Eli Elrod Dead

One of Washington County's Oldest and Honorable Citizens Passed Away Last Week

WAS THE DEMOCRAT'S OLDEST SUBSCRIBER

Eli Elrod, one of Washington County's venerable citizens, a resident of near Pekin, departed this life last Wednesday, after a long and useful existence.
He was the son of Stephen and Elizabeth Elrod, imigrants from North Carolina and who were pioneers of Indiana, settling in Washington County.
Mrs. Elrod early learned the hardships of life, his father having died when he was but 17 years of age, and as the oldest boy at home, had to, at this early age, assume the responsibilites of conducting the business of the farm and acting as a father to the family.
That this burden was cheerfully assumed and faithfully executed was but an item in the man's life. He was one of those rare men who was trusted, and whose business sagacity was so well known by his neighbors that for years he had acted in the capacity of advisor and friend to all. So much was this the case that his later years were kept employed in settling estates as Administrator, Executor and Commissioner, and he was never known to commit a dishonest act. For nearly 50 years he acted as Justice of the Peace in his neighborhood and served with distinction in the office of Trustee of Polk Township.
Having been reared on a farm he never left this profession and died on a farm which he had later in life purchased and which adjoined the one on which he was born and which he still owned at the time of his death.
Eli Elrod was born July 23, 1830, and at time of death was 82 years, 1 month and 5 days old. It might be well to mention here that Mr. Elrod, when but 17 years of age and just as he took the reins of business cares, subscribed for the Democratic paper which had in that year been reorganized and named "The Salem Democrat" and he was a subscriber until his death, making him a reader of this paper for 65 years.
In 1854 he was married to Lewana J. Dudley and to this union eight children were born, all of whom together with the aged helpmate survive, except two. They are
Joseph W. , Willard W., Dr. Edward L. (dead), Mrs. Esther (should be Hester) Van Gilder, Alice M. (dead), H. Greeley, Dr. Stephen B., and Mrs. Lizzie Temple.
In 1895 he became a member of the Bethel Methodist church and was a faithful member.
The funeral services were held at Olive Branch church, and conducted by Rev. Jenner of Pekin and the remains were laid to rest in the Olive Branch cemetery in the presence of a large crowd of sincere mourners.

Published in: The Salem Democrat, Wednesday, September 4, 1912