Elizabeth Seal was the mother of thirteen children, ten of which were still living when Elizabeth became a widow at the age of 38. Her youngest child, Rosa Belle less than three months old and her oldest, William, just turned 15 on the day his father died. Brother in Law. John Seals had purchased a lot in the Winnebago Cemetery in May of that year when William's older brother Charles died just before his 16th birthday.

1868 had been an eventful year for Elizabeth. Elizabeth and Peter had just moved to Illinois from her home in Hunderdon Co., New Jersey just four years ago. Peter had served nine months of his one year enlistment in the Cavalry, having been discharged early with the ending of hostilities. Brother in law John and his two children had come to Westfield Corners, Ill. ten years earlier, in 1854, but John's second wife Elizabeth Crigger and she did not quite get along. So much in fact that later in life, Elizabeth would leave instructions 'not to bury her in the same Graveyard as that other Elizabeth’.

In 1871, Peter's half uncle, John W. Mitchell and his family moved to the Byron, Ill. area from New Jersey. This increased the New Jersey connection for Elizabeth, however all the relatives were from her husbands side. The Seal family seemed to remain close and took an interest in Elizabeth and Peter's family. There is a recollection that Elizabeth did go back to New Jersey for at least one visit, taking Rosa Belle with her.

To help support the family, Elizabeth took up housecleaning and also worked as a seamstress. Through the pension act of 1890, Elizabeth was able to receive a $25 a month solders widow pension. In 1898, her youngest Daughter, Rosa Belle, married John Emory Mort and Elizabeth lived with them for her remaining years. Elizabeth's grand children Mildred and John Raymond remembered Grandmother Seal with fond recollections. Mildred recalls rubbing Grandmothers back each night before going to bed, and the respect that was evident at the supper table. Raymond recalled, when he had polio, Grandmother's cold hands massaging his leg.

Though living on a farm in Iowa, Elizabeth kept current with the times. Using a 'shoe-box camera', Elizabeth took pictures of the families Iowa Farm life. Some of these pictures remain today. On her 82nd birthday, we have a picture of Elizabeth and the quilt that she made for the war effort, WWI.

Granddaughter Mildred recalled Grandmother Seal going to Church on Sunday and being impressed with a newly married couple. She talked of it for the next few days. On Wednesday, she died. The family took Elizabeth back to her Byron, Ill. home for burial.