Biographical & Genealogical History of Appanoose & Monroe Counties, Iowa

New York, Lewis Publishing Co. 1903

Joseph C. McElhaney page 358

Joseph C. McElhaney is today one of the prosperous agriculturists and enterprising business men of Monroe county. There is no rule for achieving success, yet certain elements are always found in a prosperous career, and these are tireless energy and keen business perception, both of which are manifested in the career of Mr. McElhaney, who is now controlling extensive and important interests both in Monroe county and in other sections of the country. He is a native of Hancock county, Ohio, his birth having occurred there January 21, 1853, his parents being Isaac and Sarah Jane ( Reddick ) McElhaney. His father was born in Pennsylvania and was of Scotch-Irish descent, while the mother was a native of Columbiana county, Ohio. During his residence in the Buckeye state, Isaac McElhaney followed the cooper’s trade, but after his removal to Iowa he abandoned industrial interests in order to give his attention to agricultural pursuits.

The year 1865 witnessed his arrival in this state and he took up his abode in Guilford township, Monroe county, where he made his home for ten years, and then removed to Union township, where his remaining days were passed. As every true American citizen should do, he kept well informed on all political questions affecting the welfare of his county, state and nation, and his belief in the principles of Democracy led him to cast his ballot for its nominees. Both he and his wife were devoted members of the United Presbyterian church and took an active part in its work. His death occurred on the 19^th of March, 1891, when he had reached the age of seventy-five years and seven months, and his widow is still living, making her home with the subject of this review. To Mr. and Mrs. Isaac McElhaney were born eight children, five of whom are yet living, namely: Mary J., Margaret C., Mattie, Cynthia and Joseph C. Those who have passed away are David R., who was the eldest; Irvin Presley; and Dora, who was the youngest of the family.

Joseph C. McElhaney lived in Ohio until he had reached the age of nine years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa. He acquired his early education in the public schools and when sixteen years of age took up the study of geology, which he mastered and then began prospecting for coal in the employ of different companies. He has done prospecting work in Missouri, Kansas and Iowa, and has been instrumental in locating several coal beds which have yielded excellent returns.

He is today the owner of a fine and valuable farm of three hundred and sixty-six acres of Iowa’s rich soil, located just north of Lovilia, and of this two hundred acres is under cultivation, being planted with cereals best adapted to the climate. The remainder of the farm is pasture land and Mr. McElhaney is successfully engaged in raising and dealing in stock, his annual sales from animals bringing to him a good return. He has resided upon his present farm for fifteen years, living with his mother and his two sisters, Maggie and Cynthia. Mr. McElhaney is a man of excellent business ability, resourceful and far-sighted and he has not confined his attention entirely to one line. At the present time he is extensively interested in rice growing and has a tract of land of ten thousand acres in Texas, of which forty-five hundred acres are now planted to rice. He has been interested in rice production since 1899 and believes it to be one of the country’s profitable crops.

Mr. McElhaney is a member of the Pioneers’ Association and at the recent meeting held In Lovilia he served as officer of the day. He is honored and respected by all, not only on account of the success he has achieved, but also because of the honorable, straightforward business policy he has ever followed. In his business affairs he has never taken advantage of the necessities of his fellow men, but has been fair and just in all transactions, and his prosperity is the legitimate outcome of careful discernment in business and of unremitting diligence.

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