Biography of Cicero D. McIlroy, Randolph Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Bridgette Cohen Date: 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas Copyrighted and Published 1889 by Goodspeed Publishing Company Cicero D. McIlroy is a man well known to the people of Randolph County, Ark., for he was born here on the 24th of April, 1850, and is a son of John and Mary A. (Jones) McIlroy, who were natives of Madison County. Mo., and Randolph County, Ark., respectively. The father was born in the former county in 1818, and died in the latter in November, 1862. His widow survives him and resides in Randolph County. Both were church members, he being in communion with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and she with the Baptist. His life was given to tilling the soil, and the manner in which he acquired his possessions showed him to be an energetic and excellent business manager. His first money was obtained by making rails, and he afterward traded in stock, shipping south on flat boats. He was a stanch Democrat in his political views. Cicero D. McIlroy is the third in the family, the names of the others being as follows: Callie (Brook), Mary E., wife of John Amos, a farmer of the county: Alexander H., also a farmer, residing on the old homestead; Robert J., residing in the county; Penelope, wife of Jasper Vandergriff, of this county; Samuel B., also residing here, and Evaline, the wife of Gilleon Thompson, who is now assessor of this county. Cicero D. McIlroy received his education in the common schools, and being the eldest of the family it fell to his lot to take charge of the home farm after his father's death, but he proved to be a successful manager. In 1870, 1874 and 1875 he acted as salesman in a [p.413] mercantile establishment, being first employed by James & Schoonover and then by W. R. Hunter. His present property, which he purchased in 1880, amounts to 320 acres, and he has 100 acres under cultivation. Like the majority of his family he is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mrs. McIlroy's maiden name was Lavinia W. Ellis; she was born in Kentucky on the 18th of January, 1852. Her marriage with Mr. McIlroy took place in 1876, and to them has been born one child, Eunice D.