My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT DAVID ELWOOD, merchant, Verona, was born in Apollo, Armstrong county, Pa., April 17, 1836. His grandfather, William Elwood, of Irish descent, was an early settler on Turtle Creek, Westmoreland county. John, son of William, and a builder by trade, married Mary Patterson, a native of Philadelphia, and settled in Apollo, where he died in 1872, at the age of seventy-seven; his widow died in 1875, at the age of seventy-five. Although his ancestors were Presbyterians, John Elwood associated with the Methodist Church. R. D. Elwood was reared in his native village, and received a common-school education. At the age of twenty he went west, and spent two years in Kansas, and, returning, ran a packet three years on the Pennsylvania canal. Sept. 16, 1861, he was enrolled in Co. I, 78th P. V., and was elected second lieutenant. Before the company was mustered into the United States service he was promoted to captain. This regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland, and among other engagements took part in the battle of Stone river. After being mustered out of service at the close of the war, Capt. Elwood became a member of the firm of Elwood Brothers, merchants at Apollo, and flour-manufacturers at Leechburg. On the dissolution of the firm, in 1872, the grain-dealing firm of Elwood & McCracken was established in Pittsburgh, known since 1880 as R. D. Elwood & Co. Capt. Elwood is also interested in the Iron City mills. He was the first president of the Pittsburgh Grain and Flour Exchange. In 1875 Capt. Elwood purchased property adjoining verona borough, in Penn township, where he has since resided. He married, in 1866, Mary Lewellyn, who was born in Apollo, daughter of John and Rebecca (Hawkins) Lewellyn, and they have three sons: Thomas Jefferson, John Franklin and Robert David. The parents are both active members of the M. E. Church.