Husband Rev. Thomas McConnell Elder 1 2
Born: 24 Mar 1826 - near New Alexandria, Westmoreland Co, PA 1 2
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Thomas Elder (1782-1855) 1 3 4
Mother: Mary McConnell (1792/1792-1881) 3 4
Marriage: 14 Sep 1848 1
Other Spouse: Mary Parker Lindsay (1826-1868) 5 - 10 Oct 1854 5
Wife Tirzah Mason 2
Born: 24 Dec 1823 2
Christened:
Died: 1851
Buried:
Children
1 M McCleod Mason Elder 5
Born: 12 Jul 1849 5
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Hannah Knox (1851- ) 5
General Notes: Husband - Rev. Thomas McConnell Elder
He taught several successful terms of school in Westmoreland and Indiana counties, Pennsylvania. He commenced the study of divinity under the late Rev. James Milligan, D. D., and finished his course in the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Allegheny City. He was licensed to preach in 1858, ordained and installed over churches in Indiana and Armstrong counties, was afterwards called to Boston, Massachusetts, and finally located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, where he resided for forty-seven years or more. He was one of the most progressive men of Armstrong County, and in 1866 founded and became first superintendent of the Pennsylvania State Soldiers Orphan School, from which he resigned in 1871. He also became part owner and editor of the "Dayton Weekly News."
After a good common school education he commenced a more advanced literary course under the tuition of the Rev. Dr. James Milligan, an old Scotchman of fine scholarship, who resided in the neighborhood. He was for some time engaged in school teaching at this period of his life. He was the first teacher of the female seminary at Northwood, Ohio, and principal of the Loyal Hanna Institute in Westmoreland County for two years. He then took a collegiate course at Geneva College, Logan County, Ohio, and finished in 1855. During the period he was in attendance at that college he exhibited something of the energy and influence which characterized him throughout his life. He spent one summer in traveling in the western, eastern and middle states, and succeeded in raising for the college an endowment of $18,000. After his course at the Ohio college, he spent four years at the theological seminary of the Reformed Presbyterian church at Allegheny City, graduating and being licensed to preach in 1858. He was ordained to the ministry May 11, 1859, previous to which time he had been regularly called to churches at Baltimore and Boston. He was then called to Rehoboth congregation in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, a charge which also embraced territory in the counties of Clarion, Indiana and Jefferson. Subsequently he received another call from Boston, one from Kossuth, Iowa, and a number from other congregations in various localities. Mr. Elder settled in Dayton about 1860. In 1862 he became principal of Dayton Union Male and Female Academy, a position which he held until 1866. In 1863 he was appointed by his church to take charge of mission schools among the freedmen at Fernandina, Florida, where he spent the summer of that year, serving also as chaplain of the 11th regt. Me. Vols., then stationed there. In 1864 he was appointed to take charge of missionary operations in Washington, District of Columbia, where he remained until the spring of 1865. During these absences from home his place in the academy was supplied by subordinates. Returning in the spring of 1865, he resigned his position as principal of the academy in 1866, to take charge as principal of the Dayton Soldiers' Orphans' School, which he opened in the building later known as the Exchange Hotel. He had labored zealously for the establishment of this institution, and now labors with equal ardor and effectiveness to insure its usefulness. During the time he was principal, buildings were erected, and the school was put on a firm and sure basis, very largely owing to his efforts. He may be called in fact the successful originator of this institution. During the second year of his connection with the school, in the fall of 1867, Mr. Elder met with a very serious accident. While watching a game of baseball among the children, he was struck with great force by a heavy bat which flew from the grasp of one of the larger boys who was striking at the ball. He was knocked senseless, and for a time it was thought could not recover from the effects of the terrific blow. Providentially his life was spared, but he had received permanent injury from the concussion. The shock was very severe on his nervous system, and he found to his sorrow that it incapacitated him in a great measure for hard and protracted study. He was thus compelled reluctantly to give up active duty as a preacher, which he had always enjoyed, and to abstain from long-continued and hard study. Shortly after this accident, in the fall of 1868, Mr. Elder met with another great misfortune-the loss of his second wife. In consequence of the combined effects of this bereavement and of the injury which he had received, he resigned the principalship of the Orphans' School, although strongly urged to remain, in 1871. After that time he resided in Dayton, leading a somewhat retired life, but giving his attention to business, and still taking a deep interest in all that pertained to the welfare of his fellow men. He was a stockholder in and a member of the board of managers of the Soldiers' Orphans' School. In 1880 he was the principal organizer of the Dayton Agricultural and Mechanical Association, and was elected its first president, which office he held for two years. Subsequently he became vice-president. He was also editor of the Dayton News, a recently established but prosperous local journal, which he ably conducted.
In his chosen high calling, the ministry, Rev. Elder was very successful, his labors being attended with the best results. He combined the advantages of broad and thorough scholarship with great native ability, and his discourses were interesting, instructive and full of force, logical and lucid. He is said to have possessed marked eloquence. The genial qualities of nature and the earnestness which were valuable in the varied labors of the minister outside of the pulpit, and with his other characteristics commanded for him the respect and esteem of the people among whom he dwelt, as well as rendered him useful to all with whom he came in contact. He was a man looked up to in the community where he was best known, and was an influence for good which was exerted in many ways, among others in allaying local strife and obviating litigation between neighbors. As a teacher Mr. Elder was quite as successful as a preacher, and he was held in most respectful remembrance by many who made the beginnings of their intellectual life under his guidance. He excelled most men in executive ability.
General Notes: Wife - Tirzah Mason
from Salem Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA