Elliott Vernon Arastus Dr. 1865-1923

ELLIOTT, WHALEN

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 5/21/2012 at 22:31:43

Hawarden Independent (14 Jun 1923)

Dr. Elliott of Beresford Died Very Suddenly
Had Practiced Medicine in Hawarden Years Ago as Partner of the Late Dr. W.A. Quigley

Dr. A.V. Elliott , a well known physician of Beresford, SD., and an early day practitioner in Hawarden, drop dead on the street of Beresford last Thursday evening while engaged in conversation with a friend. It is believed that his death was instantaneous and was caused from heart failure. He was at once removed to the Beresford hospital and everything possible was done to restore life but without avail.

Arastus Vernon Elliott was born near Buffalo Prairie, Rock Island County, ILL., and Dec 11, 1865, so was 57 years, 5 months and 27 days old at the time of his death. He was the youngest of a family of twelve children. His one ambition was to secure an education and in order to get funds to go to school, he operated a country store for a year and a half. He attended the regular and summer sessions at Rush Medical College in Chicago, graduating with honor in the class of 1887. After finishing his college course he decided to come west and located in Hawarden and engaged in the practice of his profession here for a time as a partner of the late Dr. W.A. Quigley. They established an office at Beresford and Dr. Elliott at first spent only one day in each week at that place but as his practice there increased he decided to move to that place. Thirty two years ago he was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude Whalen of Hawarden and they immediately moved to that place where he had practiced medicine ever since. Thus he was also a pioneer citizen of Beresford and did much the early days to relieve suffering among the sick. In 1917 he was made a member of the Union county exemption board, but he resigned this office to enlist in the army in the World War and was made a Captain in the Medical Corps and at this time of his death was still a member of the Officer Reserve Corps, subject to call at any time. When the American Legion was organized at Beresford he was honored by being elected as the first Post Commander. For a number of years he was Superintendent of the State Board of Health of South Dakota. He helped to organized the Masonic lodge at Beresford Dr. Elliot was a man who was widely known in this vicinity as well as in the Beresford community and his sudden death will be deeply mourned by many friends outside the family circle.

He is survived by his wife and three children, Mrs. Watt Woolridge of Sioux City, Miss Eva Elliott of Beresford and Cameron Elliott of Los Angeles, Calif. And by one grandchild

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at Beresford, it being a combined military and Masonic funeral. He was laid to rest in the Beresford cemetery.