Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-09-12
ENJOYABLE EV E NJ
REV. AND MRS. j. M. M'ELRoY TO
OBSERVE THEIR FIFTlETH
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
Happy Affair to Be Held at Their
Home, 800 North Jefferson Street.
This EvenIne-Many Friends and,
Relatives In Attendance.

From Mondays Daily.
This evening at their home, 800
North Jefferson street, Rev. and Mrs.
y. M. McElroy, will observe their If
deth wedding anniversary. They have
resided in or near Ottumwa all their
married life and are widely known.
Rev. McElroy, one of the pioneer
ministers Of Iowa, is of Scotch-Irish
descent and was born in Ohio, January
FL, 1880. He is a graduate Of Jeffer-
son college and Princeton Theological
seminary. Mrs. McElroy is of Puritan
Scotch-Irish lineage, her maternal an
cestry going back to John Alden and
Plymouth Rock and her paternal line
dating back to Londonderry. She was
born in Westmoreland county, Pa,
February 20, 1929.
Married Sept. II, 1855.
Rev. John Mcconnell McElroy and
Miss Agnes Greer were married Sep
TENDER II, 1855, near Murrysville, Pa,
Rev. William Conner, assisted by Rev.
James G. Carson and Rev. William
Edgar, officiating. Immediately after
their marriage they came to Iowa and
located at Ottumwa, then village of
only few hundred people.
The Presbyterian church had but
fourteen members at that time, no con-
gregation and no hours Of worship.
Under such conditions he began his
labors as a Presbyterian minister and
after pastorate of fourteen years re-
signed in broken health, but later ac-
cepted a call to Batavia, where he
was pastor fourteen years. In 1885 he
took charge of the East End mission
in Ottumwa, which resulted in the for
nation of the East End Presbyterian
church.
During his early years Rev. McElroy
conducted the Ottumwa Male and Fe-
male seminary for five years and was
for two years county superintendent Of
schools. For more than forty years
he has been an occasional contributor
to the press, religious and secular and
his writing have frequently appeared
in the Courier. Among some of his
writings which have appeared in book
form is a history of his college class,
of which he was historian, "Abby
Byram and Her Father, Indian Cap
tives" and "The Scotch-Irish McElroys
in America"
Mr.. McElroy has been greatly handi.
capped by the loss Of hearing which
began forty years ago and which has
continued defying the skill of the FORE
most aurists to the present time. Some
years since he had several attacks of
the grip which cost him the sight of
one eye and caused his retirement
from active ministerial work.
Parents of Five Children.
Rev. and Mrs. McElroy are the pa
rents of five children:
Willie, who died from diphtheria in
his sixth year in 1882.
Addison H., who resides in Milwau-
kee, Wis,
Abby, state secretary Of the Iowa
Young Women's Christian association.
Mary, secretary of the Young Wom-
ems Christian association in Bombay,
India.
Jennie, wife Of DIR. E. R. Beard, OF
Liberty, Ind.
Mr.. and Mrs. McElroy have three
grandchildren:
William T. McElroy, a grocer in OF
tumwa.
Maude Agnes McElroy, senior at
the Western college, Oxford, Ohio.
Raymond McElroy Beard, in his
sixth year, is with his parents and
helping to celebrate the anniversary
Five Sisters Present.
Mrs. McE1roy is the eldest of six
children, all Of whom are now in Of
tumwa to attend the anniversary Of
the marriage which they witnessed
fifty years ago. They are:
Mrs. Carrie X. Linton, Indiana, Pa
Mrs. Abby G. Patterson, Murrys-
vile, Pa.
Mrs. Sarah B. Bratton, Topeka, Kan.
Miss Jennie M. Greer, Ottumwa.
Mrs. Eunice McElroy, Topeka, Kas.
Rev. James G. McElroy, husband of
Mrs. Eunice McElroy, is also in at
tendance at the celebration Besides
the relatives mentioned number of
invited friends will be present. 1t
is expected the event will be a most
happy one for all in attendance and
will long be remembered with pleas
ure and Joy by Rev. and Mrs. McElroy
and their many friends and relatives.
FAIR AT FAIRFIELD.
The Thirteenth Annual Event Of JET.