Labette County Biographies
From the "Portrait and Biographical Record of Southeastern Kansas"
Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1894
JOHN W. ELAM, a successful farmer and
stock-raiser residing on section 7, Neosho
Township, Labette County, is a son of James
and Merinda (Sharp) Elam. His father was
born in Virginia, and his mother in North Carolina. During childhood, they removed to Clark
County, Ill., where they were married and where
they reared a family. In 1866, they emigrated to
Bentonville, Ark., where the father is still living, at
the age of eighty-four years. In the family were
twelve children, of whom seven grew to manhood
and womanhood. Three brothers served in the
Civil War. James H. was a Corporal of the Eighty-fifth Illinois Infantry, and being captured, was
confined in Libby Prison; A. M. served in the
Forty-third Indiana Infantry, and was confined
in the stockade at Tyler, Tex., for more than a
year.
Mr. Elam whose name heads this record was born
in Clark County, Ill., in 1840, and in the usual
manner of farmer lads spent the days of his boyhood and youth. The common schools afforded
him his educational privileges, and he acquired
a good knowledge of the English branches. He
had just reached manhood when the Rebellion
broke out, and, prompted by patriotic impulses,
he enlisted on the 1st of August, 1861, as a member of Company K, First Missouri Cavalry. He
served throughout the war, and being appointed
Sergeant, held that office until the cessation of hostilities. He took part in the battle of Pea Ridge
and many skirmishes in that vicinity, was at Memphis, Tenn., and Coldwater, Miss., and after peace
had been restored was mustered out at St. Louis,
October 20, 1865, never having received a wound.
Mr. Elam at once returned to Clark County, Ill.,
but after a short time removed to Bentonville,
Ark., where he remained until 1869, when he came
to Labette County, Kan., having purchased his
farm the previous year. He now owns three hundred and fifty acres of land, all under a high state
of cultivation and well improved. He is a practical and progressive agriculturist, and the neat and
thrifty appearance of the place indicates the enterprise and careful supervision of the owner.
In 1868, Mr. Elam married Martha C. Langston,
a native of Bentonville, Ark., and unto them have
been born eleven children, six sons and five daughters. The family circle yet remains unbroken.
Mr. Elam is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and has been an active and useful citizen.
He holds the offices of Trustee and Steward and
has been prominent in all church and benevolent
work. Socially, he is a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Association.
In politics, he is a stalwart Republican, keeps well informed on the issues
of the day, and does all in his power for the success of his party. He has served as School Director
for twelve consecutive years, and for some time
has ably and successfully filled the office of Justice
of the Peace.
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This website created September 18, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
� 2011 Kansas History and Heritage Project
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