William Alexander McElhone

  General Notes:

From the Middletown NY paper Friday July 2 1915. Front page. "MAN WHO STARTED WAR GONE" "Milk Dealer First to Cut Prices Sells Out" "Mortgage Is Left Behind" "McElhone's Transactions Being Investigated by the Purchaser" Goshen, July 2.- On Tuesday, D. B. Ryerson & Son, of this village, who conduct a meat market and dairy, made arrangements to purchase from W. J. McElhone, who occupied the Holbert farm near Goshen, 12 cows and a bull. McElhone is the man who created the milk war in Middletown recently, when he started selling milk in that city at six cents per quart forcing other dealers to reduce their prices from eight cents to seven. The deal for the purchase of the cows was consummated when Daniel Ryerson Jr., gave McElhone a check for $392, by inadvertence the amount was written in the body of the check as "three ninety two," the work "hundred" being omitted. McElhone took the check to the Goshen National Bank, where because of the irregularity in making it out, Cashier Wells declined to pay it. McElhone then went to Ryerson's market, where D. B. Reyerson, Sr., gave him $120 cash and a check for the balance. This second check was cashed at the bank. Wednesday Mr. Ryerson went to the farm for the cattle, and found that McElhone and his wife had gone away. A son of the family was there and told Mr. Ryerson that he could not take the cows because there was a mortgage against them. Mr. Ryerson returned to twon and endeavored to learn something about the mortgage but failling to find a record of it, returned to the place and got the cows Thursday morning. After his return to Goshen he learned that there was a chattel mortgage, said to amount to $1,200, held by Birdsy Young of Bullville. Mr. Ryerson has taken the matter up with his attorney. Mr. McElhone is absent from the farm where he had lived since about April 1, and it is not known where he has gone. 1900 Census Fallsburgh Township, Sullivan Co NY. Jun 23, 1900 Enum Dist 85 Sheet 13, line 48. MacElhone, Wm H W M Dec 1866 33 M 15 - - NY NY NY - - - Creamery Manager - - Y Y Y R - H ------------------ Emma W W F May 1868 32 M 15 3 3 NY NY NY - - - - Y Y Y ------------------ Franklin S W M Jan 1887 13 S - - - NY NY NY - - - At School Y Y Y ------------------ Lillie D W F 1889 11 S At School ------------------ Harry S W M 1890 9 S At School

William married Emma Jane Mulford, daughter of James Garrison (Drake) Mulford and Martha Jane Hardenbergh, on 23 May 1885 in Modena Ulster, New York. (Emma Jane Mulford was born on 6 May 1868 and died on 28 May 1941 in Binghamton, Boone, New York.)