Moses Matthew McElroy

Edna Kansas Sun. 4 January, 1920 

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD

Moses McElroy Celebrates Event That Happens But Once In A Lifetime

One hundred years ago in Campbell county Kentucky and just across the Ohio river from Cincinnati, on January the 4th Moses McElroy, the present oldest resident of this part of Labette county, was born. The year 1820 seems a long ways back in the good old days of the past and it would be hard to conceive all that has Happened to the country and all that has gone before our aged friend during that period. It is certainly a long stretch of life for one person to span and we are pleased to state that the subject of this sketch is still in good health and greatly the privilege of meeting his friends and in relating the many happenings of the long ago. It is said that as we grow older we grow more reminiscent, and it is indeed a pleasure to hear this aged veteran tell of some of some of the things that have transpired in his life end of hardships his good old mother endured in the pioneer days and in the days oh his earliest recollection.

During his early youth he emigrated to Missouri, and at the breaking out of the civil war, enlisted in the First Missouri Cavalry and served three years and one month under Gen. Sanborn. He saw some hard fighting and can tell of many hair breadth escapes while in the service of his country. His regiment made it warm for Gen. Price when he made his raid in Missouri, finally driving him out of the state.

Mr. McElroy was converted while a resident of Maysville, DeKalb county, Mo,. United with the Christian church and he is happy in the thought that in his advanced years he is at peace with his God and all mankind. He was thrice married and is the father of sixteen children, four by his first wife and twelve by the second union. His third wife to whom he was married at Ottawa, Kansas, nineteen years ago is now in her seventy-ninth year and is proving a faithful and devoted companion, ever mindful of his wants and cheerful in the discharge of every duty imposed upon her.

Of the sixteen children only six are now living. The oldest of the living children, Mrs Owen McCartney, and the baby of the family, the last born, Mrs. Chas. Fahler live in this city and are frequent visitors at the house of their aged father. The other living children are, Mrs. Emma Curl of SanDiego, Calif, Mrs, J.M. Fahler OF Twin Falls Idaho, Mrs. B.B. Owens of Valeda and Geo. McElroy of near Edna. There are also twenty-one grand children and thirteen great grand children.

At eleven o'clock Sunday morning Mr. McElroy accompanied by relatives attended services at the Methodist church and Rev. McKenzie preached a wonderful sermon, dwelling upon the advancement and progress that had been made in the past 100 years and the possibilities and wonderful achievements of the present age. Mr. McElroy was greatly pleased with the sermon and his vivid recollection enables him to repeat many of the most interesting ?????? brought out in the sermon.

After the services at the church over a score of the children, grand children and friends gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs Warren Wilmoth in this city with their honored guest. A fine lunch that had been brought from the homes of each family present was greatly enjoyed and the day was a most pleasant one for all.

Those present at the reception were, Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Fahler, Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Wilmoth, Mr. and Mrs. Curt Dunlap, Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Shannon, Miss Opal McElroy, Lloyd and Floyd Fahler, Evelyn Wilmoth, Mrs. Margaret McCartney, Clyde and Dale Dunlap, Rev McKinziie, Mrs. Josephine McELroy, Md. Valley, Kans., Mr. and Mrs. Alfred McElroy Manhattan, Kans., Mrs. Emma Bruce, Ottawa Kans., Miss Margaret Gardner, Galesburg Kans.

Mr. McElroy also received a number of presents including a fine $7 pipe, and these gifts along with the sermon by Rev. McKenzie, the fine reception tendered him. The congratulations and best wishes of many relatives and friends made the day a happy one to him. We join in the congratulations and wish him years more of health and happiness.

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OLDEST MAN IN COUNTY DEAD Moses McElroy Veteran of Two Wars Laid to Rest With Military Honors.

Moses McElroy who for sometime had held the distinction of being the oldest man in Labette county, if not the the state of Kansas, died at the home of his son, George McElroy, on Sunday, October 1st, 1922, aged 102 years, 8 months and 27 days. He was born in Campbell county Kentucky, just across the river from Cincinnati, Ohio, on Jan. 4th, 1820, and for nearly a half of century he resided in southeastern Kansas. The year 1820 seems a long ways back in the good old days of the past and it would be hard to conceive all that has taken place and all that has gone before the departed in that period. It is certainly a long stretch of life for one person to span and until recently the deceased has enjoyed good health for one of his age and found pleasure in relating his army experience and in telling of the hardships his good old mother had endured in the pioneer days.

He was a soldier in the Mexican war in 1846. After the close of the war he returned home and in 1854 emigrated to Missouri. At the breaking out of the civil war in 1861, he was one of the first to volunteer and after serving his country for three years, was given an honorable discharge. In the year 1877 with his family he came to southeastern Kansas. He had been married three times and the father of fifteen children, six of whom are now living. They are, Mrs. Margaret McCartney, Mrs. John Fahler, Mrs. C.C. Fahler, and George McElroy of in and near Edna, Mrs. B.G. Owens of Valeda, and Mrs. Emma Curl of San Diego, Calif. He also had twenty-one grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren.

Mr. McElroy was converted while a resident of Maysville, DeKalb County, Missouri, uniting with the Christian church. In late years he seemed happy in the thought that he was at peace with all mankind and with his God.

His third wife, to whom he was married twenty-one years ago is still living and has reached the ripe old age of eighty-one years.

The funeral took place from the M.E. Church in this city at 2:30 o'clock Monday, Rev. C.E. West preaching the funeral sermon. Out of respect of one who had lived in the community so long, the business houses closed during the hour of the funeral. Roscoe Wilson Post, American Legion, accompanied by a number of old soldiers, remnants of the Grand Army of the Republic, attended the services in a body. At the cemetery taps were sounded and a salute fired as the body was lowered in the grave. <<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>> Moses' Civil War Records.......... 1st REGIMENT COMPANY "H" MO STATE MILITIA CAVALRY (MSM)

http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldier_id=e...

http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/soldiers/details.asp?id=S213487&conf...

http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~firstmsmcavalry/mi...

http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~firstmsmcavalry/mi...

1st REGIMENT MO STATE MILITIA CAVALRY (MSM).

Organized in Missouri at large February 3 to April 9, 1862. Companies "A" and "B" in Davies County, Company "C" in Sullivan County, "D" in Putnam County, "E" in Gentry County, "F" in Linn County, "H" in DeKalb County, "I" in Harrison County and "K" in Lundy County. Company "L" organized In Andrew and Buchanan Counties and attached May, 1863. Company "M" organized in Worth and Gentry Counties and attached July, 1863. Regiment attached to District of Central Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to July, 1863. District 6f the Border, Dept. of Missouri, to January, 1864. District of Central Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to July, 1865. Headquarters at Lexington till March, 1863. (4 Cos. at Sedalia, Mo., November, 1862, to April, 1863.) At Independence till April, 1863. At Harrisonville till May, 1863. At Warrensburg till June, 1863. At Lexington till October, 1863. At Warrensburg till July, 1865, operating against Cash'., Davis', Kirk's, Merrick's, Marchbank's, Ballou's, Porter's, Poindexter's, Quantrell's and Cockrell's guerrillas.

SERVICE.--Expedition to Spring Hill May 24,1862 (Co.. "G" and "K"). Sear's House and Big Creek Bluffs, near Pleasant Hill, July 11 (Co., "A," "C" and "D"). Clark's Mills July 30 (2 Co.). Grand River August 1 (Battalion). Operations on Missouri River August - (Detachment). Near Cravensville August 5. Kirksville August 5-6. Panther Creek and Walnut Creek August 8. Near Stockton August 8 (Detachment). Sear's Ford, Chariton River, August 9 (Detachment). Expedition from Camp Gamble against guerrillas August 12-18. Putnam September 1. Strother's Fork of Black River September 13. Syracuse October 14, Expedition from Independence to Greenton, Chapel Hill and Hopewell October 24-26 (Co.. "E" and "H"). Operations in Jackson and Lafayette Counties October 26-29 (Detachment). Blue Springs, near Independence, March 22. Sedalia April 9. 1863. Hog Island May 18 (Detachment). Near Wellington June 17. Near Papinsville June 23 (Detachment). Saline County July 30. Near Lexington July 30 (Cos. "C," "I" and "K"). Stumptown August 2 (Cos. "F," "G" and "H"). Scout from Lexington to Hopewell August 6-9 (Detachment). Dayton August 10 (Detachment). Near Wellington August 14 (Detachment). Operations against Quantrell's Raid into Kansas August 20-28. Big Creek, near Pleasant Hill, August 22. Scouts in Lafayette County and skirmishes September 22-25 (Cos. "B," "H." "L" and "M"). Operations against Shelby September 22-October 26. Booneville October 11-12. Jonesborough October 12. Merrill's Crossing and Dug Ford, near Jonesborough, October 12. Marshall, Arrow Rock, Blackwater, October 13. Syracuse October 14. Greenton Valley, near Hopewell, October 21 (Detachment of Co. "B"). Near Lexington November 4 (Detachment). Scouts in Jackson County January 15-17, 1864 (Detachment). Lexington February 22. Operations about Warrensburg February 22-24 (Detachment). Scout from Lexington March 19-22. Scouts in Jackson and Lafayette Counties and skirmishes March 20-30 (Detachments). Deep Water Township March 27. Near Greenton March 30 (Co. "F"). Offett's Knob April 28. Skirmishes in Johnson County April 28-30 (Cos. "D" and "M"). Scout from Warrensburg May 23-25. Near Shanghai May 27 (Detachment). Scout from Warrensburg to North Blackwater River June 5-9 (Co. "I"). Near Kingsville June 12 (Detachment). Lexington June 14 (Cos. "F" and "I"). Lafayette County June 14 (Detachment). Attack on Arrow Rock July 20. Operations in Lafayette and Johnson Counties and skirmishes July 20-31 (Co. "E"). Scout in Saline County August 6-9 (Detachment). Arrow Rock August 7 (Detachment). Saline County August 13 (Co. "H"). Operations in Lafayette, Saline and Howard Counties August 13-22. Near Lexington August 19 (Co. "A"). Dover August 20. Davis Creek August 22. The Tabo August 22. Operations on Texas Prairie, Jackson County, August 25-30. Near Warrensburg September 9 (Detachment). Near Lexington September 18 (Detachment). Near Longwood September 22 (Detachment). Blackwater September 23 (1st Battalion). Prince's Shoals, Osage River, Cole County, October 5-6. Moreau Bottom, Jefferson City, October 7. Near Jefferson City October 8. California October 9. Booneville October 9-12. Sedalia October 15. Little Blue October 21. Independence, Big Blue and State Line October 22. Westport October 23. Mine Creek, Little Osage River, Marias des Cygnes, October 25. Engagement at the Mariniton or Battle of CharIot October 25. Escort prisoners from Fort Scott to Warrensburg, Mo., October 26-November 1. Near Fort Scott October 28. At Warrensburg and Pleasant Hill, Cass County, operating against guerrillas in Central District of Missouri till July, 1865. Scout from Warrensburg to Greenton Valley November 29-December 3,1864 (Detachment). Near Lexington January 11,1865. Scout from Camp Grover to Texas Prairie January 12-15. Scout from Warrensburg to Snibar Hills January 18-22 (Detachment). Scout from Warrensburg to Wagon Knob, etc., February 1-5 (Detachment). Old members mustered out February and March, 1865. Recruits consolidated to a Battalion of 2 Companies. Near Lone Jack March 12 (Detachment). Scout from Lexington March 20-22 (Detachment). Near Pleasant Hill May 3 (Detachment). Mustered out July 12, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 71 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 67 Enlisted men by disease. Total 142.

Source of Data: "A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, V.III" by Frederick H. Dyer, c1908, p.1302

Copyright (c) 1998

Missouri Commandery <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Missouri War Crimes, during the Civil War, were a common occurrence, but one in particular, would be remembered as the Centralia Massacre. The words war crime, atrocity, murder are often mixed interchangeably, in regard to soldiers heinous actions during the heat of battle. In some instances Hate Crime might be a more applicable term to explain the incomprehensible acts. Whatever drives combatants to commit the gruesome and horrendous deeds is hard to judge. Many veterans, of different wars, offer a similar explanation,

“If you think you know, how you would react and what your actions would be and what you would do to survive, you probably have never been there and have no frame of reference.”

The Civil War in Missouri and Kansas was rarely fought between regular armies in the field. It was carried out primarily by partisan bands of guerilla fighters, and the atrocities were nearly unmatched. In 1863, Confederate marauders sacked Lawrence, Kansas, and killed 250 residents.

bloddy bill jarrettIn 1864, partisan activity increased in anticipation of Confederate General Sterling Price’s invasion of the state. On the evening of September 26, a band of 200 Confederate marauders gathered near the town of Centralia, Missouri. The next morning, William Anderson led 30 guerillas into Centralia and began looting the tiny community and terrorizing the residents.

A train from St. Louis was just pulling into the station. Anderson and his men commandeered the train and took 150 prisoners, including 23 Union soldiers, who were on leave. They then set the train on fire and opened its throttle, sending the flaming train out-of-town. The soldiers were stripped and Anderson’s men began firing on them, killing all but one within a few minutes. The surviving Yankee soldier was spared in exchange for a member of Anderson’s company who had recently been captured.

That afternoon, a Union detachment commanded by a Major Johnston arrived in Centralia to find that the raiders had already left town. Johnston then headed in the direction of “Bloody Bill’s” riders. Johnston’s troopers followed the Rebels into a field, where they were attacked on all sides. The Federals fired one volley and were then overrun by the sharpshooting, revolver armed, guerilla horsemen. Most were shot down as they attempted to flee, of the 155 Union soldiers, 123 were killed during the battle.

Authors and Historians share their impressions of Centralia, Missouri and the carnage,

Tom Goodrich:

bloody bill maddox“The aftermath of Centralia would have been truly horrific. In the middle of the day, an autumn day, roughly a hundred dead Federals lay on the ground. They have had their throats slashed and some of them are still being tortured. Many of the guerrillas are drunk. All the emotions are coming out of the guerrillas at this point. This is the chickens of John Brown coming home to roost, so to speak. This is one of the ultimate atrocities of the Civil War. There are 100 men, helpless, disarmed, murdered in their tracks. And it would have been a very terrible thing to see. Beheadings, disembowelment, torture, fiendish torture, men begging for the lives. This is where the emotions finally come and bear fruit in Missouri. This is the place where every man who has felt the oppression of Federal soldiers for the last three years, can finally have his vengeance.”

T.J. Styles:

“The Union soldiers who came on the scene later described a scene where men were mutilated in the most horrific fashion. In fact, in one case, a man’s privates were described as being cut off and being shoved in the man’s mouth. And there were scalps taken. There were other acts of mutilation. It was an incredibly brutal day.”

Phil Stewart:

“Dying became insignificant. It didn’t mean anything. People were dying daily. Guys were getting arms blown off. You ride into battle and the guy next to you would be virtually decapitated by either musket balls or cannon balls. Bloody Bill Anderson was tying human scalps to his bridle. Guys were hung. Guys were decapitated. Some of those guys would cut off ears of the guys that they had killed and would make necklaces out of them. Wearing human body parts around their neck, life just becomes less significant.”

One month later, “Bloody Bill” Anderson was killed attempting a similar attack near Albany, Missouri. Many of Anderson’s men were definitely murderous psychopaths, others were just a product of the circumstances and the era. All lived on the fringe of a border war that had few, if any boundaries.

Historians speak of many atrocities committed during the Civil War, white on black, black on white, maybe even black on black, who knows. War in itself is an atrocity, it is murder, carnage, a hate crime. This Missouri War Crime or the Centralia Massacre is just another example of men(warped by war) trying to cope and survive a life and death struggle, that cannot be dissected, analysed or much less judged, by those that have not experienced the nightmare.

http://www.civilwarbummer.com/missouri-war-crime-or-centralia-massa... <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://civilwartalk.com/threads/missouri-state-militia-cavalry.59491/ AUGUST 13-22, 1864.--Operations in La Fayette, Saline, and Howard Counties, Mo., with skirmishes. No. 1.--Reports (4) of Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton, U. S. Army, commanding District of Central Missouri.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF CENTRAL MISSOURI, Warrensburg, Mo., August 19, 1864. MAJOR: I have the honor to report, for the information of the major-general commanding, that on the 13th instant Captain Meredith, commanding Company H, First Cavalry Missouri State Militia, succeeded in overtaking a gang of bushwhackers in the eastern part of Saline County, killed 1 guerrilla and captured 7 horses. No casualties on our side. Lieutenant-Colonel Lazear, First Cavalry Missouri State Militia, commanding in the field in Saline, represents that the people of that county fully realize their situation and are determined to rid the county of guerrillas. On the 15th instant a detachment of Company C, Fourth Cavalry Missouri State Militia, under the command of Sergt. I.E. Wood, by moving through the brush dismounted, surprised and charged a gang of six bushwhackers, wounded 2 of the gang and captured 6 horses. Maj. G. W. Kelly, Fourth Cavalry Missouri State Militia, commanding at Chapel Hill, reports several bands, numbering from six to twelve, having recently made their appearance south and cast of that station, and that Quantrill, Todd, and Poole, with their respective bands, are reported to be some twelve or fifteen miles east of that place. Such measures have been taken as will, I have no doubt, succeed in breaking up and scattering this force, if the report should prove true. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. PLEASONTON, Major-General, Commanding. Maj. O. D. GREENE, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dept. of the Missouri, Saint Louis, Mo.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF CENTRAL MISSOURI, Warrensburg, Mo., August 23, 1864. MAJOR: I have the honor to report, for the information of the major-general commanding, that on the 20th instant Lieutenant-Colonel Lazear, First Cavalry Missouri State Militia, commanding in the field, surprised a gang, numbering from forty to sixty guerrillas, in the vicinity of Dover, La Fayette County, killed 3 guerrillas and captured 4 horses, also a small rebel flag. Maj. Henry Suess, chief of cavalry, commanding steamer Fanny Ogden, reports that Thornton, Thrailkill, Yeager, Todd, Campbell, and Taylor held a consultation in Greenton Valley, La Fayette County, a week since, and on his return from this meeting Taylor was killed by the militia near Independence. Major Suess also reports that on the 19th instant a detachment of his command had a skirmish with a band of guerrillas southwest of Wellington, in which they mortally wounded 2 guerrillas, killed 1 horse, and captured one set of horse equipments. I would further respectfully state that the block-house now being built at La Mine bridge is being pushed to completion as rapidly as possible. I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. PLEASONTON, Major-General, Commanding. Maj. O. D. GREENE, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dept. of the Missouri, Saint Louis, Mo. Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the US

He then married Caroline Ellis on January 30, 1855 in DeKalb County, Missouri. They had 11 children, namely: William S, Francis, Margaret E, Ellen, Mary J, Emma S, Albert G, George Washington, Tobitha C, Annie Myrtle and Myrtle W. After Caroline's death in 1893, he married once more time Martha A (maiden name unknown) Helt.

Moses served in the Mexican War in 1846 with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Civil War from 1861 to 1864 in Company H, 1st Missouri State Militia Calvary.

He is buried next to his wife, Caroline, but there is no stone marker.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Obituary for Moses McElroy, taken from The Edna Sun, October 1922)

OLDEST MAN DEAD

Moses McElroy who for some time had held the distinction of being the oldest man in Labette County, if not in the state of Kansas, died at the home of his son, George McElroy, on Sunday, October 1, 1922, age 102 years, 8 months and 27 days. He was born in Campbell county, Kentucky, just across the river from Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 4, 1820, and for nearly a half century had resided in southeastern Kansas. The year 1820 seems a long way back in the good old days of the past and it would be hard to conceive all that has taken place and that has gone before the departed in that period. It is certainly a long stretch for life for one person to span and until recently the deceased had enjoyed good health for one his age and found pleasure in relating his army experience and in telling of the hardships his good old brother had endured in the pioneer days.

He was a soldier in the Mexican War in 1846. After the close of the War he returned home and in 1854 immigrated to Missouri. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1961 he was one of the first to volunteer and after serving his country for 3 years was given an honorable discharge. In the year 1877 with his family he came to southeast Kansas. He had been married 3 times and was the father of 15 children, six of whom are now living. They are, Mrs. Margaret McCartney, Mrs. John Fahler, Mrs. C. C. Fahler and George McElroy of in and near Edna, Mrs. B. G. Owen of Valeda, and Mrs. Emma Curl of San Diego, California. He also had 21 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren.

Mr. McElroy was converted while a resident of Maysville, DeKalb county, Missouri, united with the Christian church. In late years he seemed happy in the thought that he was at peace with all mankind and with his God.

His third wife, to whom he was married 20 years ago, is still living and has reached the ripe old age of 81 years.

The funeral took place from the M.E. church in this city at 2:30 o'clock Monday, Rev. C.E. West preaching the funeral sermon. Out of respect of one who had lived in the community so long, business houses closed during the hour of the funeral. Roscoe Wilson Post, American Legion, accompanied by a number of old soldiers' remnants of the Grand Army of the Republic attended the services in a body.

At the cemetery taps were sounded and a salute fired as the body was lowered in the grave.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=78471375