McElroy - Jesse Leroy - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Jesse Leroy McELROY -- The name heading this sketch belongs to one of the well known physicians of Aurora, this county, a man of fine intellect, who is well informed along the lines of his chosen profession.  He has demonstrated that he is skilled, thorough, and careful in all departments of his profession and has established himself in a practice that speaks well for the regard in which he is held in the community.  Dr. McElroy takes the deepest possible interest in all the cases that come under his observation, the poor receiving the same unselfish care as do those of his wealthier patients. Dr. Jesse LeRoy McElroy, physician and surgeon of Aurora, indiana is a son of Welcome R. and Mary M. Barnett McElroy.

He was born Oct 18, 1884 at Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana and was reared and secured his education at Reelsville, this state, graduating from the high school of that place in 1900, after which he entered DePauw University taking a three-year course. He then entered the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, and was graduated from that institution in 1907, after which he served as intern at the Indianapolis City Dispensary for several months.

He then located at Darlington, Indiana where he practiced for a period of one year, but not being entirely satisfied with the location, moved his office to Aurora where he still continues to practice. Politically, Dr. McElroy is a Democrat.  He is a member of the Methodist Church, and a member of Aurora Lodge No. 51, Free & Accepted Masons. Welcome R. McElroy, father of Dr. McElroy, is a son of William and Martha Charlott McElroy, and was born May 26, 1841 in Putnam County, Indiana. He was reared at Reelsville, near Greencastle, where he was trained in the occupation of farming, and was later engaged in the mercantile business about 20 years.  In 1861 he enlisted in Co A, 59th Regt Iowa Vol Infantry serving until March 12, 1863 when he was discharged on account of illness.  

In 1865 (35?) Welcome R. McElroy was married to Mary M. Barnett, daughter of David and Ellen Barnett and he then established himself in a general merchandise business at Reelsville.  He was also interested in the breeding of fine horses and in 1880 took a premium over 13 other exhibitors.  He made his own way in the world, and never had a dollar given him, except a pension of $4 a month.  Welcome R. McElroy gives his support to the Democratic party and is a member of the old predestinarian Baptist Church.  He was church trustee and deacon and is still active in church work.  He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity.  His wife died in 1896 of pneumonia.

They were the parents of 8 children, Cora, Paul F, Frank D, Martha C, Ralph E, Jesse L and two who died in infancy.  Cora McElroy became the wife of Perry McCullough of Terre Haute, In; Paul lives at Clayton, Ind; Martha C was the wife of David Skelton of Greencastle. and is now deceased; Frank D. lives at Hammond, Indiana and Ralph, Kokomo, Indiana.

The paternal grandfather of Dr. McElroy was Wiliam McElroy a native of Pa and a shoemaker by trade.  He married Martha Charlott and he and his wife came to Indiana in 1837, settling in Madison Twp, Putnam Co where they spent the rest of their lives, Mr. McElroy dying in 1870, aged 78; and his widow 1875, aged 79.  They were the parents of : Stephen, Henry, Welcome R, all of whom were Union soldiers during the Civil War; James, Mary, Rachel and Charlotte. Dr. McElroy's maternal grandparents were David M. and Ellen Barnett early settlers in Putnam Co where they owned large tracts of land during the Civil War and where Mr. Barnett conducted a general merchandising store, in the town of Reelsville for about 40 years. His son-in-law, Welcome McElroy succeeded him in business, which he carried on in connection with his farming interests. Mr. Barnett and his wife lived to a good old age, the former dying at age 94, and the latter at age 78. Shortly before their death, they moved to Hoosierville, Indiana and thence to Janesville, Ill where they died. To them 3 children were born, Mary, Maria and a daughter who died in infancy.

On Jan 18, 1909, Dr. Jesse Leroy McElroy, was united in marriage to Ruby J. Campbell who was born Aug 15, 1889 at Darlington, Montgomery County, Indiana, the daughter of Thomas M. and Elizabeth ollingsworth Campbell. Her religious sympathies are with the Methodist Church.  To Dr and Mrs. McElroy one child has been born, a daughter, Wilhelmina. Thomas M. and Elizabeth Hollingsworth Campbell are natives of Indiana and still reside in Darlington They are paernts of 4 children: Mrs. Catherine Walkup, Zola, Ruby J McElroy, and Lawrence .