Database: Full Context of Iowa Progressive Men
Progressive
Men of Iowa
[p.147] PROGRESSIVE MEN OF IOWA. McELroy
McELroy, Ebenezer
Erskine the well known Attorney of Ottumwa, is a Native of Ohio, and of
Scotch-Irish descent. He was born February 16, 1849, near Greenfield, Ohio. His
father, Thomas G. McELroy, was a soldier in the
war of the rebellion and enlisted in the army when the subject of this sketch
was only 14 years old, leaving him with his mother and five younger children to
care for themselves on the farm. Before leaving home the father called the
children together and told them that as Ebenezer was the oldest he should take
his place and they must obey him the same as they would their father. To the
14-year-old boy he said, “There will be many things that will bother you.
Questions will come up about whether it is best to break certain fields;
whether the wheat has stood the winter so that it will be worth harvesting;
whether the stock is fat enough to sell; what kind of crops should be put in
certain fields, etc. If such things bother you it would be well for you to talk
with your Uncle Hugh, or Mr. Smith about them,
but when you hear what they say, I want you to do whatever you think best.”
Throwing this responsibility upon the boy at an early age probably had much
influence on his character and after life, and prepared him for greater
responsibilities.
Progressive
Men of Iowa
[p.147] PROGRESSIVE MEN OF IOWA.
Young McELroy attended country schools
until he was fifteen; then studied for two winters in the high school of
Greenfield, Ohio, then three years in the South Salem academy, and then
finished his course in three years at Cornell university, New York, in June,
1872, receiving the degree of B. S. He then entered the law department of the
State University of Iowa, where in June, 1873, he took the degree of LL. B.
Progressive
Men of Iowa
[p.147] PROGRESSIVE MEN OF IOWA.
Mr. McElroy was married July 2, 1873, to
Miss Belle Hamilton, of Greenfield, Ohio, and August 18th they moved to
Ottumwa, Iowa, where he has since lived, and has built up an excellent law
practice. He formed a partnership with W. E. Chambers, in the law practice in
1875, which continued until the death of that gentleman in 1890. M. A. Roberts
was taken into the firm in 1887, and continued with it until 1895, when he
became district judge. His present partner, Mr. George F. Heindel, became
associated with the firm in 1894. Their practice is now practically confined to
the district and supreme courts of this state, and the United States circuit
court for the Southern district of Iowa.
Progressive
Men of Iowa
[p.147] PROGRESSIVE MEN OF IOWA.
Although taking no active part in politics Mr. McElroy
has always been a republican and has served as an alderman of the city of
Ottumwa. He has been a member of the school board of that place for the last
fifteen years, and president of the board for the last six years. He is a
member of the Iowa State Bar association.
Progressive
Men of Iowa
[p.147] PROGRESSIVE MEN OF IOWA.
By his first wife Mr. McElroy has five
children: Thomas Clifford, now in Cornell
university; Carl Erskine, now with the wholesale
grocery firm of J. G. Hutchinson & Company; Walter
Hamilton, Ralph Theodore and Evalyn, all now in the high school at Ottumwa. After
the death of his first wife, he was married, in 1884, to Elizabeth Millner and
they have two children, Edna and Edith.
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