The Elwood family is descended from Thomas Elwood, the Quaker friend of the poet Milton. Some of his descendants have been residents of Montgomery county, New York, since a date prior to 1750. The first of the family in the county was also the first in the country. Richard Elwood, immigrant ancestor, was born in England and came to America in 1748. He settled in Montgomery county on a farm near St. Johnsville. This farm is now owned by Amos Klock, a kinsman. He brought the tract under cultivation and in 1750 built the "Stone House" which is still standing in a fair state of preservation. This house was used as a fort or refuge for the settlers during the Indian wars and during the revolution, in which one of the sons of Richard bore a soldier's part. The old "Stone House" is one of the interesting old landmarks of the section and a point of interest to sightseers in the Valley.
(II) Peter, son of Richard Elwood, was born in the "Stone House" near St. Johnsville, New York, in 1754, died in 1831. His death was tragic. Losing his way, in a blinding storm, one cold night in winter, he perished from the cold and exposure. When found his body was lifeless. He served in the war of the revolution, as shown by the records of the war department at Washington, D. C., which certified that "Peter Elwood" served as a private in Captain Jacob Devendorf's company, Colonel Samuel Clyde's regiment, New York Militia, organized in Tryon county, in the revolutionary war." His name appears on the receipt roll dated at Canajoharie, September 25, 1748, showing he received a credit for twelve shillings and eight pence in payment for services. The credit is signed by the treasurer of the state of New York. Peter Elwood married Peggy Nellis, and had Daniel, Moses, Henry, David, see forward; Nancy and Sally.
(III) David, son of Peter and Peggy (Nellis) Elwood, was born near St. Johnsville, Montgomery county, New York, in 1797, died at Starkville, Herkimer county, New York, in 1859. He was a farmer and owned his own farm. He married Nancy Baum, who bore him six children:
- Daniel, born in 1814, married Peggy A. Tingue; they died in the town of Mohawk, very old.
- Moses, a farmer, married Christina Springer, of Herkimer county, and died at Starkville.
- Nancy, married Abram Fox, a farmer; they reared a large family, and died near Starkville, at advanced ages.
- Henry D., see forward.
- David, who married twice; his first wife died in middle life; his second was Martha Springer, who survives him; she lives at Starkville. David died at the age of sixty.
- Sally, became the wife of William G. Devendorf, of Montgomery county; where they spent their lives; they had a daughter Alice; who met a tragic death by fire a few years after marriage.
(IV) Henry D., fourth child of David and Nancy (Baum) Elwood, was born April 13, 1822, died January 11, 1902. He was reared on the farm in Herkimer county to which his parents removed and he continued a tiller of the soil all his days. He was an energetic, capable man and prospered in his chosen calling. He married, February 14, 1847, Eve Ann Klock, born in Montgomery county, near St. Johnsville, September 12, 1824, died October 26, 1903, surviving her husband nearly two years. She was the daughter of John B. Klock, a native of Montgomery county, as was her mother who was a Timerman. Mr. and Mrs. Klock had nine children, namely:
- Simon;
- Solomon;
- David, married Betsey Snell, resided at Fords Bush and reared a family;
- Reuben, married Barbara Bellinger and had issue;
- Hiram, married Almira Fox and had sons, Frank and Bert, they lived on the old Klock homestead;
- Lena, married Sanford W. Lee and died in Ohio;
- Peggy, never married;
- Eve A., wife of Henry D. Elwood;
- Nancy, married Charles P. Walrath, a merchant of Oneida, New York.
Henry D. and Eve Ann (Klock) Elwood were the parents of two children:
- Harriet, born November 14, 1847, died at the home of her brother in Florida, Montgomery county, December 7, 1890, unmarried.
- Emery, see forward.
(V) Emery, only son of Henry D. and Eve Ann (Klock) Elwood, was born in Minden, Montgomery county, New York, August 19, 1850. When he was seventeen his parents removed to the town of Florida, Montgomery county, where they purchased the farm known as the "Old John Van Der Veer farm," just outside the present limits of the city of Amsterdam. Here Mr. Elwood has always lived from that time. He inherited the farm and has kept it in a good state of cultivation. He takes an active interest in affairs of his town and acted the part of a good citizen. He is a successful man, and enjoys the comforts resulting from a life of earnest endeavor. He was made a Mason, March 15, 1892, and is past master of Artisan Lodge, No. 84, Free and Accepted Masons, and past high priest of Amsterdam Chapter, No. 81, Royal Arch Masons. In politics he is a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Elwood was a member of the Dutch Reformed church. Mr. Elwood married, in Florida, December 15, 1880, Catherine Lingenfelter, born in Florida, August 6, 1846, and there died May 4, 1906. She was the daughter of James and Margaret (Putman) Lingenfelter, of Tribes Hill, Montgomery county, where James Sr., the father of James, Jr., was an early settler. The family have been prominent for many years in different parts of Montgomery county. Emery and Catherine (Lingenfelter) Elwood were the parents of one son, Walter, born on the homestead farm of his parents near Amsterdam, April 13, 1886. He graduated from the Amsterdam high school, then entered Cornell University, where he was graduated from the classical department, A.B., class of 1908. The same year he was appointed a teacher by the United States government and assigned to duty in the Philippines. He is now superintendent of a district with seventeen teachers and nine hundred pupils under his supervision. His letters to the home press giving Philippine experiences and history show him to possess marked literary ability. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.