My Genealogy Hound

R. J. McELVAIN is a member of the well known law firm of Smith, McElvain & Herbert, and since January, 1889, has served Master in Chancery. He was born in Perry County, Ill., March 20, 1849. His grandfather, Robert McElvain, was a native of the Keystone State, and removed thence to Kentucky. He afterwards became one of the early settlers of this county, and subsequently went to Perry County, where he spent his last days, dying at the age of seventy years. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian. His father was a native of Scotland.

The father of our subject, Joseph H. McElvain, was born in Kentucky, and accompanied his parents to this state. He followed agricultural pursuits, and obtaining land, cleared and developed a fine farm, upon which he still makes his home. In early life he was a Whig in politics, but since the organization of the party has been a stalwart Republican. He married Esther Lipe, a native of North Carolina, and a daughter of Jonas Lipe, who became one of the early settlers of Jackson County, and then removed to Perry County, where he spent his last days. He was a Baptist in religious belief and was of German descent. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McElvain were born eleven children, who reached mature years, while ten are yet living. Three brothers served in the Civil War. Ephraim and Corydon were members of the Eighty-first Illinois Infantry, both were captured at the battle of Guntown, and for ten months, or until the close of the war, were incarcerated at Andersonville. Daniel was First Lieutenant in the Thirty-fifth Missouri Infantry and served throughout the entire struggle.

R. J. McElvain, whose name heads this sketch, was reared upon his father’s farm until seventeen years of age, and then spent one year as a student in the Southern Illinois Normal at Carbondale, after which he embarked in teaching, following that profession for four years in Jackson and Perry Counties. During that period he spent his leisure hours in studying law under Col. James H. Nunes and Judge Parks, having determined to make the legal profession his life work. In 1878, he was admitted to practice at the Illinois Bar in Du Quoin. He continued practice there and in Perry until 1881, when he entered the law department of McKendree College, from which he was graduated in 1882, with the degree of LL.B. At that time he was a resident of Jackson County, having removed to Elkville in 1874.

In January of that year, in Elkville, Mr. Mc Elvain was united in marriage with Miss Mary A., daughter of George Schwartz, who came from Pennsylvania to this county and is numbered among its earliest settlers. Mrs. McElvain was born in Elkville, and is a member of the Christian Church. They have one child, Robert J., Jr.

Socially, Mr. McElvain is connected with Leonidas Lodge No. 87, K. P., and Leonidas Division No. 7, Uniformed Rank. For three years he has served as District Deputy, and has been Representative to the Grand Lodge. Frequently he has been called upon to serve in public positions. In 1880, he was nominated on the Republican ticket for State’s Attorney, but failed to secure the election. In 1884, however, he was elected to that office, being the only Republican that won. Coming to Murphysboro, he here opened a law office and entered upon the discharge of his official duties, which he continued until December, 1888. In January, 1889, he was appointed Master in Chancery, and in March following, became a member of the firm of Smith, McElvain & Herbert. In 1878 and 1879, he served as County Supervisor from Elk Township, and for one year was Chairman of the Board. For four years past he has been Chairman of the County Republican Central Committee, and has done effective and faithful service in the interests of his party.