My Genealogy Hound

MRS. MARY A. McELROY. James McElroy, deceased, husband of Mrs. Mary A. McElroy, who was a prominent contractor and builder, with offices in Philadelphia, but residing at his country seat in Montgomery township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, during the summer months, was a native of Ireland.

He was born in Belfast about 1833, and emigrated to America with an older brother, John, about the year 1848, locating in Philadelphia, where he became an apprentice to the carpenter trade with John Mulvaney. After becoming proficient in his business he worked as a journeyman. On attaining to the age of twenty-one years he entered into a partnership with Mr. Mulvaney. A few years later Mr. Mulvaney died, and from that time the business, which was very extensive, was carried on by Mr. McElroy solely. This business was so successfully conducted by him that he was able in 1875 to retire from active work, and he purchased the Foreman farm in Montgomery township, on which he built a very handsome and convenient residence in which he thereafter made his home during the summer months, residing in Philadelphia during the winter. He was a practical mechanic and a very successful business man. He erected many of the finest residences in North Philadelphia. He filled the position of councilman from the twenty-ninth ward of that city for many years. He was a member of the Masonic order. In political views he was a Democrat, and in religious faith he was a Presbyterian.

Mr. McElroy was the son of Alexander and Ann McElroy. His father was a linen manufacturer at Belfast. Both his parents spent their entire lives in their native country. James McElroy married, in Philadelphia, June 5, 1862, Miss Mary A. Tapper, daughter of John and Alma (Smith) Tapper, of Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. McElroy had seven children, as follows: John (deceased); William, resides in Florida; Martha G., wife of John Humphreys, residing in Denver, Colorado; Amos Ellis (deceased); George (deceased); Annie, wife of George Clifton Keim; May. The family are all members of the United Presbyterian church in Philadelphia. Both parents of Mrs. McElroy were lifelong residents, well and favorably known. Mr. Tapper was a stationary engineer. Both are deceased. They had six children as follows: Mary (Mrs. McElroy); Wilhelmina, deceased, wife of John Everham; Annie, widow of Lamar Quigley, who resides in Philadelphia; Elizabeth, wife of John Duncan; John, married Annie Archer, and resides in Philadelphia; Martha, wife of Lewis Archer, who resides in Philadelphia.