George Elliott

As printed in 1914

GEORGE ELLIOTT.

George Elliott still resides at his fine farm home on section 7, Fremont township, although retired from active life, and still owns one hundred and sixty acres of land. At one time he held title to seven hundred acres. He was born in Yorkshire, England, about sixteen miles from Slieffield, on the 30th of July, 1830, a son of John and Susanna (Dawson) Elliott, who twelve years later came with their family to America. They went to Winnebago county, Illinois, settling four and a half miles from Rockford on Kent's creek, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying when sixty-eight years of age and the mother when fifty-five years old. The father was a farmer by occupation, and both were members of the Church of England. To them were born ten children, of whom six are deceased, one brother dying while in service during the Civil war. Those living besides George are: Mrs. Elizabeth Bouck, a resident of Minnesota; Mrs. Ann Faulkner, living near Rockford, Illinois; and Mrs. Hester Faulkner, also living near Rockford.

George p]elliott received but a meager education, as he never attended school in this country and as he was but eleven years old when he came here. He remained at home until eighteen years of age and then started out in life on his own account, since which time he has made his way without material help from anyone. He came to Buchanan county in 1853 and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Jefferson township, which he fenced with rails and otherwise improved. He resided there the greater part of the time until the spring of 1857, when, with two yoke of cattle he started for Pike's Peak. He passed through Des Moines and Council Bluffs, this state, and Nebraska in company with a Scotchman named Hugh Robinson. His route then took hun down the Missouri river from Omaha to Nebraska City and along the southern edge of that state. He fished and hunted and found that region of the country to around in fish and game. He crossed Iowa with a team four times but never got as far west as Pike's Peak. He eventually returned to Buchanan county and sold his farm in Jefferson township, ])using land on section 7, Fremont township, just north of his present home farm. Since 1861 he has resided continuously on section 7. He became the owner of seven lumdred acres of land, which he improved and brought to a high state of cultivation, but he has sold all of his land except one hundred and sixty acres where he resides. He is now living retired, liut wns for many years a general fai'mer and a stock-raiser.

He was especially interested in the problems of the corn grower and experimented for years with selected seed, new methods of cultivation and the effects of different kinds of soil. He was known as a progressive and scientific farmer and won marked financial success. In 1896 Mr. Elliott became president of the Winthrop State Bank and continued as such until 1912, when he retired.

In 1861 Mr. Elliott was married in Byron township, Buchanan county, to Miss Jeanette Sharp, a daughter of John and Jeanette (Ferguson) Sharp, both born in the vicinity of Glasgow, Scotland. She was born near Albany, New York, in 1843, and came to this county in 1857 with her parents, a brother and sister, the family locating in Byron township. After coming to America her father engaged in farming, but as a young man he was a carpenter and builder and for some time worked at that trade in Glasgow. He was later in the employ of the British government for years and was sent to Ireland. To Mr. and [rs. Elliott have been born eight children, namely: John, a resident of Lamont; Alice, the wife of Albert Reed, of Winthrop; William, cashier of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Aurora, this county; Florence, the wife of Frank Kerr, of Byron township; Bertha, who died when three years old; Blanche, at home; Leigh, a farmer residing at home; and Belle, at home.

Although not identified with any religious denomination, Mr. Elliott is in sympathy with the work of the churches and aids them generously. Politically he is independent, preferring to follow the dictates of his own reason and conscience in his support of candidates and measures. He has served acceptably as township trustee. He is a man of broad minded views and his tolerance and keen sense of justice make his judgment clear and his counsel much sought. All who know him esteem him highly and his friends prize his good opinion.

As printed in History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.