Elijah Eltzroth

Elijah Eltzroth, one of the oldest living settlers of Goshen, was born in Warren county, O., July 13, 1817. His parents, Valentine and Patience Elizabeth were natives of Maryland and New Jersey respectively. At the age of seventeen years Elijah moved to Goshen, Clermont county, O., and there learned the cabinet trade. In 1835 he went to Alton, Ill., worked there for some time, revisited his Ohio home, and in 1838 returned to Illinois, taking up his residence at Lafayette. Here he carried on the cabinet trade after he married and conducted the village hotel for about live years—from '44 until '49. At that time he had many to entertain, and at prices that would startle the modern hotel man. Meals 12 1/2 cents, lodging 12 1/2 cents, and livery equally cheap. In 1850 he purchased the 160 acres on which he now resides at $2.25 for one eighty acres, and $3.50 for the other eighty acres. This wild land he brought to the highest state of cultivation. In 1843 he married Miss Betsy M., daughter of Wm. A. Reed, of Knox county. Of their nine children, six are living, namely: Fanny, Forrest, Arthur, Clara, George and Elwood. He and Mrs. Eltzroth were originally members of the Congregational church of Lafayette, but since its disorganization they have not united with airy other denomination. Up to 1855 Mr. Eltzroth voted with the democracy, but since that time has supported the republicans in all national affairs. Connected with this family there is the name of one other pioneer of the county— Rachel (Eltzroth) Coburn, who settled here in 1839, and in 1S40 located at Princeville.