Jasper County >> 1894 Index
Grundy County
Marshall County

Portrait and Biographical Records of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1894.

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Unless noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

ALEXANDER ELLIOTT

This name will be at once recognized as that of the leading liveryman of Reinbeck, where he has one of the best equipped stables in Grundy County . He is a native of Canada , his birth having occurred in the province of Quebec , March 9, 1844 . His parents, John and Jane (Bothwell) Elliott, were natives of Ireland , while the paternal grandparents of our subject, Jeremiah and Anna (Trotter) Elliott, hailed from Ireland , where they were farmers.

Jeremiah and Anna Elliott lived in the Emerald Isle until 1826, when they disposed of their property there and emigrated with their family to Quebec , Canada , where the grandfather purchased a farm of over two hundred acres. They had seven sons and three daughters, of whom Rebecca, who was the eldest, married John Leonard and died in Ireland . Next in order of birth were George, Arthur, William and Alexander, who are deceased, and Jane who is living in Iowa with her son John Bothwell. Jeremiah, the seventh child, is deceased; Anna is the wife of Edward Bothwell and resides in Canada . John is the father of our subject, and Trotter makes his home in the Dominion. The grandparents were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and came of very wealthy parents in the northern part of Ireland .

John Elliott, the father of our subject, was born in the Emerald isle in 1819, and remained under the parental roof until reaching his nineteenth year, when he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for five years. In the meantime having emigrated to Canada , he later purchased fifty acres of timber land, which he cleared and improved and resided upon until coming to Iowa , about 1870. He was given very poor advantages for obtaining an education, and in that early day the people joined together in order to hire a teacher.

The parents of our subject were married in Canada , the mother being a daughter of Alexander and Rebecca ( Duncan ) Bothwell. She was also a native of Ireland , and was six years of age when brought to America by her parents. They were farmers, and respected members of the Presbyterian Church. The parental family included the following named children: Alexander, Anna (Mrs. Monroe McKenzie), Jerry, William B., Rebecca (wife of P. H. Selder), Arthur and John C.

In 1867, when removing to this state, John Elliott located upon one hundred and twenty acres of land in Grundy County , his sons aiding in the purchase and improvement of the farm while he worked at his trade. He now owns forty acres of land in Lincoln Township , where for several years he has led a retired life. With his wife he is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Alexander Elliott, of this sketch, received his schooling in Canada , and at the early age of fifteen years began in the world for himself, at which time he left home and resided with an uncle. That gentleman being a farmer, young Elliott was reared to farm pursuits, which calling he followed for many years. While residing in Canada he was married to Miss Anna, daughter of James and Matilda Patrick, and to them have been born three children: Jennie, who is the wife of Bland Ballard, and has one son, Douglas; John, who is in business with his father, and Hattie.

After his marriage, Mr. Elliott of this sketch received as a gift from his uncle a fine farm, to which he added until he owned one hundred and fifty acres. There he made his home until 1883, when he disposed of his property, and coming to the States, located in Grundy County , where he became the possessor of two hundred acres of land, which he brought to a fine state of improvement. This he lived upon until 1892, the date of his advent into Reinbeck, where he purchased his present business, owning one of the finest livery stables in the section. His stables are well supplied with good horses and conveyances, and Mr. Elliott has the patronage of the prominent people throughout the county. With his wife he is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and at all times he is a strong supporter of the Republican party.

ARTHUR ELLIOTT

There are few men of the present day more worthy of honorable mention, or whose history affords a better example of what may be accomplished by perseverance and strict integrity than the subject of this sketch. He is now one of the prominent farmers in Black Hawk Township , Grundy County , and has a fine estate of two hundred acres located on section 18.

Born July 19, 1840 , in Quebec , Canada , our subject is a son of Arthur and Eleanor (Bothwell) Elliott. His grandfather bore the name of Jeremiah Elliott, and was a native of Ireland . The parents of our subject were born near Enniskillen , Ireland , where they were reared and married. The father was a farmer in his native land, and there two of his children were born. He was the first of the family to emigrate to America , and he chose for his first home the province of Quebec , where he purchased eighty acres of a partly improved farm.

Arthur Elliott, Sr., made his home in the above place until 1878, in which year he came to the United States , and purchased a quarter- section of land in Lincoln Township , Grundy County . There he was residing when his death occurred, about a twelvemonth later. His wife, who, still survives him, is a very active old lady, and has reached the age of seventy-eight years. To them was born a large family of children, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. Those who are now deceased are: Catherine, Ellen and Edward. The living are: Anna, Jeremiah, our subject, Hugh (whose sketch will be found in another place in this Record), Rebecca, Sandy B. (who is also represented in this work), Margaret, Eliza, John and James. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics the father was a true Republican.

Arthur Elliott of this sketch began at the age of eighteen years to make his own way in the world, and coming to the United States , made his way to Minnesota , where his first employment was working out on farms by the month. He was thus engaged until reaching his twenty-fifth year, at which time he was married and worked property of his own. The lady who became his wife was Miss Mary, daughter of William and Eleanor ( Taylor ) Dean. Mrs. Elliott was born near Belvidere , Ill. , and later was taken by her parents to Ogle County , the same state, where she received her education and was reared to womanhood. Her parents were natives of Ireland , and were farmers after coming to America .

To Mr. and Mrs. Elliott was born a family of nine children: William A., Elsworth, Herbert, James, Claud and Maud (twins), Mary, Edward and Hattie. Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Elliott came to Iowa and located on the farm which the former purchased, and which comprised eighty acres. It now forms a portion of his present fine estate of two hundred acres, but which at the time it came into his possession was raw prairie land. Through industry and good management he has accumulated a valuable property, and ranks among the well-to-do agriculturists of this township. A Republican in politics, Mr. Elliott is not an aspirant for office, although he has, at the request of his fellow-citizens, accepted numerous local positions of trust. Mrs. Elliott departed this life at her home on the 13th of October, 1893 , mourned by a large circle of friends.

HENRY B. ELLIOTT

This gentleman is the owner and occupant of a productive tract of land on section 20, Fairfield Township , Grundy County , which comprises a quarter-section and is so managed as to bring forth abundant crops of excellent quality. Our subject comes of a good family, being the son of Robert and Sarah C. (Goe) Elliott, natives of Pennsylvania.

Grandfather Henry B. Goe was born in Pennsylvania , and when coming to Iowa in an early day entered three hundred and sixty acres of land from the Government, which prior to his death was given to his daughter, the mother of our subject. Henry B., of this sketch, was one in a family of ten children and was a twin of Mary E. Of that large family only one is deceased, Lyda E., and the living, in addition to those already named, are: James R., Kate C., George, Martha O., Frank, Charlie and Lawrence. The mother of this family was the daughter of Henry B. and Catherine C. (Shotwell) Goe, wealthy residents of Pennsylvania . She is of Scotch- Irish descent, and is a devoted member of the Christian Church.

The parents of our subject are still living, and make their home on a fine farm in Fayette County , Pa. The elder Mr. Elliott has been very successful in life and has accumulated a handsome property. He in earlier years always took an active interest in political issues, voting with the Republican party. He was very influential in his township, and for many years held the office of Justice of the Peace. Religiously he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Henry B. Elliott, of this sketch, remained under the parental roof, aiding his father in carrying on the home place, until 1880, when he decided to try his fortune in Iowa , and on coming hither located on a quarter-section of land which was the gift of his mother, and here he still resides. He has lost no opportunity for improving the estate or of contributing to the general welfare of the community, who hold him in high esteem, and is thus classed among the pre-eminently successful agriculturists of Fairfield Township .

In the fall of 1883 Mr. Elliott returned to Pennsylvania , and in Fayette County was united in marriage with Miss Eva M., daughter of John M. and Elizabeth B. ( Baldwin ) Barker, also natives of the Keystone State . Mrs. Elliott is a lady of fine education, having spent seven years at the female college located in Pittsburgh , Pa. By her union with our subject she has become the mother of one child, a son, who bears the name of Robert M.

Mr. and Mrs. Elliott manifest a deep interest in the Christian Church, of which they are members, and to which they are liberal contributors. In social matters Mr. Elliott is connected with the Iowa Legion of Honor and the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Cedar Falls.

HUGH ELLIOTT

For many years, or since his location in Grundy County , Iowa , the reputation Mr. Elliott has enjoyed has been not only that of a substantial and progressive farmer and stock-raiser, but that of an intelligent and thoroughly posted man in all public affairs. This part of Iowa has proved a mine of wealth to thousands of industrious and earnest farmers, who have come hither from other states and foreign countries, and by dint of hard work and enterprise have developed the resources which nature so liberally provided. At least so it has to Mr. Elliott, who resides on section 35, Lincoln Township , and who is one of the prominent farmers of that part of the county.

Our subject was born in the province of Quebec , Canada , in 1840, and is the son of Arthur and Eleanor (Bothwell) Elliott (see sketch of Arthur Elliott). He was reared on his father's farm in Canada and secured an ordinary education in the district schools of the neighborhood. From the time he reached that period of life when his physical strength was sufficient to enable him to wield the implements of husbandry and guide the plow, he began to assist on the farm. In his sketch is strikingly illustrated the force of well directed energy, steadfast purpose and never ceasing effort for the accomplishment of noble ends, and the successful overthrow of those obstacles which beset the progress of every man who, unaided and alone, starts out to battle with life's stern realities.

When twenty-two years of age, young Elliott came to the United States and located in Ogle County , Ill. , where he began working as a farm hand. He farmed on rented land for two years, and then came to Iowa , where after renting for a few years he bought one hundred and twenty acres. As the years passed along, he added to the original tract until he is now the owner of two hundred acres of excellent land, and his buildings are all in first-class condition. He thoroughly understands every detail of farm life, and nothing about his place is allowed to go to waste.

After residing for some time in the United States , our subject returned to Canada to marry Miss Anna M. Hair, daughter of Bartholomew Hair, who had been a resident of that country for some time. To this marriage were born four interesting children: Frank, Hugh B., Edward A. and Lesley. Mr. Elliott is a Republican in politics. He has ever been public- spirited and progressive, and no worthy movement is allowed to fail through negligence on his part. Mrs. Elliott is a lady of more than ordinary mind and is a worthy member of the Episcopal Church.

JERRY ELLIOTT, an enterprising and highly respected farmer of Lincoln Township , residing on section 23, is numbered among the early settlers of Grundy County , the growth and development of which he has largely witnesses. He has also borne his part in the work of public improvement and advancement, and has long been recognized as one of the valiant citizens of the community. The record of his life is as follows: He was born in the province of Quebec , Canada , in 1848, and is a son of John and Jane (Bothwell) Elliott.

Upon his father's farm, in the land of his birth, Mr. Elliott was reared to manhood, and during his youth he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for some time. His education was acquired in the Canadian public schools, which he attended through the winter season, while in the summer months he worked in the fields. He accompanied his parents to this country about 1870, the family locating in Grundy County , Iowa , where, in connection with his father, he rented a farm. Later, when they had acquired sufficient capital, they purchased land near the home of our subject, and continued business together for some years. At length the partnership was dissolved. Jerry Elliott now owns one hundred and sixty acres of the rich land for which Iowa is so noted. All the buildings upon the place are the work of his hands, and indicate his progressive and enterprising spirit. The farm is now highly cultivated, and is recognized as one of the best in the neighborhood.

In this county was celebrated the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Elliott. In her maidenhood the lady was Miss Artimissa Kuhns. She is a native of Indiana . By their union have been born five children: Cora M., Sarah J., Elsie N., Mabel F. and Charles R. Mr. Elliott is always interested in the welfare of the community and the advancement of its moral, social and educational interests. He takes no active part in politics, and votes independently of party ties, supporting the man whom he thinks best qualified for the office. His life has been a busy and useful one, and in the years of his residence here his honorable and straightforward course has won him the confidence and good wishes of a large circle of friends.

JOHN C. ELLIOTT, a worthy representative of a well known family of Grundy County , now follows farming on section 27, Lincoln Township . Born in the province of Quebec , Canada , in 1859, he is of Irish lineage. His parents, John and Jane (Bothwell) Elliott, were both natives of the Emerald Isle, and the record of their lives is given in connection with the sketch of Alexander Elliott elsewhere in this volume.

No event of special importance occurred during the boyhood and youth of our subject, which were quietly passed in his parents' home. He was reared as a farmer's son, and the educational privileges which he received were those afforded by the district schools of Canada and Iowa . He came with the family to this estate in 1870, locating in Grundy County , and for the past twenty years he has lived upon his present farm. He early became familiar with the arduous labors of the field, for as soon as old enough to handle the plow he began farm work. He continued with his parents until after his marriage, when he took charge of the home farm. He has since purchased one hundred and twenty acres of the quarter-section which comprised the Elliott homestead. He has aided in transforming it from a tract of raw prairie into one of rich fertility, and in his work as an agriculturist he has been quite successful, being now numbered among the substantial citizens of the neighborhood.

Mr. Elliott exercises his right of franchise in support of the Republican party, for he is an ardent believer in its principles. He has been called upon to serve as Township Clerk for two years, and has also filled the office of Road Supervisor with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He is always found true to every trust reposed in him, whether public or private, and has therefore won the high regard of all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact. He is now serving as Steward of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Morrison, with which he and his wife hold membership, and in which they are active workers.

The lady who now bears the name of Mrs. Elliott was in her maidenhood Mary Edith Crain. She is a native of Illinois , and a daughter of James N. and Kate (Debenham) Crain. Their union was celebrated on the 3d of November, 1887 , and has been blessed with two children: Horance N. and Irvin J. Both Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are widely known in this community, and have a wide circle of warm friends, who esteem them highly for their sterling worth and many excellencies of character

JOHN WICKLIFF ELLIOTT

Of the many prominent farmers of Jasper County , Mr. Elliott is well worthy of mention, for he has resided here for many years and has ever had its interests at heart. Like many of the representative citizens of the county, he is a Hoosier by birth, born in Owen County , December 17, 1846 . His grandfather, John Elliott, who was a Virginian, was of Scotch ancestry, and at an early date moved to Kentucky , where the remainder of his days were spent. he had three sons. John S., the youngest, was a prominent merchant and grain dealer. He moved to Nebraska and there died. The second son, William M., who was a farmer, moved to Missouri , where his death occurred. The eldest child was the father of our subject, James H. Elliott.

The latter was born in Kentucky in 1820, and came to Iowa in 1851, purchasing the land on which the town of Prairie City now stands. Five years later he laid out the town, and it was at that time called Elliott. He had little means when he came to the state, but being prudent and economical, he accumulated a moderate fortune. Later he moved to Taylor County, Iowa, and there he resides at the present time. While residing in his native state he married Miss Emeline Hicks, a native of Georgia , and the daughter of one of the pioneers of the state, a man who was quite prominent in his day. To Mr. and Mrs. Elliott were born sixteen children, eight of whom died when small. Martha J. married Stephen West and lives in Taylor County ; Mr. west was a soldier in the Union army during the war, and died while in service. Mary A. married Dr. Carl Kitchen, a prominent physician of Polk County , Iowa ; Ellen married James Stephens, who was a soldier in the late war; she died in 1873. Sarah I. married Frank Griffin, and resides in Taylor County ; James E. is a merchant and grain dealer in Taylor County ; Robert E. is a farmer in Taylor County , and Etta May married Byron Marrow, who is a farmer of Taylor County .

The original of this notice was but five years of age when his parents moved to Iowa , and as a consequence all his recollections are of this state. His educational advantages were limited, and on the 29th of February, 1864 , before he was eighteen years of age, he enlisted in Company A, Third Iowa Cavalry. He went to the front at Little Rock , Ark. , and engaged in the pursuit of Forrest in Tennessee , and Price in Missouri and Kansas , and was in the campaign through Georgia near the close of the war. He was mustered out at Atlanta , Ga. , on the 9th of August, 1865 , and soon afterward returned to Prairie City , Iowa , where he engaged in farming. This has been his occupation ever since, with the exception of one year, when he was engaged in merchandising in Taylor County . He has met with fair success, and is considered a progressive and enterprising farmer.

Mr. Elliott has traveled quite extensively in the west, is a man of ample means, and has been taking life easy for some time. He selected his life companion in the person of Miss Anna E. Elliott, who, though bearing the same name, was not a relative. She was a native of Ohio , where her parents were early settlers. Her mother, Clara Elliott, is a widow of ample means, living on a farm near our subject. Mr. Elliott is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics is a Republican. He has held no public offices, and has not been spoiled by success.

MOSES ELLIOTT, one of the representative citizens of Jasper County , owns a valuable estate on section 7, Washington Township . This location became his home in 1878, at which time the land was in an unimproved state, its present splendid condition in every respect being a standing monument to the industry and perseverance of the owner. The acreage amounts to one hundred and fifty-nine and one-half, from the rental of which Mr. Elliott receives a fair income. It is a model farm, both from an artistic point of view as well as for the products raised thereon, and forms one of the finest rural homes in the county.

The subject of this biographical notice was born twelve miles south of Glasgow , in Barren County , Ky. , December 13, 1819 . His father, William Elliott, a native of Virginia , was reared in Kentucky , where he continued to make his home until his death, at the age of ninety-six years. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Elliott, was probably of English descent. He was born in Richmond , Va. , and served throughout the entire period of the Revolutionary War, where he rendered valiant service on behalf of the Colonies. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Ellen Paden, and was born and reared in Kentucky , where she died when our subject was a child of eight years. Her father was a native of North Carolina .

William Elliott was married three times, his first wife being our subject's mother. Four daughters and three sons were born of that union. Of his second marriage, which united him with Jane Frances, there were seven children born, six sons and one daughter. The third marriage, which united him with Betsy Britt, was childless. Moses Elliott is the third child of his father's first marriage. At the age of eighteen he left the parental home, and going to Keokuk , Iowa , worked for a time on a farm near that city. After three years thus spent he returned to Kentucky , and resided thirteen years in the Blue Grass state, coming once more to Iowa in 1854. He resided in Marion County until 1878, when he came to Jasper County and located upon his present farm.

The lady who in 1840 became the wife of Moses Elliott was formerly Miss Clarissa Underwood, and was born within ten miles of our subject's native place. They were the parents of twelve children, two of whom died in infancy. Eight are now living: William A., who was born in Kentucky in 1841, is now a resident of Colorado; James A. was born in Kentucky in 1843; Nancy E., whose birth occurred in Kentucky in 1845, is the wife of John Roff, of Missouri; Thomas E. was born in Kentucky in 1847, and now makes his home in Polk County, Iowa; Mary S. was born in Kentucky in 1850, and is now deceased; John A., whose birth occurred in the Blue Grass State in 1852, is now a resident of Polk County, Iowa, his home being situated eight miles from Des Moines; Eliza Jane was born in Kentucky in 1854, and is now deceased; Joseph, who was born in Marion County, Iowa, in 1856, is now a resident of Washington Township, Jasper County, Iowa; Moses E. was born in Marion County in 1861, and lives in Nebraska; and Henry F., whose birth took place in Colorado in 1864, now lives in Mitchellville, Polk County, Iowa.

The fine property which Mr. Elliott owns, and the comforts which surround his family, are a creditable showing for one who began in early youth penniless and without influence, and indicate the sturdy nature of the man to whose determination and unflagging industry they are due. He mauled rails at the rate of fifty cents per hundred, receiving in payment for his work the first horse that he ever owned. He also farmed fifteen acres of land in further payment therefor. His experiences have been diverse, his struggles hard and obstacles many; but undeterred by misfortunes or hardships, he has worked steadily onward, until he is now in independent circumstances. In his enterprises he has been assisted by his industrious wife, to whom he owes no small share of his success.

The record of the life of Mr. Elliott shows that he has ever been kind, generous and whole-souled in word and deed, and his neighbors feel that they can call upon him for sympathy and help in hours of need. In his labors as a tiller of the soil he has displayed practical common sense, discrimination and an ability to work to a good advantage, and the success that has followed his efforts proves that he was fortunate in the selection of an occupation. His forefathers for generations were Democrats, and he is equally stanch in his allegiance to that party.

SANDY B. ELLIOTT owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of good land on section 35, Lincoln Township . He is regarded as one of the leading and representative farmers of Grundy County , where he has made his home since 1866. he has therefore witnessed much of the growth and development of the county and has ever borne his part in its upbuilding.

Mr. Elliott is a native of Canada . He was born in Quebec in 1848, to the union of Arthur and Eleanor (Bothwell) Elliott. Both parents were natives of Ireland , and further mention is made of them in connection with the sketch of their son, Arthur Elliott, on another page of this work. In the common schools Sandy acquired a good English education. He was reared to manhood upon the home farm in Canada in the usual manner of farmer lads and remained under the parental roof, giving to his father the benefit of his services, until the latter's death. As before stated, he came to Iowa in 1866 and located in Grundy County , where he began the cultivation and development of land which his father had purchased. Two years later he received from his mother eighty acres of land, and in 1888 he purchased an additional tract of eighty acres, so that his farm now comprises a quarter-section. This is a rich and fertile tract, and through the care of the owner is made to yield to him a good return as the reward of his labors.

An important event in the life of Mr. Elliott occurred in 1874, when was celebrated his marriage with Miss Josephine Bogart, a daughter of William and Ann (Shadle) Bogart. The father was born in New York , and the mother was a native of Pennsylvania . They became residents of Clinton County , Iowa , where the birth of their daughter occurred. By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Elliott has been born a family of eight children, as follows: Nellie, Ruby, Flossie, Josephine, Minnie, Pearl , Guy and Alton . The family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death, and the children are still under the parental roof. The household is the abode of hospitality and good cheer, and their many friends and acquaintances are always sure to receive a hearty welcome. Both Mr. and Mrs. Elliott hold membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Morrison and contribute liberally to its support. In politics our subject advocates Republican principles, and while he takes an interest in political affairs, as every true American citizen should do, he has never sought nor desired public office for himself, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his business interests, in which he has met with good success.