John Archer Elmore was an American military officer and politician. Born in Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

 to a Quaker father, Elmore nonetheless joined the Continental Army

Continental Army

The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...

 during the American Revolution

American Revolution

The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...

.

Biography

Elmore was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia

Prince Edward County, Virginia

Prince Edward County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,368. Its county seat is Farmville.-Formation and County Seats:...

 on 21 August 1762 to Archelaus Elmore and Susannah Morris. He joined the Continental Army while still a youth and served in the Virginia Line

Virginia Line

The Virginia Line was a formation within the Continental Army. The term "Virginia Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to Virginia at various times by the Continental Congress. These, together with similar contingents from the other twelve states, formed the...

 under Nathanael Greene

Nathanael Greene

Nathanael Greene was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. When the war began, Greene was a militia private, the lowest rank possible; he emerged from the war with a reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Many places in the United...

. Elmore was with Green in his tour through the Carolinas, and was present at the Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown

Siege of Yorktown

The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...

.

After the war, he settled in Laurens District, South Carolina, where he was elected to the State Legislature. In 1819, he moved to Autauga, Alabama, where he was again elected as a State Legislator and served there until his death in 1834. Autauga

Elmore County, Alabama

Elmore County is a county of the State of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General John A. Elmore. As of 2010 its population was 79,303. Its county seat is Wetumpka.This county is part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...

 was renamed Elmore County

Elmore County, Alabama

Elmore County is a county of the State of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General John A. Elmore. As of 2010 its population was 79,303. Its county seat is Wetumpka.This county is part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...

 in his honor.

Family

Elmore married Mary Ann Sarah Saxon on 1 March 1788 and they had five children. Elmore was later married to Mary Martin on 14 March 1805 with whom he had another 14 children.

• Benjamin F.
• Narcissa
• Sophia Saxon
• Charlotte Perry
• Franklin Harper
• Elizabeth S.
• Sarah Terry
• John Archer
• Morris Martin
• William
• Luther Alfred
• Henry Marshall
• Laurence Ludlow
• Physick Rush
• Winfield Scott
• Infant
• James Scott
• Albert Standhope
• Ann Harriet