James M. Elson was born November 6, 1838, in West La Fayette, Coshocton County, Ohio and spent his first fourteen years there. He was the fourth of nine children.
In 1852 the family moved first to Benton County then to Linn County, Iowa and established a farm.
At the age of 21, Elson left the family farm and joined the Ninth Iowa Infantry with an older brother, Jeremiah.
In 1864, while on leave, he married Margaret Anderson, who died in 1876.
After the war (1869) the Elsons and their four children made their home in Shellsburg operating a dry goods store.
He married his second wife, Addie C. Lewis, in 1880.
In 1885 he accepted the position of Post Master of Shellsburg.
In 1893 he was elected sheriff of Benton County on the Republican ticket and
moved to Vinton. He served only a few months prior to his death, March 26, 1894.
The Vinton Eagle newspaper stated, "Truly a good man has gone. Elson
is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Shellsburg, Iowa."