OBIT: McElroy, John, 1915, Lexington, Kentucky ----------------------------------------- Contributed by: Julie Hu " johnhu@ccms.ntu.edu.tw " November 28, 1998 ----------------------------------------- Lexington Herald, July 7, 1915, p.1 "John McElroy Dies Suddenly--City Assessor, Former Sheriff, and Police Chief and Friend of St. Joseph's Passes to Reward--In Public Office for Thirty-Three Years--News of his Death Causes Gloom and Many Give Expressions of Regret" John McElroy, City Assessor, and for many years prominent in Democratic politics in Lexington and Central Kentucky, died suddenly at St. Joseph's Hospital last night at 8:20 o'clock after an illness of ten days, death, which came thirty minutes after he had been sitting at the window of his room, being due to heart trouble. Last night the hospital in which he died and made his home was under the heaviest shadow that it has ever experienced because of the close relations which had existed between the officials of the institution and Mr. McElroy for many years. Mr. McElroy was 67 years old. Though Mr. McElroy had been confined to his room for ten days, he had told his many friends who had called on him this week that he was better, though he admitted to them that he realized that he had been very ill. In conversation with his friend Monday he intimated that he realized the seriousness of his case, though he gave no sign of any expectation but that he soon would be up and about again. As late as a few minutes before 8 o'clock last night he sat at the window of his room and it was only shortly before that hour that he had received friends and appeared as well as at any time in the last dozen days. About 8 o'clock, he took a turn for the worse and Dr. Bullock, who was in the hospital, was summoned and rendered emergency aid, but McElroy soon lapsed into unconsciousness, and died at 8:20. Sisters Show Their Sorrow With him when the end came were Father Boland, of Somerset, and Father Clermont, chaplain of the hospital, and the Sisters of this institution who recited prayers for the dying. After his death, these Sisters, to whom he has been the closest friend and adviser for many years, gathered about the buildings in little groups, and each showed the sorrow under which they were bowed. Sister Euphrasia, director of the hospital since its establishment thirty-seven years ago, was too much affected last night to speak of the death of Mr. McElroy other than to say that in his death she has lost her best friend and closest business adviser, one of the most loyal friends she or the hospital ever had. Mr. McElroy was taken to his bed Saturday, June 26, but he did not think nor did his physicians, that his illness was so serious.Last week he told his friends he was much better and continued optimistic until immediately before the fatal attack. He had been much grieved over the death of Judge Mulligan and keenly disappointed at his inability to attend his friend's funeral. Sister Euphrasia would not permit the body to be taken from the hospital last night and it will remain there until the burial. The body will be prepared for burial this morning and placed in the parlor of the hospital at noon today, where it will lie in state until time for the funeral services, which probably will be held at St. Paul's Church. No funeral arrangements had been made last night. Mr. McElroy is survived by a brother Tom McElroy, who lives in Lexington, a brother Phil McElroy and two sisters, Misses Mary and Margaret McElroy, who live in Ireland. William Garland, Richard Garland, Mrs. P.J. O'Neill and Mrs. Charles McCarthy, of Lexington, and P.J. Garland, of Birmingham, Ala., are cousins. Six nephews and a niece, children of his brother Terence McElroy, who died in Somerset in February 1914, also are in Lexington. He has many relatives in Richmond and Paris. Mr. McElroy had been in public office, with the exception of a few years, since his appointment to the fire department in 1882. Soon after his appointment to the fire fighters of the city he was transferred to the Police Department. For seven or eight years he was special officer at the Phoenix Hotel, until 1894, when he was appointed Chief of Police, in which capacity he served until 1897, when he went to the sheriff's office as deputy under Sheriff Henry Bosworth. He was first deputy under Sheriff J. Tavis Wilkerson for four years, and succeeded his chief as high sheriff of Fayette County, serving from 1906 to 1910. Soon after the completion of his term as Sheriff, he was appointed city assessor by the old council to succeed Assessor John F. Doyle, who had died in office. In 1911 he was the nominee of the Democratic party to succeed himself, and was elected, beginning his own full term in January 1913, and would have completed his term of office at the end of this year. Office Will be Closed Mayor Cassidy said last night that Mr. McElroy's office would be closed until after the funeral. He was deeply moved when he learned of the death of Mr. McElroy. "The city has lost a faithful official" said the chief executive, "one who has never shirked or neglected his duty. But the greater loss to the city is the friend that every citizen has lost, one who was generous to a fault, if such could be so. I know I express the sentiment of every employee of the city when I say that none could have been taken who will be missed more, for he was a friend of every man, woman, and child." News of his death spread over the city rapidly last night and cast a gloom over the crowds on the streets. Not a man heard the news but know Mr.McElroy, and each said he had lost a friend who was very near. Possibly not a man in the city was more widely known and none had fewer enemies. His long service as a public official had given him opportunity to extend his acquaintance to all sections of Central Kentucky, and over the state, and everywhere he was recognized as an uncompromising Democrat, but an honest and lovable foe, even in the hardest political campaign. Mother House Informed News of his death was telegraphed to the Mother House of the Sisters of Charity of the United States, where he was just as popular, because of his close connection with and his benefactions to St. Joseph's Hospital, as he was with the sisters at the local institution. He had made his home at the hospital since 1901. He was never married. Mr. McElroy came to Lexington in 1874 when just a boy from his home County, Armagh, Newtown, Hamilton, Ireland, and made his home with his cousin, Richard Garland, Sr., and was employed with Mr. Garland in the grocery busines. Soon after his arrival he was followed to this country by his brothers, Pat, Terrence and Tom, all of whom have lived in Lexington. Tom came to Lexington only about six years ago and has lived here since that time. Pat McElroy died in Lexington about eight years ago, and Terence died at Somerset in February 1914. He was a staunch and loyal Catholic and had been an attendant at St. Paul's Church, this city, since he came to Lexington to live, and possibly because of his many acts of friendship, even to strangers who appealed to him, and his prodigal benefactions and contributions to the St. Joseph's Hospital, was the most widely known Catholic layman in Kentucky, and the best loved. After the news of his death last night had spread through the business section of the city, friends hurried to the hospital to learn of the details of his sudden passing, and on every lip were words of praise for him, each newcomer reciting some little incident characteristic of him. Each one spoke of his prodigal generosity. That and his staunch loyalty to the Democratic party, which had honored him on more than one occasion, are the characteristics by which he will be most tenderly remembered by his friends and associates. Members of the Knights of Columbus will meet at the hall tonight at 8 o'clock. The presence of all members is requested by John J. Luby, Grand Knight. The death of Mr. McElroy will be the subject of appropriate resolutions and arrangements will be made to attend the funeral." ============================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons.Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent.