Bio: McElroy, James Henry (1914)

Contact: Crystal Wendt

----Surnames: McElroy, Crowley, Helwig, Wright, Churchill, De Forest, Merrill, Thomas, Winter, Bavaira 

----Source: History of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin (1914) pages 788-789 

James Henry McElroy, son of Patrick and Ellen (Crowley) McElroy, is another one of the prominent farmers of Brunswick township, where he has resided since 1890. He was born at Mukwonago, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, June 11, 1855. He was educated in the common schools of his home town, and as he grew to manhood, worked on the farm for his parents. He was later employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad at construction work between Milwaukee and Eau Claire, and at the age of twenty-six, in 1881, he located in Eau Claire and for several years was employed at lumbering. He farmed two years in Grant county, North Dakota, and in 1890 purchased the Aaron Wright and a part of the Helwig farm, comprising 160 acres, in the town of Brunswick, Eau Claire county, where he has since lived engaged in general farming and stock raising, at which he has met unusual success. He keeps a fine herd of milch cows, and does an extensive business in manufacturing butter for private parties in Eau Claire, for which he always receives the highest price. 

Mr. McElroy is one of the prominent and successful men in his section, public spirited, kind hearted and ever ready to lend a hand to those in need, and takes a commendable interest in all matters pertaining to his town and county. He is a Democrat in politics and has been honored as a member of the board of supervisors of his town. In religious affiliations he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

In 1881 Mr. McElroy married in the town of Waukesha Miss Lydia A. Churchill, who was born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, a daughter of Hiram De Forest, of New York state, and Mary A. (Howard) Churchill. Their children are Cora May, who married Chester Merrill, of Eau Claire; Minnie Belle, wife of Victor Thomas, lives in Superior, Wis., and has one child Pearl; Iva Iona married Lloyd Winter, an expert butter maker of Eau Claire; James Henry Jr. married Margaret Bavaira, they reside in Brunswick on their farm, and has two children, Ralph J. and Heine; Mabel Viola, born May 11, 1900, resides at home.