Arthur Elliott

As printed in 1905

ARTHUR ELLIOTT.

For many years prominent in the affairs of Liberty township and distinguished as a citizen whose prestige and influence were felt far beyond the limits of the community honored by his residence, the late Arthur Elliott stood out a conspicuous figure among the successful farmers and representative men of Butler county. Characterized by remarkable breadth of wisdom and strong individuality, and in all of his enterprises and undertakings actuated by noble motives and high resolves, his success and achievements but represented the result of fit utilization of innate talent in directing effort along those lines where mature judgment and rare discrimination lead the way. He was one of the strong, forceful men of his day and generation, a leader in movements having for their object the material advancement of the community, while his influence in directing and controlling enterprises for the social and moral welfare of his fellow men was second to that of none of his contemporaries.

Arthur Elliott was born near the old Spring church, in Liberty township. Butler county, Ohio, on the 2d day of March, 1817. His parents. Joshua and Betsey (Hughes) Elliott, were natives of Maryland and from them he inherited many of the sturdy characteristics and sterling qualities which made his life such a conspicuous example of usefulness and his influence so strong in moulding and directing the careers of others along the lines of honorable achievement. His uncle, Rev. Arthur W. Elliott, was one of the pioneers of Methodism in southern Ohio, and did as much as any minister of his day to establish the church upon the solid foundation which made its early growth and subsequent history in the middle west so bright and illustrious.

Arthur Elliott was reared in a comparatively new and undeveloped country and experienced the various vicissitudes incident to clearing and developing a farm from the virgin forest. He was taught the necessity of industry from his youth, and grew to the full stature of manhood with a proper appreciation of the dignity of toil and of responsibilities which every one must meet and overcome who would make life a success. On arriving at manhood’s estate he those agriculture for his vocation and during the remainder of his life followed the same with most gratifying results, as is attested by the fact of his having accumulated large and valuable tracts of real estate, reduced to a high state of tillage and improved with fine buildings. Enterprising and progressive in all the words convey, he was one of the model farmers of his day and his aptness in business as well as in labor and management made him in due time one of the wealthiest men of his township.

In the year 1840 Mr. Elliott and Miss Emmeline Van Gorden were united in the bonds of wedlock and during the eight years following they lived on the old homestead in Liberty township. In 1848 Mr. Elliott purchased the farm in the same township on which he laid the foundation of his subsequent success and on which he reared his family and spent the remainder of his days. During his active years he devoted his attention very closely to agriculture and stock raising and while thus engaged added to his means until at the time of his death his estate amounted to eight hundred acres of fine land in Liberty township, besides a large amount of valuable personal property which was the legitimate result of his energy and well-directed toil. The real estate was in a high state of cultivation.

Seven children were born to Arthur and Emmeline Elliott, only three of whom survive. namely: James C. and E. T. are residents of Butler county and B. F. resides in

Los Angeles, California. Arthur Elliott possessed many noble traits of character and was always distinguished for strict integrity upright conduct and a high sense of personal honor. Among his other pronounced characteristics may be noted his sobriety, morality, prudence and punctuality in business, temperance and devotion to family and friends. He donated the ground upon which the old Spring church was erected, and contributed liberally to the building, besides giving a lot for cemetery purposes. In politics he was an enthusiastic Republican. His ideas were always clear and explicit; his opinions carried weight and commanded respect, and among his fellow citizens he was regarded as an adviser and counsellor in business affairs. Mr. Elliott was intensely and enthusiastically an American and the love of country and its institutions was to him paramount to nearly every other consideration. He discharged the duties of citizenship as became a broad-minded man. with the good of the state and nation at heart, nor was he ever negligent in his obligations to the community in which he lived, but encouraged to the extent of his ability every enterprise and progressive measure which made for its interest. As a neighbor he was obliging, kind-hearted and generous: liberal almost to a fault, he gave freely of his means to the needy, assisted to carry out undertakings for the public good which necessitated the expenditure of considerable sums of money, and in religious and charitable enterprises his name generally headed the lists. Mr. Elliott’s life was replete with good to his kind and blessed by his presence. He lived to a good old age and died greatly beloved and deeply mourned by all who knew him, on the 24th of April. 1898. in the eighty-second year of his age.

As printed in Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.