JOHN ELLIOTT

For thirty-one years Mr. Elliott has been a resident of Brown county and is therefore numbered among its early settlers, for the time of his arrival was at the pioneer period of its development. He was born in Union county, Ohio, May 2, 1835, his father being John Elliott, Sr. His grandfather, Alex Elliott, was of Scotch descent and a soldier in the war of 1812-14, who became one of the pioneer settlers of Union county, Ohio. He died soon after his removal to that state, being the first white man buried in that neighborhood. John Elliott, Sr., was the father of our subject and one of the early residents of Union county who aided in its early improvement and development. He married Miss Louisa Wood, a native of Clark county, Ohio. Her father was John Wood, who was one of the Revolutionary patriots that valiantly aided in the struggle for independence, and settled in Ohio from Pennsylvania. Unto Mr. and Mrs. John Elliott, Sr., were born twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, namely: William; John; Elizabeth; Jane Martha; Mary; Amanda; Minerva; Lucinda, who died in childhood; Louis, who was a member of the Eighteenth Ohio Infantry during the Civil war and served with General Buel; Frank; and Alfred, who died in childhood. The father of these children passed away in October, 1898, at the very advanced age of ninety-one years. During the greater part of his active life his energies were devoted to farming. In politics he was a Whig until the dissolution of the party, when he joined the ranks of the Republican party. In religious belief be was a Universalist. A man of fine personal appearance, tall and straight, and possessed good health. His widow is still living, at the age of eighty-seven years.

John Elliott, the subject of this sketch, was born in Union county, Ohio, but during his early childhood was taken by his parents to De Kalb county, Illinois, where the family made a settlement. He was educated in the public schools and during his youth assisted in the operation of the home farm. In Union county, Ohio, he married Miss Clarissa Ford, a daughter of Lory Ford, and a lady of superior intelligence and of good family. Her father was born in Perry county, Ohio, in 1811, and was a son of Chauncey Ford, a native of Connecticut, who was one of three brothers who removed from the Charter Oak state to Ohio and became early settlers of Perry county. They made their way down the Ohio river in a canoe and then crossed the country to their destination in a rude cart, often having to cut their way through the woods. They took up a claim in the wilderness and built a log cabin. One of the brothers was killed by the Indians while they were making a trip to the market to secure salt. The red men decoyed him into the woods by imitating the call of a wild turkey and then killed him. The son, Chauncey Ford, resides on the old homestead.

Lory Ford, the father of Mrs. Elliott, was reared on the old home farm and aided in the arduous task of clearing it for cultivation. He wedded Miss Helen Miller, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, and was a daughter of one of the pioneer settlers there. Mr. and Mrs. Ford became the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters, namely: Philarua Smith, a resident of Ohio; Mrs. Elliott; Minerva; Mary, who is living in Tennessee; Franklin, of Union township, Brown county, Kansas; Chauncey, who died in infancy; Jennie and Lora, who are living in Ohio; John Sylvester, deceased; and Hyram J., of Mission township. The mother of these children died in 1874, at the age of sixty-five years, but Mr. Ford is still living, at the age of eighty years. He has been a member of the Masonic order for more than half a century.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Elliott were born eight children: Sylba and Raymond E., both deceased; Frank; Ella; Lou, a resident of Union township; Kittie, the wife of Adam Robinson, of Union township; Millie, who was a popular and successful teacher, but is now the wife of Charles Gregg, of Mission township; and Ada, wife of Robert Yates, of Graham county, Kansas. Mrs. Yates had also taught school before her marriage. Two of the children, Ellsworth and Dale, died in early life. The mother of these children died February 15, 1899, at the age of sixty-four years. She was an earnest Christian woman, a faithful wife, a loving mother and kind friend. Her death was the greatest blow which Mr. Elliott ever received. He is the owner of eighty acres of fine farming land, which is carefully cultivated and improved, with a good house and substantial outbuildings. In politics he is a Republican and is recognized as one of the leading citizens of the town, being highly esteemed for his sterling worth.