Family background
John Michael McElhone was born in Glenties, County Donegal, Ireland, in 1861, son of Daniel and Mary (or Bella?) McCloone. The original family name was McCloone but was later spelled as McElhone. He emigrated to Australia in 1883–84. In 1885 he married Bridget Toohey at Sydney. There were four daughters and three sons of the marriage. They lived at 21 Avenue Road, Glebe. He died at Glebe on 3 August 1944, aged 83 years old. His wife Bridget McElhone (nee Toohey) died on 7 January 1937, aged 77 years.
Occupation & interests
McElhone began his career as the proprietor of a horse-drawn cab, bus and livery business at Redfern. He later became a director of undertakers Wood Coffill.
Community activity
McElhone was on the board of the Catholic Club.
Local government service
The Glebe municipal election of December 1925 was an unqualified triumph for Glebe Labor which wrested control of local government for the first time. John Michael McElhone was one of the Labor representatives but did not seek a second term.
References
Information on John Michael McElhone courtesy Robert McElhone.
Hogan, Michael 2004, Local labor: a history of the Labor Party in Glebe, 1891-2003, Federation Press, Annandale, NSW
Sydney Morning Herald 28 November 1925 p. 3; 7 December 1925 p. 12
Sydney Morning Herald 4 August 1944 p. 10