Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 782
MATT A. ELLISON

Matt A. ELLISON, ranking among the early pioneers of Harrison County, having come in with his parents in 1852, is entitled to a biographical notice in this connection. He was born in Monroe County, w. Va., October 27, 1833, and is the son of Isaac and Cinda (CLARK) ELLISON, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. In the autumn of 1855 he pre-empted eighty acres of land on section 9, of Cass Township, and proved up in 1856, paying the Government price of $1.25 per acre. The first piece of land he owned, however, was forty acres of timber on section 17, which he purchased in the autumn of 1854 and still owns with the exception of a five-acre lot.

Having faith in this country and intending to make a home and become a man among men, he sought the heart and hand of Miss Hannah VALLIER, to whom he was married May 23, 1855. She was a native of Ohio, born May 23, 1836, and was the daughter of Alexander and Mary VALLIER. The father was French while the mother was German.

Shortly after our subjects's marriage he embarked in the realities of life for himself, having worked out just previous to his purchasing his first piece of land, and the first summer of his married life he made his home with his parents, while he was building a log house on his land, on section 9. This house was of the hewed double room style of architecture, native lumber being used for the floor. Into this cozy house, which defied the elements, and was the subject of a 'house raising,' this newly-married couple moved in the spring of 1856, occupying the same until 1879, at which time Mr. ELLISON moved to Logan, after which he still looked after his stock on his farm which he rented. But two seasons of town life, sufficed for this man of push and energy, and in the autumn of 1880, he removed to the old log house in which he lived until he had raised two crops, and then built his present two story farm house, which is 16 x 24 feet, with an addition sixteen feet square.

Our subject's present landed estate amounts to eight hundred acres, including two hundred and forty acres belonging to his wife. He pays great attention to the growth of stock, usually keeping about seventy-five head of cattle with the corresponding number of hogs.

Mr. and Mrs. ELLISON are the parents of eight children: Elvira, deceased; Mary Cinda, Becca Rosilla, Edward Brazillia, Ida Irene, Maggie Caroline, Bessie Violet and Robert.

Politically Mr. ELLISON votes with the Republican party, and in matters of religion he is in sympathy with the Latter Day Saints Church.

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