My Genealogy Hound

John A. McElroy, farmer, was born June 30, 1848, in Armstrong County, Penn., one of nine children of John and Julia (White) McElroy, the former of Scotch-Irish stock, and born in 1804, probably in Ireland, and the latter of English origin, and born in 1811 in Pennsylvania. The father came to America when about fourteen years old. He went directly to Pittsburgh, where he was educated, and became an excellent teacher. He was married in 1829, and then afterward moved to Armstrong County, and engaged in merchandising. At the opening of the war he devoted his time and money to the Union cause. He and his wife were prominent and devoted Presbyterians. Soon after the war they came to Clayton, Ill., where the father died in 1879 after a few years of retired life. The mother is now living with our subject. The latter was educated by his father, and graduated from Duff Commercial College, at Pittsburgh. He came west with his parents, but located at Keokuk, Iowa, where he served as bookkeeper for Ruddick, Kiser & Co., pork packers. He then went to Montrose, Iowa, and engaged with Wells, Felt & Spaulding, lumber dealers. Two years later he came to Canton, and became general agent for the railroad company. In 1883 he came to his present farm, where he has been engaged in agriculture, and as bookkeeper for the Canton Saw Mill Company. His wife, Lillie W. Jones, was born September 25, 1862, on the farm now owned by our subject, the old homestead of her father, William H. They were married May 25, 1881. Their children are John H. and Julia A. He is an excellent bookkeeper and a scientific farmer, with one of the best equipped farms in the county. He is a Republican, and served two years in Company M, of the Fifth Pennsylvania Battery. He was but fourteen when he went out, and was engaged against the guerrilla, Col. Mosby. He is a Knight Templar.