ROBERT McELHENEY, merchant, Ridgeway, Hardin County, Ohio, was born in Ireland December 29, between 1842 and 1846. (We have documents stating correct date but different years.) According to an historical biographical sketch from a Hardin County History Book published around the mid 1880s, he is a son of James and Annie McElheney, who lived and died in or around Kinnelargy, Mevagh Parish, County Donegal, Ireland, the former departing this life in 1859, the latter in 1875. We believe that he had a twin brother named James or possibly William who died at the age of about 19.
We have evidence that he arrived in the United States around 1864 and was naturalized in Ohio (Hardin County) in 1870. On his naturalization certificate, a man by the name of James W. Culbertson of Ireland is listed as a witness. Ten years earlier in 1860, Culbertson naturalization certificate is witnessed by an Isaac McElhenny of Ireland. We have no evidence that Isaac and Robert are related but the evidence is too strong to ignore. Further, Robert is listed in the 1870 U.S. census living with James Culbertson's family as a farm labourer. He died in Ohio in Ridgeway Ohio in 1934.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 2017 (circa) | |
| Date of Death | 1st Jan 1934 | |
| Townland born | Kinnelargy | |
