My Genealogy Hound

Frank M. Elsey, stock dealer and shipper, was born in Maries County, Mo., November 14, 1842, and is a son of John and Rachel (Rowden) Elsey, natives of Tennessee. In 1840 the parents located in Maries County, Mo., where they reared their children, and the gather engaged in farming and stock raising until his death in 1862. Our subject grew to manhood in his native county, and in 1864 enlisted in the Forty-eighth Missouri Infantry, United States Army, in which he served until the close of the war. He served most of the time on detached duty, and participated in the battle of Nashville. After the war he returned to Maries County, but in 1867 came to Ozark, Ark. He at first farmed a year, and then followed merchandising several years. In 1873 he was appointed sheriff, which office he held two terms, being re-appointed in 1878. He has also served the town of Ozark for one term as mayor. Mr. Elsey has made two trips with his family to California, and spent one winter on the coast. In 1873 he established his present stock business in partnership with his brother. Their ranch is in this county, and is located south of the Arkansas River. They are extensive cattle dealers, and year handled 1,000 head of cattle. Mr. Elsey was married in Ozark June 2, 1867, to Mary A. Berry, daughter of Col. T. D. Berry [see sketch]. Mrs. Elsey was reared and educated in this county, and is the mother of two daughters: Eva, now attending college at McMillan, Tenn., and Lena, aged eleven. Mrs. Elsey is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Elsey is a Republican in politics, although after the war for several years he was a Democrat.