Joseph P. Elton
Joseph P. Elton, superintendent of the Ohio State Soldiers and Sailors Orphans' Home at Xenia, was born in the vicinity of Hillsboro, county seat of Highland county, Ohio, January 17, 1864, son of George S. and Mary M. (Patton) Elton, the latter of whom, a native of that same county, is still living, now a resident of New Vienna, in the neighboring county of Clinton.
George S. Elton was born in the state of New Jersey and was but eight years of age when he came to Ohio with his parents, the family settling in the neighborhood of Hillsboro, in Highland county. There he grew to manhood and after his marriage established his home there. He was a blacksmith and continued engaged in that business until his retirement. His death occurred there in 1913, he then being past eighty-two years of age. His widow, now a resident of New Vienna, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was her husband. George S. Elton and wife were the parents of ten children, five of whom are now deceased, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Charles Elton, who is engaged in the hotel business at New Vienna, and three sisters, Sallie, wife of Charles Ridgeway, of Hillsboro; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Saunders, a farmer of Highland county, and Addie, who is living with her mother at New Vienna.
Joseph P. Elton received a common-school education and was early trained, under the direction of his father, to the trade of blacksmith. In 1897 he was appointed deputy probate clerk of Highland county, under Judge O. H. Hughes, and served in that capacity until his election three years later to the ofifice of sheriff of that county, where he served two terms. In 1904 he became engaged in the hardware business at Hillsboro and was thus engaged for eighteen months, at the end of which time he turned his attention to the steam-laundry business and was thus engaged until his election to the office of mayor of Hillsboro, which office he held for something more than a year, or until his appointment, in May, 1909, to the important position of superintendent of the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home at Xenia. Superintendent Elston occupied that position until July, 1916, when his successor was appointed, but a year later, in July, 1917, he was recalled to the post and is again serving as superintendent. Superintendent Elton is a Democrat and has served as a member of the Democratic state central committee.
On December 28, 1899, Joseph P. Elton was united in marriage to Margaret McLaren, who also was born in Highland county, daughter of Thomas and Margaret McLaren, both of whom are still living.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918