My Genealogy Hound

Capt. M. D. Elliott, one of the prominent citizens of Rose township, Oakland County, owning a fine farm of 160 acres, located in section 5, is also one of the honored survivors of the Civil War. He was born in Montgomery County, New York, in 1847, and is a son of Alexis and Elizabeth (Tripp) Elliott, both of the State of New York.

Captain Elliott was reared in New York, where he remained until he was 19 years old and then joined his parents in Holly township, Oakland County, Michigan, where they had been located some two years, and where they died. Our subject remained with them only for a visit, as he had taken care of himself since he was nine years old. Prior to coming to Michigan, he had been working on farms in Otsego County, New York, and he continued to be thus employed in Oakland County until the opening of the Civil War. Among the first to offer his services, he enlisted in the 2nd Reg., Michigan Vol. Cav., but was transferred to Battery H, First Michigan Light Artillery, with which he served three years. He was commissioned 2nd lieutenant during the siege of Vicksburg, his gallantry through this time of danger giving him the commission. After the siege he received a commission as 1st lieutenant. In the spring of 1864 he won his rank as captain and was mustered out as such at Louisville, Kentucky, December 27, 1864. Although he participated in all the maneuvers of serious import in the Army of the Tennessee for three and a half years, he was never seriously injured, coming the nearest to it when he was struck by a piece of shell at the siege of Vicksburg.

After the close of the war, Captain Elliott returned home and figuratively turned his trusty sword into a pruning hook, resuming his agricultural life and operating his farm in Rose township until within the past 12 years, during which time he has resided in the village of Holly, in a comfortable home on Maple street. He has leased his farm and since 1891 has been retired from agricultural activity.

Captain Elliott was married to Arvilla E. Seeley, of Michigan, who passed away in 1895, leaving besides one adopted daughter, Cora Belle, the following four children: Herbert M., a prominent attorney of Marion, Indiana, educated at Detroit and the University of Michigan, who practiced before the Michigan bar prior to moving to Indiana, and has a family of two children; George M., also an attorney of Marion, Indiana, in partnership with his brother, being the junior member of the firm of Elliott & Elliott; John D., who is a lumber merchant of Duluth, Minnesota, and has one child; and Adelaide E., who married William Zelner, who is in business at Fenton, Genesee County, Michigan, and has two children. Captain Elliott was married, second, to Laura Pratt, who was born in Otsego County, New York. One little daughter, Marion H., has been born to them, now aged five years.

In his early manhood, Captain Elliott was a Whig, but later became identified with the Republican party and for a long period has been a leading Republican in his locality, having been elected representative to the State Legislature from Oakland County in 1876. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to blue lodge, chapter and council. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of McPherson Post, G. A. R., of Holly, was a charter member and has served as commander. There is no braver survivor of the days the Grand Army recalls, nor more whole souled gentleman and patriotic citizen of Oakland County than is the Object of this sketch.