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WILLIAM A. MCELVAIN , farmer, section sixteen, Auburn township, was born in Adair county, Kentucky, December 1, 1822; son of Samuel and Penelope (Abell) McElvain, natives of Virginia, and of Irish descent. They were married January 4, 1816, in Adair county, Kentucky. The fruits of this marriage were six children, three sons and three daughters, five of whom lived to be men and women, viz: Harriet N., Margaret J., William A., James E., Theresa M.; Jeremiah A. died in infancy. In 1828, they emigrated to Sangamon county, and located in Auburn in township, where he took up government land and made a farm from the wild prairie. He left Kentucky with a four horse team, coming overland, camping out. They moved into a log cabin, sixteen by sixteen feet, with a dirt chimney, and their furniture was of the plainest kind. They were a little crowded, there being a family of nine who remained there through the winter. At that time, Springfield was their nearest trading post, and for their milling, they went to Mr. Thomas Black's, who had a mill which was run by a hoarse, where they ground corn. Mr. McElvain says he has pounded and grated corn all day long for the use of the family; has hauled corn to Springfield and sold it for six and one-fourth cents per bushel, and also has hauled wheat with ox-teams to St. Louis, taking from seven to nine days to make the trip, and sell his load for thirty-five cents per bushel, pork selling then at $1.25 net. At the time they came here there were but few schools and churches, Mr. McElvain being a member of the Presbyterian Church. In connection with Jeremiah Abell, a Presbyterian minister, organized the first Sabbath school in the township. His home was a home for all preachers who traveled through this vicinity, and many a time Elder Cartwright has stayed at his father's house. His father participated in the war of 1812, and was at the battle of New Orleans, and at the close of the war walked from New Orleans to Kentucky, and was so thin and spare when he arrived there that he could span himself with his hands. He died April 1, 1848. Mother died September 29, 1855. They were both members of the Presbyterian Church, and died in the faith. The subject of this sketch came to the county when he was six years of age and remained at home until his father's death, when he took charge of his father's affairs. After his father's death, his own and mother's health failed, and they traveled extensively through the northern part of Maine and the Red River country, being for days and weeks among the Indians. Mr. McElvain has traveled through fourteen different States and Territories. After spending one summer they returned with their health greatly improved.

November 1, 1853, married Miss Angeline Lowell; born in Sangamon county, August 29, 1832. There was a family of eight children, six of whom are living. Howard A., Samuel S., James W., Nellie J., Margaret A., Elizabeth G. Mr. McElvain has a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres, all of which is under good cultivation, and valued at $75 an acre.