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         ROBERT W. McELHINNEY, of Morning Sun, one of the proprietors of the Morning Sun News, is a native of the Hawkeye State, and was born in Des Moines County, Dec. 3, 1853. His parents are Gavin and Sarah J. (Wilson) McElhinney; the former was born in Ireland of Scotch parents, and the latter is a native of Ohio. Mr. Gavin McElhinney came to America with his parents when but a child, and grew to manhood in Ohio. He is one of the pioneers of Des Moines County, having settled there in 1840. Mr. and Mrs. McElhinney are the parents of three sons, all of whom are living: Robert W., our subject, is the eldest; he was reared upon his father’s farm and remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, and during the winter months attended the public schools in the neighborhood. He also attended the High School of Morning Sun a few terms, and in the winter of 1872-73 he took a business course in the Commercial College of Burling- . . .

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. . . ton. After leaving college he was engaged as a traveling agent for a few years.

December 3, 1878, Mr. McElhinney was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Hawthorn, of Crawfordsville, Iowa. Since his marriage he has been engaged in buying and selling live stock, and a part of the time as traveling salesman. He was local editor of the Morning Sun Herald for a short time previous to his buying an interest in the News and engaging in his present business. Politically, his influence has been exerted in favor of the Republican party; he is a member of the Covenanter Church.