Eli Marion Matheson was born in 1804 in Iredell County, North Carolina. He was the son of John and Barbara McKenzie Matheson and the grandson of Alexander Matheson the immigrant from Fodderty Parish in Easter-Ross, Scotland. His wife, Anna Best was the daughter of Christian and Elizabeth Hoyle Best from Lincoln County, North Carolina. Anna's grandfather's were Peter Hoyle (Heyl) and Bostain Best (Boschst); both being immigrants from Germany.

Eli and Anna married May 5, 1827 in Lincoln County and lived in Iredell County on land purchased from Eli's father John Matheson. The land had formerly been the property of John's father-in-law and Eli's grandfather, Kenneth McKenzie. Around 1847, Eli and Anna resettled in Cherokee County, NC. (See Map)

The children of Eli and Anna Best Matheson are:

• Mary born 1828 married John Truett
• Rev. John Alexander born May 14, 1829 and married Susan Caroline Scott
• Emanuel Pinkney born 1831 married Jane Rollins
• Amanda Susan born 1833 married Henry Bradley (Photo)
• Martin Eli born 1836 married Sarah Ann Curtis
• Christopher Connally born 1840 married Margaret Loving (Photo)
• Elisha Dallas born July 15, 1844 married Martha Elizabeth Norwood (Photos)
• William Marion born February 14, 1847 married Mellisa Josephine Hampton
• Rev. Daniel McKenzie born March 20, 1850 married:
  • Martha Jane Monteith (Photo and additional family information)
  • Marciller Josephine Crane (Photo)
  • Ida Elizabeth Smith Ledford (Photo)
• Lee Dennis born 1853 married Martha Ann Kimble