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Ira F. Elrod
Biography |
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History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with Sketches of its
Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil,
Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and
Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 509, Bernadotte Township
Ira F. Elrod, farmer, sec. 28; P. O., Ipava; the son of Michael
Elrod, of Kentucky, and Ruth (Evans), both of whom died in Kentucky,
was born Feb. 22, 1820; went to Adams Co., Ohio, in 1831, where he
remained till July 4, 1837, when he removed to this county, where he
has remained ever since; was educated in Ohio and Kentucky; has held
the office of Supervisor for five terns consecutively; was married to
Elizabeth Vail, of Butler Co., Ohio, in Bernadotte tp. Mr. E. has
raised several children for others, by which he has justly gained a
reputation for philanthropy. His grandfather was the first white child
born west of the Alleghany Mountains. He is a pioneer, and by toil and
patience he has converted 320 acres of wild land into a beautiful farm.
There are now but two voters in his township who were voters when Mr.
E. first located here. He is a Democrat.
submitted by Carla Finley
Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing
full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and
representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and
biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors
of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 444-445;
Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Ira F. Elrod. The history of any country, State, or county
must depend in a great measure upon the lives of those men who by
industry, natural ability and perseverance have achieved success for
the interest with which it inspires the general reader therefore a
history of Fulton County, Ill., would in no measure be complete without
a description of him whose name heads the sketch.
His birth occurred in Mason County, Ky., on February 29, 1820,
but at the early age of ten years he moved with his father, Michael
Elrod and his step-mother to Adams County, near Aberdeen, Ohio. Mr.
Elrod's grandfather, Thomas Elrod was the first white child born west
of the Allegheny Mountains, and about fourteen miles from Pittsubrg.
His father was an Englishman of some note. The subject of the sketch
lost his mother while still in the tender years of childhood. Her
maiden name was Miss Ruth Evans, her father being a Welshman, and her
mother a native of the Emerald Isle.
Mr. Elrod received only a moderate education in the schools of
Kentucky and Ohio, and when only seventeen years of age left his
father's house to brave the world and achieve for himself fame and
fortune. His first venture was made in the State of Illinois and he was
forced to depend entirely upon his natural ability, having at his
command no financial assistance. He turned his attention to
agricultural pursuits, receiving as remuneration for his services only
$10 per month. In 1840 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Vail, a native
of Butler County, Ohio. Mr. Elrod in 1846 purchased the estate upon
which he now resides, and which at that time embraced but eighty acres
of land, with ten in a state of cultivation. The house in which he
lives was on the farm, but not completed, but by dint of industry and
superior judgment he has increased this estate to three hundred and
twenty acres, and has improved the house in a most perfect manner.
On June 4, 1890, Mr. and Mrs. Elrod held their golden wedding at
which one hundred and sixty guests were present, most of whom were
children of people who lived in Bernadotte Township. To them no
children have been born, but they have adopted several, in fact, eight
or ten, and two of them were married from Mr. Elrod's home. In politics
the subject of the sketch was first a Whig. He voted for Abraham
Lincoln twice and continued to be interested in the same party until
the universal right of suffrage was given; but concluding that this was
entirely against the interest of the country he cast his lot and
influence with the Democratic party. Mr. Elrod has at all times and
under all circumstances taken a prominent part in the affairs of this
county, and served his township for fifteen years as Supervisor, and
served his township for fifteen years as Supervisor, and served as
Chairman in 1889. He joined the Presbyterian Church of Lewistown, and
about 1874 united with the Presbyterian Church of Ipava where he has
been a Deacon ever since. A liberal supporter of all church matters,
and the welfare of his neighborhood, Superintendent of the Sabbath
School, and a most generous and thoroughly upright man, he has
naturally won a high place in the esteem of the community in which he
lives. Mr. Elrod is also actively interested in educational matters, a
fact which is definitely proven by his good service as School Director
through the past thirty years. During the late war he was a hearty
supporter of the National Government, and besides furnishing a
substitute at a cost of $1,100 he was exceedingly active in raising the
war quota of Bernadotte Township. He has been a member of the Masonic
fraternity for nearly forty years, first of Lodge 197 at Lewistown, and
later of Lodge 213 Ipava, of which he was a member for ten consecutive
years. Mr. Elrod has always devoted his attention to farming, though in
connection with this occupation he has at different times invested in
stock for shipment. He is a natural mechanic, having planned two large
and handsome barns that stand at present on his farm, and for a time
after settling on his present place was a carpenter and contractor. In
this capacity he built a number of houses and several saw mills. Mr.
Elrod was President of the Fulton County Agricultural Society, but for
his services did not charge or receive any compensation whatever, his
one aim being to benefit the agricultural interests of the county at
large. To such men as the subject of this sketch the broad and
prosperous land over which the Stars and Stripes wave so majestically
owes the honor which it everywhere receives. His popularity is alike
great in business and social circles, and he has many warm personal
friends who fully appreciate his worth and his natural kindness.
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