Elliott, Moses

ELLIOTT, PADEN, FRANCES, BRITT, UNDERWOOD, ROFF

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/12/2009 at 13:48:54

Moses Elliott, one of the representative citizens of Jasper County, owns a valuable estate on section 7, Washington Township. This location became his home in 1878, at which time the land was in an unimproved state, its present splendid condition in every respect being a standing monument to the industry and perseverance of the owner. The acreage amounts to one hundred and fifty-nine and one-half, from the rental of which Mr. Elliott receives a fair income. It is a model farm; both from an artistic point of view as well as for the products raised thereon, and forms one of the finest rural homes in the county.

The subject of this biographical notice was born twelve miles south of Glasgow, in Barren County KY, December 13, 1819. His father, William Elliott, a native of Virginia, was reared in Kentucky where he continued to make his home until his death, at the age of ninety-six years. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Elliott, was probably of English descent. He was born in Richmond VA, and served throughout the entire period of the Revolutionary War, where he rendered valiant service on behalf of the Colonies. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Ellen Paden and was born and reared in Kentucky, where she died when our subject was a child of eight years. Her father was a native of North Carolina.

William Elliott was married three times, his first wife being our subject's mother. Four daughters and three sons were born of that union. Of his second marriage, which united him with Jane Frances, there were seven children born, six sons and one daughter. The third marriage, which united him with Betsy Britt, was childless. Moses Elliott is the third child of his father's first marriage. At the age of eighteen he left the parental home, and going to Keokuk, Iowa, worked for a time on a farm near that city. After three years thus spent be returned to Kentucky, and resided thirteen years in the Blue Grass State, coming once more to Iowa in 1854. He resided in Marion County until 1878, when he came to Jasper County and located upon his present farm.

The lady who in 1840 became the wife of Moses Elliott was formerly Miss Clarissa Underwood and was born within ten miles of our subject's native place. They were the parents of twelve children, two of whom died in infancy. Eight are now living. William A., who was born in Kentucky in 1841, is now a resident of Colorado; James A. was born in Kentucky in 1843; Nancy E. whose birth occurred in Kentucky in 1845, is the wife of John Roff, of Missouri; Thomas E. was born in Kentucky in 1847, and now makes his home in Polk County, Iowa; Mary S. was born in Kentucky in 1880, and is now deceased; John A. whose birth occurred in the Blue Grass State in 1852, is now a resident of Polk County, Iowa, his home being situated eight miles from Des Moines; Eliza Jane was born in Kentucky in 1854, and is now deceased; Joseph, who was born in Marion County, Iowa, in 1856, is now a resident of Washington Township, Jasper County, Iowa; Moses E. was born in Marion County in 1861, and lives in Nebraska; and Henry F., whose birth took place in Colorado in 1864, now lives in Mitchellville, Polk County, Iowa.

The fine property, which Mr. Elliott owns, and the comforts which surround his family, are a creditable showing for one who began in early youth penniless and without influence, and indicate the sturdy nature of the man to whose determination and unflagging industry they are due. He hauled rails at the rate of fifty cents per hundred, receiving in payment for his work the first horse that he ever owned. He also farmed fifteen acres of land in further payment therefor. His experiences have been diverse, his struggles hard and obstacles many; but undetermined by misfortunes or hardships, he worked steadily onward, until he is now in independent circumstances. In his enterprises, he has been assisted by his industrious wife, to whom he owes no small share of his success.

The record of the life of Mr. Elliott shows that he has been kind, generous and whole-souled in word and deed, and his neighbors feel that they can call upon him for sympathy and help in hours of need. In his labors as a tiller of the soil he has displayed practical common sense, discrimination and an ability to work to a good advantage, and the success that has followed his efforts proves that he was fortunate in the selection of an occupation. His forefathers for generations were Democrats, and he is equally stanch in his allegiance to that party. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 228.