My Genealogy Hound

W. J. Elliott, who owns and controls a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 28, Sand Creek township, is a native of Owen county, Indiana, born May 28, 1850. His father, William M. Elliott, was a native of Kentucky and was reared there and in Indiana. Having arrived at years of maturity, he sought a companion and helpmate for life’s journey and was married in Indiana to Miss Sarah Jordan, a native of North Carolina. In the year 1853 the family removed from the Hoosier state to Iowa, settling in Jasper county, where the father secured a tract of uncultivated land and opened up a farm, carrying on agricultural pursuits there for six years. He then removed to Warren county, where he lived for five years, after which he returned to Jasper county, where he remained until after the Civil war. He improved several farms there and made his home in that county until 1870, when he came to Union county. Here he secured a tract of land on section 28, Sand Creek township, about three-fourths of a mile west of the present home of his son, W. J. Elliott. To that farm he gave his time and energy until 1880, when he went to Clay county, Missouri, where he developed a new farm and spent his remaining days, his death there occurring in 1882, when he was fifty-eight years of age. His widow afterward returned to Iowa and lived with her children until her demise, which occurred in 1905, when she had reached the advanced age of eighty-three years. Their family numbered fourteen children, ten of whom grew to maturity.

W. J. Elliott was the third in order of birth and was but three years of age when the parents removed to Iowa. He was reared upon the home farm, spending his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, while the common schools afforded him his educational privileges. He likewise remained at home until starting out in life for himself after attaining his majority. He made his initial step in agricultural life by purchasing from his father forty acres of land. Later he bought a tract of thirty-five acres and has been adding to his farm from time to time until he became the owner of two hundred acres but has since divided this with his children, retaining one hundred and twenty acres for his own use. He built a good residence and substantial barns and outbuildings and converted the once wild prairie into productive fields, from which he annually harvests good crops. He also set out shade trees and planted an orchard and in addition to tilling the soil in the cultivation of crops best adapted to climatic conditions here he has also engaged in raising graded stock and in dairying.

On the 23d of December, 1877, Mr. Elliott was united in marriage to Miss Harriet M. Smith, a native of Washington county, Iowa, and a daughter of Daniel Smith of that county. They have three children: Ida May, now the wife of Harry Tuttle, a resident farmer of Sand Creek township, by whom she has one daughter, Pearl; Harry Virgil, who married Bertha Taylor, and follows farming in Sand Creek township; and, William A., who is a youth in school.

In politics Mr. Elliott is independent. He filled the office of assessor for two years and for twenty years has been the efficient school treasurer. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church but as there is no church of that denomination in their locality they attend the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Culbertson has always been a busy man, finding something to occupy each moment and his interest and activities have developed a character that commands for him the confidence and regard of his fellow citizens in large degree.