McElroy, Matthew Henry

MCELROY, STILES, COY, WILLIAMS, BINNEY, RAY

Posted By: Donna Lindauer
Date: 1/31/2026 at 13:01:18

The Sidney Argus
Sidney, Iowa
Thursday, January 13th, 1921

End Comes to "Uncle Matt" McElroy after Long and Useful Life.

After a lingering illness of several weeks M. H. McElroy died at his home two and one-half miles northwest of of Percival January 6, 1921.

Matthew Henry McElroy was born near Millersburg, Ohio, August 1, 1837, and died January 6, 1921, aged 83 years, 5 months and 6 days. In the spring of 1844 he moved to Buchanan County, Missouri, landing from a boat where the city of St. Joseph now stands.

At he outbreak of the Civil War, 1861, he volunteered for service and went to Council Bluffs to start south when found that James, his younger brother, was determined to go, and when he could not keep him from going he let him go in his place and Matthew returned home to take care of his mother who was in very poor health. He told his sister, Mrs. Stiles, that it was the hardest decision he had ever been called to make-whether to go on with his regiment or return to take care of his mother and stand the criticism that he knew would surely come. He later joined Company D, Twelfth Iowa, and served to the end of the war.

He was married March 30, 1869, to Miss Mary Helen Coy of Plum Hollow, now Thurman, who survives him. To this union were born eight children, one preceding him, in infancy. The children remaining to mourn the departure of their beloved father are: Will of Bingham, Nebraska; Mrs. R. S. Williams of Oktaha, Oklahoma; Mrs. Clara Binney of Chester, Iowa; James of Mexico, Missouri; Amos, Ed and Clyde of Percival. There are also twenty-two grandchildren and one great-grandchild; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Stiles and Mrs. Katharine Ray.

Much can be said of his sweet personality which made it a joy to talk with him at all times. Loving his family and friends devotedly, he always had time to pass a cheerful word to passersby as well as neighbors. He was a man of kind sympathies and affectionate heart, always inclined to take a stand in defense of the person who seemed to be unfortunate or oppressed.

During all his sickness he was especially solicitous for the happiness and welfare of his children and avoided as far as he could giving them any unnecessary trouble in caring for him. Nevertheless all his wants were anticipated and so far as possible satisfied by those to whom he was dear. All that love could do to make his last days of his life peaceful and happy was done.

Amos, Ed, Clyde, James and Alice Binny were with him as he passed into quiet sleep, from which he never rallied. He suffered a great deal during the past four weeks of his life but God, whom he had served throughout the long years of his life, gave him strength to rise above the suffering and he spoke with great cheerfulness of the joy that would be his in the heavenly home where he would meet the loved ones who had gone on before him, there together to wait the coming of those who must follow after in the natural order of things.

Funeral services were held from the Methodist church at Percival Saturday, January 8, at 10:30 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Sisson, and interment was in the Thurman Cemetery.