McELROY, Charles M. - 1890 Bio (1852-1921)

MCELROY, PARSONS, POLLOCK

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/15/2007 at 19:51:33

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 276-277

Charles M. McELROY, Postmaster of Fairfield, Jefferson County, and proprietor and publisher of the Fairfield "Tribune", was born in Oswego, N. Y., February 1, 1852, and on the paternal side is of Scotch-Irish (sic) descent. His father, William McELROY, was a native of Ohio, but his mother, whose maiden name was Helen M. PARSONS, was also born in Oswego. In early childhood our subject accompanied his parents to the city of New York and thence to Kilbourn City, Wis. In 1858, the family came to Iowa, settling in the eastern part of Muscatine County. The father was a teacher and the subject of our sketch was educated under his tutelage. In 1861, another removal was made, the family locating on a farm near Fairport, where the husband and father died on the 1st of February, 1868, leaving a widow and four children.

Charles M. was the only son, and at the time of his father's death was but sixteen years of age. He at once went to Muscatine and entered the old "Courier" newspaper office, where he learned the printer's trade, continuing work in that line and at that place until 1870, when he went to Des Moines, to take a position in the "Leader" office. He made up the first forms for the "Daily Leader" and was in that office for several years, after which he was engaged on the "Iowa State Register". At the expiration of that time he joined J. E. Cleary in the publication of the Indianola "Tribune", that connection continuing for a little less than a year from the spring of 1877, when Mr. McELROY sold out and returned to Des Moines. Once more he was employed in the "Register" office and int he (sic) winter of 1877-78 reported the Iowa Senate for the "Leader". The following year he was one of two local editors for that paper.

In March, 1879, Mr. McELROY came to Fairfield and became proprietor, editor and publisher of the Fairfield "Tribune", which he has since conducted with satisfaction to his patrons and some profit to himself. His management of the "Tribune" has been on the lines of legitimate publishing business principles and his editorial course has been conservative and fair, winning for him the respect and esteem of the better class of his fellow citizens regardless of party affiliations. The "Tribune" is a six column quarto, Democratic in politics and is a bright newspaper, devoted to the best interests of Fairfield and Jefferson County. The office was established in 1847, but has since changed hands several times and the paper has also changed name; still the "Tribune" is the legitimate successor of the first paper published in Jefferson County. On the 10th of January, 1887, Mr. McELROY was commissioned Postmaster of Fairfield, which position he still holds, being in his fourth year in that service. He has devoted his time exclusively since his appointment to the duties of the office and has left the editorial and business management of the "Tribune" to F. B. Taylor.

On the 2nd of September, 1885, in Plattsmouth, Neb., Mr. McELROY was united in marriage with Miss Alice R. POLLOCK, a daughter of Thomas POLLOCK. She is a native of Pennsylvania and by their union three children have been born -- two sons and a daughter, namely: Hugh Murray, who was born June 2, 1886; Thomas POLLOCK, born October 8, 1887, and Helen Louise, born January 27, 1889.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN, with wife Alice and children Helen and Hugh.