The History of Hendricks County (Chicago: Interstate Publishing, 1885)--Clay Township, page 553
James F. Elrod was born in North Carolina, Aug. 29, 1824, a son of Joseph and Catherine Elrod, the former born in 1806 and the latter in 1810. In 1834 Joseph Elrod and his family, and John Gambold and George Fansler and their families left North Carolina to seek homes in the wilds of Indiana, and after a journey of six weeks arrived in New Garden, ten miles north of Richmond, Wayne County. The father lived but two years after his settlement in the new country, and after his death, in 1836, the mother moved to Hendricks County with her family, and settled on forty acres of leased land in Franklin Township. She died in Coatesville, Sept. 10, 1877. The family consisted of seven children, four of whom are living--Jesse F., Barbara Ann, Charles and Joseph. Jesse F. Elrod was twelve years of age when he came to Hendricks County. He remained with his mother till manhood, and in connection with farming was engaged in milling several years. In 1863 he bought the farm where he now lives, on section 31, Clay Township, adjoining the village of Coatesville, which contains 108 acres of choice land, and is one of the pleasantest homes in Clay Township. He was married to Lydia Pursell, a native of Marion County, Ind., born June 8, 1834, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Strong) Pursell. The former lives at Tuscola, Ill., but the latter has been dead many years. Mrs. Elrod died Sept. 28, 1884, leaving her husband and children to mourn the loss of a true and affectionate wife and mother. The children are four in number--Samuel H., Charles W., William F. and Mary A.