Alexander Elliott

ELLIOTT, BOTHWELL, TROTTER, LEONARD, DUNCAN, MCKENZIE, SELDER, PATRICK, BALLARD

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/11/2011 at 15:40:51

ALEXANDER ELLIOTT. This name will be at once recognized as that of the leading liveryman of Reinbeck, where he has one of the best equipped stables in Grundy County. He is a native of Canada, his birth having occurred in the province of Quebec, March 9, 1844. His parents, John and Jane (Bothwell) Elliott, were natives of Ireland, while the paternal grandparents of our subject, Jeremiah and Anna (Trotter) Elliott, hailed from Ireland, where they were farmers.

Jeremiah and Anna Elliott lived in the Emerald Isle until 1826, when they disposed of their property there and emigrated with their family to Quebec, Canada, where the grandfather purchased a farm of over two hundred acres. They had seven sons and three daughters, of whom Rebecca, who was the eldest, married John Leonard and died in Ireland. Next in order of birth were George, Arthur, William and Alexander, who are deceased, and Jane who is living in Iowa with her son John Bothwell. Jeremiah, the seventh child, is deceased; Anna is the wife of Edward Bothwell and resides in Canada. John is the father of our subject, and Trotter makes his home in the Dominion. The grandparents were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and came of very wealthy parents in the northern part of Ireland.

John Elliott, the father of our subject, was born in the Emerald Isle in 1819, and remained under the parental roof until reaching his nineteenth year, when he learned the carpenter’s trade, which he followed for five years. In the meantime having emigrated to Canada, he later purchased fifty acres of timber land, which he cleared and improved and resided upon until coming to Iowa, about 1870. He was given very poor advantages for obtaining an education, and in that early day the people joined together in order to hire a teacher.

The parents of our subject were married in Canada, the mother being a daughter of Alexander and Rebecca (Duncan) Bothwell. She was also a native of Ireland, and was six years of age when brought to American by her parents. They were farmers, and respected members of the Presbyterian Church. The parental family included the following named children: Alexander, Anna (Mrs. Monroe McKenzie), Jerry, William B., Rebecca (wife of P. H. Selder), Arthur and John C.

In 1867, when removing to this state, John Elliott located upon one hundred and twenty acres of land in Grundy County, his sons aiding in the purchase and improvement of the farm while he worked at his trade. He now owns forty acres of land in Lincoln Township, where for several years he has led a retired life. With his wife he is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Alexander Elliott, of this sketch, received his schooling in Canada, and at the early age of fifteen years began in the world for himself, at which time he left home and resided with an uncle. That gentle man being a farmer, young Elliott was reared to farm pursuits, which calling he followed for many years. While residing in Canada he was married to Miss Anna, daughter of James and Matilda Patrick, and to them have been born three children: Jennie, who is the wife of Bland Ballard, and has one son, Douglas; John, who is in business with his father, and Hattie.

After his marriage, Mr. Elliott of this sketch received as a gift from his uncle a fine farm, to which he added until he owned one hundred and fifty acres. There he made his home until 1883, when he disposed of his property, and coming to the States, located in Grundy County, where he became the possessor of two hundred acres of land, which he brought to a fine state of improvement. This he lived upon until 1892, the date of his advent into Reinbeck, where he purchased his present business, owning one of the finest livery stables in the section. His stables are well supplied with good horses and conveyances, and Mr. Elliott has the patronage of the prominent people throughout the county. With his wife he is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and at all times he is a strong supporter of the Republican party.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894