John McELROY, residing on section 11, of Riley Township, Ringgold County, where he has a fine farm of 260 acres, is a native of County Down, Ireland, born January 31, 1846. In 1851 his parents immigrated to the United States with their four children, and settled in Union County, Ohio, where the father died a few years ago. The mother still lives in that county with two of her children, Margaret Ann and Samuel. Her children, Charles A., William, Susan and Esther Ann, are also residents of the same county.

John H. McELROY passed his youth in Union County, Ohio. At the age of eighteen years he ran away from his home, being determined to fight for his adopted country, and in July, 1864, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Ohio Infantry, and participated in the following engagements: Battle of the Cedars, near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Decatur, Alabama, Overall's Creek, Kingston and Goldsboro, North Carolina. He was honorably discharged at Raleigh, North Carolina, June 28, 1865, when he returned to his home in Union County, Ohio, remaining there till he came to Iowa, in 1869.

After living in Ringgold County for three years, he settled on his present farm in Riley Township and commenced improving it in the fall of 1872 and has converted it from the naked prairie into one of the best farms in Riley Township.

Mr. McELROY was married November 16, 1871 to Miss Mary E. BONHAM, a resident of Ringgold County. They have two children living - Sanford H., and William H. A son, Charlie Blaine, died September 16, 1880, aged two years and a daughter, Ivy I., died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. McELROY were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. McELROY is an ardent Republican. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

NOTE: Charlie Blaine McELROY died at the age of 1 year, 10 months and 22 days on September 16, 1880, with interment at Patrick Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 349-50, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z