Rhuhanna McElroy

Records indicate that Emma McElroy united in marriage with Elias Shoultes (1835-1862). Elias Shoultes was born in 1835 at the settlement of Newark (Tioga County), New York. He was the son of Jacob Ira Shoultes (1798-1856) and Elizabeth Isabell Leip (1798-1872) who settled this region of New York coming from Albany County in 1825. He was the grandson of Johan Jacob Scholtes (1761-1852), a Revolutionary War soldier, and Mariah Fischer (1759-1839). Siblings included Dason G. (1820-1820), Peter Adam (1821-1856), Emaline (1825-1899), Ira Jacob (1827-1905), William Henry (1830-1893), twin brother Elijah (1835-1912), Seneca (1836-????), George Jacob (1839-1904), and Seymour Lyman (1841-1915). It is believed that Elias moved to Wisconsin with his brother Seymour in the late 1850s.

Elias and Emma Shoultes established a farm near the village of Fountain Prairie, Wisconsin. There were two sons born to them; Seymour (1860-1924) and Charles (????-1892?). It is not known if family contact with his brother Seymour (1841-1915) was maintained during this period.

Elias Shoultes enlisted in Company I, 18th Wisconsin Militia during the Civil War. He was furloughed in 1862 with disease and did not recover.

Elias Shoultes died on October 20, 1862 of "consumption" as a result of his enlistment as a soldier. He was 27 years old at the time of his death and is buried at Fountain Prairie, Wisconsin according to old family records.

An interesting story follows his death. Emma McElroy, for whatever reason, was unable to care for her sons after the death of Elias. According to family stories, she had them placed in an orphanage where they remained until reaching the age of adulthood. It is believed that she remarried, but did not claim her sons. Both Seymour (1860-1924) and Charles (????-1892?) made their way west during the 1880s and settled in the Washington Territory near the settlement of Seattle. When Congress passed a pension allowance for the widows of Civil War veterans, Emma tried to contact them to verify her claim. According to family stories, Seymour refused to acknowledge his mother and her claim.

Emma McElroy Shoultes died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin around the year 1892 at the age of 55 years. The date of her death is recorded within the Shoultes descendants still living in Washington State, but no details concerning her life or burial place are known at the time of this writing.