Transcribed by Mary Ann Kaylor

Page 1203:

ELLIOTT, ALEXANDER - Agricultural life draws very heavily upon the strength and resources of a farmer, so that after years devoted to it he feels the necessity of taking life more easily. For this reason many of the most responsible citizens of Springfield belong to the retired farmer class, and the city benefits from their residence there. One of these reliable, and honorable men is Alexander Elliott, whose residence on the northwest corner of Maple and South Fourteenth Streets is one of the most comfortable in the city. Mr. Elliott was born in Clay County, Ill., March 2, 1832, a son of William and Rebecca (Coates) Elliott, the former a native of North Carolina, where his wife was also born. At a very early day William Elliott came to Clay County, where he engaged in farming, remaining there until his death. He and his wife had five sons and two daughters. Mr. Elliott and one brother, William W., a retired farmer of Taylorville, are the only survivors.

After a boyhood spent in Clay County, where he alternated attending school with working for his father, Mr. Elliott came to Springfield upon attaining his majority, and at Pawnee farmed for seven years. He operated several farms in the county, until his removal to Springfield in 1904.

On August 7, 1854, Mr. Elliott was married, in Christian County, Ill., to Tabitha Jones, born in Wayne County, daughter of William and Martha (Lilard) Jones, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee. They came to Illinois at a very early day, locating in Wayne County, where the father farmed, but later came to Sangamon County engaged in farming, but the father died in Christian County, after his wife had passed away in Sangamon County. Mr. and Mrs. Jones had three sons and four daughters, two sisters of Mrs. Elliott now surviving: Mrs. Temperance Campbell, and Mrs. Nancy Jane Lawley, of Glenarm. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott became the parents of children as follows: Isaac and Jacob, of Springfield; James, of Wyoming; Addie, wife of Fred Hart, of Springfield; Ollie, wife of John Jones of Chicago; Eugene in the employ of the Johnston-Hatcher Company of Springfield; and six who died young. The five grandchildren of the family are: Melvin R. Elliot; Lesta M., William H. and Helen Jones and William Hart.

Mr. Elliott is a devout member of the Roman Catholic Church. In political faith he is a Democrat. He is a man of means and his money has been accumulated through hard work, careful thrift and wise investments. When he located in Springfield he sold a valuable Morgan County farm and bought city realty. He has a high standing in his community and is able to look back over his long and useful life with pride.