Background
Elrod was born in Coatesville, Indiana.
Elrod was born in Coatesville, Indiana.
He attended public school in Coatesville and graduated from DePauw University in 1882 and studied law.
Elrod, a Republican from Clark, South Dakota, served from 1905 to 1907. Elrod moved to Clark, Dakota Territory and practiced law, was a real estate broker, and a farmer. A successful Republican nominee, Elrod was elected Governor of South Dakota four years later.
During his tenure, he served as chairman of the building committee for the state capitol.
Elrod did not seek reelection. Following his term as governor, he practiced law and farmed near Clark, South Dakota.
Elrod died July 13, 1935 and is interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Clark, South Dakota. The town of Elrod in Clark County was named for him.
He continued the policies of his predecessor-Charles Herreid-controlling political party machinery in South Dakota.
He served as a member of the Sioux Falls Constitutional Convention in 1883, as Clark County (Dakota Territory) Attorney in 1884, as Clark Postmaster from 1885 to 1887, as State Attorney from 1887 to 1897, and as United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs Disbursing Agent from 1892 until 1900.