Born in Richmond, Jefferson County, Ohio, August 2, 1843; occupation, Landlord. Enlisted May 18, 1861 at Wellsburg, W. Va., in Co. G, 1st Reg. W. Va. Vol. Inf., for three months. Elijah participated in all the ups and downs of the regiment; was in the battle at Phillipi, June 3, 1861, where Col. B. F. Kelly was shot by a confed who was hidden behind a cart. The wound was serious, but he recovered and was made a Brigadier General. Quartered in the Phillipi House, whose landlord took his hat and left very suddenly from here the regiment went to Beverly, Va., when Gen. McClellan was there. Here they had a rough time; hungry and half naked, with much sickness in the regiment. About the first of August returned to Wheeling Island and was discharged August 28, 1861.

While Co. G was camped at Phillipi the good people of Richmond, whose love and sympathy followed us in all our marches by day and by night, said, "How nice it would be to send the boys a box." Following the word was action. They packed us a box of pie, cake, bread, chicken and many other things, but in their haste many things were packed in hot or warm, and before we got the box they moulded; but we were hungry, and we brushed off the mould and ate heartily. Then we were sick, and Comrade George Marsh, who was a brave little fellow and who has long since gone to the unseen world, was for days lingering between life and death. We waited and watched, giving him every attention and kindness in our power, assisted by our worthy and kind hearted Captain James I. Kuhn, of Wellsburg. Slowly he got better and to our joy got well, but it was a very close call for George. Elijah returned home and again enlisted in Company G, old 52nd O. V. I., encamped at Camp Dennison, O., on the 10th day of December, 1861. On or about the middle of January 1862, the Regiment was disbanned. He was then transferred to Company K, 71st O. V. I., encampmed at Troy, Ohio. From there he went with his regiment to Paducah, then to Fort Donelson, then to Pittsburgh Landing. Here, after the first day's fighting he was injured in the back and hips and he was put on a boat and sent to Evansville Hospital. After he got able to be around, the surgeon sent him home on furlough. When his furlough had expired he returned to Evansville, the surgeons examined him and sent him back to Camp Dennison Barracks, where he remained until the 10th day of September 1862, where he was examined by a board of surgeons and discharged from the service for disablility.

The 71st O. V. I. lost heavily at the Battle of Pittsburgh Landing and Shiloh. On Monday of the battle the regiment was actively engaged, losing in the battle one hundred and thirty men killed and wounded. On the 16th of April the regiment was ordered to the Cumberland river to hold the posts of Fort Donelson and Clarkville. Was afterward engaged in the battle of Nashville, displaying much bravery and courage, and here lost one-third of its number in killed and wounded. From here was sent into Texas, and at length returned to Camp Chase, O., and was discharged January 1866, after service of great hardship and much suffering in its numerous conflicts.