NEEDHAM, ELIJAH, postmaster at Virginia, Ill., is a man who has lived up to what he believes to be his full duty and faithfully discharged the trust reposed in him when he received his present appointment from the government. Mr. Needham is a native of Cass County, having been born four miles northeast of Virginia, October 31, 1855, a son of James and Cecelia (Wilkie) Needham, the former a native of England, while the latter was born in Scotland. Both had been married prior to their union. They had three children, namely: Cecelia, who is Mrs. John Miles of Cass County; Nancy, who is a teacher in the Missouri Wesleyan College; and Elijah. The list of the children by their former marriages, is not complete. Both James Needham and wife died in Cass County in 1893.

Elijah Needham attended the common schools of his district, the Virginia High school and the Illinois State Normal school, being graduated from the latter institution in the class of 1888. Following this, he began teaching in Cass County, and for four and one half years was principal of the Ashland High School. In 1896 he came to Virginia and embarked in a book and stationery business, continuing it until 1902, when he was appointed postmaster of the Virginia office. He is a member of the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen, and is secretary of the first named, having held that office for about nine years. For the past fourteen years he has been president of the Virginia school board. The Methodist church holds his membership.

In 1891, Mr. Needham married Catherine Behler, a daughter of John and Sophia (Funk) Behler. There are no living children of this marriage.