My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES McELHINEY, who is well known throughout Randolph County as one of the progressive and successful agriculturists of township 4, range 5, resides upon a farm consisting of three hundred and sixty acres located on section 26. There, until the death of his brother William, the two conducted general farming in partnership, and through their untiring industry and good management gained prosperity.

Referring to our subject’s ancestry, we find that his paternal grandfather, John McElhiney, emigrated from Ireland to this country and settled in Pennsylvania, somewhat later becoming a soldier in the War of the Revolution. The father, James, was born in 1773, near the Susquehannah River in Pennsylvania, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. The mother, whose maiden name was Grace Campton, was born in Ireland, whence at the age of nine months she was brought to America by her father, John Campton, who settled in the Keystone State. Grandfather Campton served in the War of 1812.

The parents of our subject were married in Pennsylvania, and continued to reside in Beaver County until called from earth, the father’s death occurring in 1848, and the mother’s in 1867. Of their family of eleven children, Charles is the only survivor. He was born May 6, 1823, and was the next to the youngest child in the family, his brother William, who was born May 7, 1825, being the youngest. These two lads grew to manhood upon the home farm, sharing the labors of cultivating the land, as well as the pleasures of boyhood. They had few educational advantages, but both became well informed through observation and reading. Our subject has never married, but after his brother’s marriage made his home with his family.

On the 5th of February, 1852, William McElhiney married Miss Minerva Johnston. The parents of Mrs. McElhiney, James and Phoebe (Haymaker) Johnston, were natives respectively of Ireland and Pennsylvania, and the father, who emigrated to America in 1786, settled in Allegheny County, Pa., and there made his permanent home. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. McElhiney was Jacob Haymaker, who was captured by the Indians in the early days of Colonial history. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were residents of Allegheny County until their decease; he died in 1847, while she survived many years, passing away in 1861. They had ten children, of whom six are now living. Born March 2, 1829, Mrs. McElhiney grew to womanhood in the Keystone State, where her birth occurred.

After his marriage, William McElhiney settled upon a farm in Beaver County, Pa., whence in 1865 he removed to Illinois and settled upon the place now the home of his widow. They were the parents of six children, of whom five are now living: John Lafayette; Phoebe, the wife of J. R. Hughes, of California; Lallie, a resident of Randolph County, and the wife of Andrew Wilson; Annie M. and Lutie. The father of this family died January 20, 1878. While a resident of Pennsylvania he served as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church. Both in that state and in Illinois he served as School Director. In politics he and Charles were actively identified with the Democratic party, and the latter is still influential in local affairs.