DAVID McILRAVY

MCILRAVY

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/22/2020 at 19:56:40

DAVID McILRAVY was born in Harrison county, Ohio, February 1, 1829. His father, Hugh McIlravy, was a native of county Antrim, Ireland, and a son of Hugh C., also a native of that county. The family came to America in 1812 and settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where the grandfather of our subject died. Hugh McIlravy learned the trade of bricklayer, which he followed for a number of years. He married Ellen Quigley, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of John Quigley. In 1868 he moved to Knox county, Illinois, where he died at the age of eighty-eight years and eight days. His education had been received in the schools of Ireland, and after his arrival in this country he was in politics a Whig and later a Republican; in religion, a Presbyterian, having served as elder of the church for more than forty years. His wife had preceded him to the other world, her death having occurred in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1863. Their family consisted of six sons and one daughter, of whom two sons and the latter are now living, viz.: Robert, of Knox county, Illinois; David, our subject; and Nancy Jane Creighton, Carl township, this county.

David McIlravy was reared on a farm in Harrison county, Ohio, and educated in the public schools of the Buckeye State. He was married in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, June 27, 1865, to Miss Sarah Elizabeth True, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Masters) True. Her father was born in Delaware, a son of Thomas True, of Scotch ancestry, and her mother in Tuscarawas, Ohio, daughter of Isaac Masters. They had seven children, one son and six daughters. The mother died in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, when Mrs. McIlravy was ten years old, and her father still lives at that place, at this writing, aged seventy-five years. He is an honored citizen of Tuscarawas county, and a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. McIlravy lived in Ohio, engaged in farming until 1865, when he moved to Knox county, Illinois, and settled near Victoria. In 1880 he came to Adams county, Iowa, and bought his present farm in section 4, Carl township. By the expenditure of much time and labor he has highly improved his farm until it is ranked among the best in the township. His dwelling, a story and a half cottage, with bay windows and porches, beautifully located and surrounded with fine lawn and shade trees, is one of the attractive places to be seen in this vicinity. A three-acre orchard, grove and 100 rods of Osage hedge are among the other improvements which enhance the value of this property.

Mr. and Mrs. McIlravy have six children, whose names are as follows: Mary E., wife of James Arnold of this county; William Q., Isaac Homer, John D., Chauncy R. and Olin Fremont. They lost one son, Charlie, who died in Knox county, Illinois, at the age of sixteen months. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he affiliates with the Republican party.