John was a busy man with several careers, many of which occurredconcur rently.
Residences & events:
5/20/1813 Franklin Co, OH. He joined the Army as 3rd Lt of the 26thU S Inf and advertised in the Freeman's Chronicle at Columbus fordeserte rs.
8/15/1814 He was in the Battle of Ft Erie and "brevetted forconspicio us bravery."
1818 He was made Col in the Ohio militia, serving until 1820. He wasa 2 nd Lt when he resigned from the Regular Army and a brevet colonel.
1818 Following his discharge from the army he was elected Ohio statel ibrarian for the next 2 years.
From local history:
"The sheriffs were "'constitutional" officers, from the first, andwere , like the governors and legislators, elected by the people for aterm o f two years. The incumbents have been
Elected....1819-21, John McIlvain....1827-29, John Mcllvain"
5/1822 He was made adjutant general of Ohio under Gov Tribble.
8/22/1822 He was among the promoters of a "grand squirrel hunt" torid t he county of the large number threatening the crops.
1829 Piqua, OH. John was appointed US Indian agent.
Columbus, OH where he was the first proprietor of a tavern in thattown .
1830 He was named to one of the positions of clerk of the US Courtand m aintained that position until 1858.
1831-2 He "erected a steam saw mill at the head of the canal whereHun ter's warehouse afterward stood."
Franklinton, Franklin Co, OH. Local history recorded:
"The first tavern was kept by Volney Payne in a two-story brick on thel ot afterward occupied by the Johnston building, Volney Payne, JohnColl ett, John McIlvain, Robert Russell and James Robinson,respectively, co nducted this house until 1844."
1832 He helped lay out lots in a 2 acre tract near the Canal whichbec ame known as McElvain's Additions. One of the first lots sold wasto B ishop Charles Petit McIlvaine, former chaplain to West Point.
1834 In the directory of professional and business men of Columbus,he w as listed as Indian agent.
1840 Columbus Wd 3, Franklin Co, OH. At census time he lived justdow n the road from brothers Joseph and William as well as JosephHunter. L isted as McElvain, he was 40-50 years old and he had alarge family: 1 m ale aged 5-10, 1 at 15-20, 3 were 20-30, 1 femaleat 5-10, 3 were 15-20 , 1 was 20-30, and 1 at 40-50.
1840-1841 He served as one of the directors of the Ohio penitentiary.
He had command of the Infantry as one of two marshalls to lead thepara de at the formal opening of the new canal. Among those in theparade w ere Capt Joseph McElvain's troop of dragoons, Capt O'Hara'sColumbus Ar tillery , and Gov Warren and staff.
Columbus history recorded the following about him:
"Colonel John McElvain prominent in the early history of Columbus,perf ormed a very gallant part in the defense of Fort Erie against anattack b y the British on August 15, 1814. He was twice apresidential elector o n the Jackson ticket..."
And from records of the US government:
To the Senate of the United States:
I nominate to the Senate John McElvain, of Ohio, to be Indian agent atP iqua, in said State (Ohio), in place of James McElvain, whosenominatio n was confirmed by the Senate on the 14th instant, and bymistake the n ame of James was used instead of John.
ANDREW JACKSON.
February 23d, 1831.
Washington, February--, 1831.
The messages were read.
The Senate proceeded, by unanimous consent, to consider the messagenom inating John McElvain, of Ohio, to be Indian agent; and
Resolved, That they do advise and consent to the appointment of JohnMc Elvain, agreeably to the nomination.
Journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate of the UnitedStates o f America, 1841-1845 WEDNESDAY, February 15, 1843.
Mr. Berrien, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom wasreferred, o n the 5th of January last, the nomination of JohnMcElvain, reported.
