My Genealogy Hound

ISAAC ELLIOTT. The farm owned by Mr. Elliott lies on section 17, township 44, range 21, Pettis County, and consists of six hundred and forty acres, upon which first-class improvements have been made. He is considered one of the most capable and enterprising farmers of his locality, and such has been the success of his efforts in former years that he is now enabled to retire, to some extent, from active manual labor. However, he still mantains a general supervision of his interests, and is recognized as one of the progressive agriculturists of Flat Creek Township.

A native of Pettis County, Mr. Elliott was born in Washington Township, November 22, 1840, being the son of Isaac and Nancy (Bourn) Elliott. His father was born near Frankfort, Ky., and was reared to manhood in the Blue Grass State, where he was twice married. Of his first union one daughter survives, Mrs. Martha Hatton, of Sedalia. By the second marriage there were seven children, our subject being the fourth of the number. One of his sisters, Amanda J., wife of C. C. Crawford, was born in Kentucky, but the younger children were born in Missouri. On removing to Missouri, accompanied by his wife, children and two slaves, Isaac Elliott, Sr., entered land from the Government in Washington Township, and, settling upon that tract, he added to his possessions, until at the time of his death, in 1849, he was one of the wealthiest men in Pettis County. Two years after his demise his wife passed away. The eldest of his seven children was married, and the others found homes among relatives, some being taken by grandparents, and others by uncles.

Our subject found a home with his sister, Mrs. Amanda J. Crawford, whose husband had a black-smith shop. He soon began to learn the trade, in which he soon became a more skilled workman than his brother-in-law. He worked in the shop without wages until he was nineteen. In 1859 he was seized with the gold fever, and with a party of fifty -two made a trip to Pike’s Peak. With a brother-in-law, Reuben Raimey, and another man, he went in a wagon, driving an ox-team. Arriving at his destination, he began to work, and for two months was busily engaged there. What the final results might have been cannot be told, for the death of his brother-in-law caused him to return home. He then began to work in the blacksmith shop once more, this time receiving wages.

At the breaking out of the war our subject’s sympathies were with the Confederates, while his brother-in-law was a stanch Unionist. In 1861 they both joined the forces of the State Militia, Mr. Elliott being pressed into the service, and holding the rank of Orderly. In 1862 the militia disbanded, but he afterward served for seven months, participating in the battles of Otterville and Lexington. In 1864 he was a third time called into service, and took part in the battle at Sedalia.

November 22, 1865, occurred the marriage of Mr. Elliott and Miss Mary Frances Marshall, who was born in Flat Creek Township, Pettis County, Mo., March 7, 1840. Her parents, George and Elizabeth (Brown) Marshall, were born, reared and married in South Carolina, and in that state their two eldest children were born. On moving to Missouri, they settled in Cooper County, but a few years afterward came to Pettis County, where her father died when she was fifteen, and her mother in February, 1865. By their union Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have had six children, viz.: Flora; Augusta Winona; Agnes, Mrs. Christopher A. Crawford, who died in 1891; Mary Frances; James A., who died in infancy; and George Vest, a bright lad, who assists his father in the cultivation of the home farm.

After his marriage Mr. Elliott settled upon his present farm, where he had previously purchased two hundred acres at $10 per acre. To this tract he has added until he is now the owner of six hundred and forty acres. In former years he engaged in buying and selling stock, but as that occupation demanded much of his time, and as he was not obliged to work hard, he retired from the business. His first Presidential ballot was cast in 1864 for Abraham Lincoln. In 1868 he was not permitted to vote, on account of his acknowledged Confederate sympathies. Since that time he has been loyal to the principles of the Democratic party, which he has frequently represented in conventions. He has never accepted any office except that of School Director, in which capacity he has served for many years. He, his wife and all their children but the youngest, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he fills the position of Trustee of the congregation.