Death Place: Indianapolis, Indiana; Burial Place: Indianapolis, Indiana; Cemetery: Crown Hill Cemetery; Occupation: Pharmacist; Notes: 1865-01-15 Returned, Estimated day; Additional Notes: He formed the Lilly Pharmaceutical Company; Additional Notes 2: Muster 2 Date: 06 Aug 1862; Muster 2 Place: Indiana; Muster 2 Unit: 668; Muster 2 Regiment: 18th LA; Muster 2 Regiment Type: Artillery; Muster 2 Information: Commission; Muster 3 Date: 03 Jun 1864; Muster 3 Place: Indiana; Muster 3 Unit: 492; Muster 3 Company: S; Muster 3 Regiment: 9th Cavalry; Muster 3 Regiment Type: Cavalry; Muster 3 Information: Commission; Rank Change 2 Date: 03 Jun 1864; Rank Change 2 Rank: Major; Rank Change 2 Information: As of 9th IN Cavalry; Rank Change 3 Date: 04 Jun 1865; Rank Change 3 Rank: Lieutenant Colonel; Rank Change 4 Date: 04 Jun 1865; Rank Change 4 Rank: Colonel; MusterOut 2 Date: 03 Jun 1864; MusterOut 2 Information: disch for Promo; MusterOut 3 Date: 25 Aug 1865; MusterOut 3 Place: Vicksburg, Mississippi; MusterOut 3 Information: Mustered Out;; Title: Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana; Union Blue: History of MOLLUS; Research by Al Richardson; Various Internet sites.
10. ↑ Death: "Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, U.S., Death Records, 1863-1950," database with images
    Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 62721 #103632 : accessed 15 January 2026)
    Eli Lilly death 6 Jun 1898 (age 59)
    citing Crown Hill Heritage Foundation; Indianapolis, Indiana; Crown Hill Foundation Burial Records, 1863-1950.
11. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #1903 for Eli Lilly.
12. ↑ Probate: "Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999"
    Will Record and Court Orders, 1891-1926; Author: Indiana. Probate Court (Kosciusko County); Probate Place: Kosciusko, Indiana
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9045 #596638 (accessed 13 October 2023)
    Eli Lilly probate on 12 May 1898 in Kosciusko, Indiana, USA. Residence Indianapolis, Indiana.

See also:

• Wikipedia: Eli Lilly
• Wikidata: Item Q2984214
• "Col. Eli Lilly Dead," The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 07 June 1898 (Tue.), p. 4, cols. 4-6; digital image, Newspapers (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-journal-col-eli-lilly/132494119/ : downloaded 26 September 2023).