Elliott enjoys the best drinking water you ever tasted. Come and try it. Many visitors call it the best drinking water they have ever tasted.

   Elliott people are generous. The town has no record of having failed to raise its full quota for any public benefit or charitable purpose.

   The Masonic lodge and a chapter of the Eastern Star are both well supported by residents of Elliott and nearby communities. The Masons own and have improved their building on Main street.

   In Elliott's younger days a movement was started to move the town half a mile to the east on higher ground, but nothing came of the effort.  It wouldn't have been a bad move.

   News Items of Elliott from old Graphic files:

   "Aug. 20, 1886 -- Parties taking cows to and from pasture should be careful to keep them off the board walks as we notice quite a number of boards broken by them through the town.

    There was a special up Tuesday morning to accommodate old soldiers who wished to attend the reunion at Creston.

    The following is a list of old soldiers from this part of the county attending the reunion at Creston this week: Dr. DeWitt, Frank Hubbard, A. A. Myers, F. M. Myers, Albert Wright, G. W. Allard, James Saint, S. J. Botts, Henry Howard, H. A. Embree, J. Leonard, Sim Hunt, J. Diamond, J. Wilson and S. D. Wiers."

    Rewritten from the Graphic files October 1930.   

    "October 4, 1930, Elliott celebrated its "Golden Jubilee."

     A crowd estimated at more than four thousand witnessed a historical parade, made up of old time scenes dating back half a century.

    Prof. Royal Holbrook of Iowa State college gave the address.  Mr. Holbrook's speech dealt with the early history of Iowa.

   A barbeque was held in the evening. The committee had prepared to feed 2,000 visitors but the supply ran out before the big crowd had all been taken care of, and many did not get to join in the "free feed." The disappointed ones realized the situation and joined in the merriment just the same.

Thomas Murray Implement Co., Elliott

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Picturesque Stennett

  The town of Stennett, located seven miles northwest of Red Oak, is in section 27 of Sherman Township. Part of the lots, at least, are from land which Wayne Stennett first owned.

   This little settlement soon became a busy trading post. Nearby on the east Nishnabotna river two grist mills were built, using the water for power. Settlers from miles around brought their grains to these mills to be ground for flour and feed.

   Daniel Stennett, who was the father of Wayne Stennett, was the first white settler in Sherman township.  He located on section 26 in the year 1853. Daniel Stennett later operated a drug store in Villisca.

   Sherman township was organized April 12, 1869. The only trustee's name appearing is that of Wayne Stennett. From this we gather that "Uncle Wayne," as he was affectionately known, was an important and influential citizen in the early history of the township.      

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Old Stone Houses

    The first town meeting was held in the stone school house near Mr. Stennett's home and located on his farm in section 26. This stone school house still stands about a half a mile northeast of Stennett. It was enlarged for residence use. Flooding of the river in recent years forced its abandonment.

   A large stone house of 12 rooms which still stands just southeast of the town was built by Wayne Stennett in 1869. Built of native limestone from his own quarry, the walls of this massive residence are 18 inches in thickness, gradually increasing to nearly 30 inches at the basement floor. Over the front door in glass panel can still be seen the bold lettering the names "W. Stennett." A walnut banister and stairs lead to the upper floor.

   Jacob B. Packard, whose life was interwoven with the financial, educational, political and social affairs of the community, had notions of his own in regard to building, and insisted that ordinary...