John F. McElhenny

John F. McElhenny, Captain, Company C 37th Virginia Infantry

Captain McElhenny was from Russell County, apparently from Lebanon Virginia. Records at the Library of Virginia list him as the prior owner of the Lucy Fickle house located on Main Street Lebanon Virginia. According to the 1937 survey the frame house built in 1850 passed from Captain McElhenny to Alice Thurman then to Elizabeth Shoemaker and finally to Lucy Fickle. The house was a millinery store during the ownership of Thurman and Shoemaker. This survey, dated November 11, 1937 states that a "local veterans group" was named after Captain McElhenny. John F. McElhenny is listed on the muster roll of Company C of the 37th Virginia Infantry with an enlistment date of May 10, 1861. I could not find any pension information on Captain McElhenny. The only other piece of information I have been able to find is dated 31 August 1896. On this date McElhenny, J. F. was admitted to the Robert E. Lee Camp Confederate Soldiers Home. His age at admission was 80 years and his residence at time of admission was Russell County Virginia. The record also shows that he was discharged on September 3, 1896. Order of admission was revoked by a "Capt. M." for being of "unsound mind" At this point Captain McElhenny seems to disappear from official records and I have been unable to find any further information.
Captain McElhenny being 80 years old in 1896 puts the year of his birth at 1816 and his age at time of enlistment at approximately 45 years.

Thanks to Janice Busic here is an additional bit of information :
According to the 1860 census, John Draper of Lebanon Virginia, whose occupation is listed as Hotel Keeper had in his "household" one John F. McElhenny, occupation Lawyer.

Taking this information into consideration it would appear that Captain McElhenny may not be the original builder of the Fickle house (built 1850). The information seems to indicate that Captain McElhenny was living with John Draper and may not have obtained ownership of the house until after 1860 and possibly not until after the War. One other possibility to consider is that Captain McElhenny was a guest at Mr. Drapers hotel during the time of the census due to repairs or renovations being conducted on his home. Either way, it is evident that Captain McElhenny was a lawyer and lived in Lebanon prior to the War.