Origin of the Elliott Community

    Marquette and Joliet, on June 25, 1673, were the first Europeans who had ever trod on what is now Iowa. ^*1   The rediscovery of the country watered by the great Mississippi river was accomplished by LaSalle as he descended the river to the sea and took possession in the name of France on April 9, 1682. LaSalle named the territory Louisiana in honor of Louis XIV.

    The United States became possessor of the Louisiana Territory on Dec. 20, 1803, by a treaty signed on Apr. 20, 1803 for payment of 15 million dollars. The history lists some 15 Indian treaties relating to Iowa land. Iowa was formally admitted to the Union, on Dec. 28, 1846, as the 29th state in the National Confederacy. The first known settlement by a white man within the limits of Iowa was made by Julian Dubuque, in 1788.

    On May 15, 1856 the legislature approved a Railroad grant to give every alternative section of land to the railroad for six sections in width, on each side of a proposed main line crossing the state, to aid in construction.

    During the Civil War, (or War of the Rebellion, as it is called herein), the State of Iowa had upward of 80,000 serving in the military. Another 5,000 took part at different times in operations for the security of the exposed borders of the State.

    Montgomery County was established in 1853 ^*2  In 1854, A. G. Lowe, County Judge, signed an order diving Montgomery County into two townships, Jackson and West. In 1868, the County board ordered a new township be set off and named it Sherman. An order was passed by the County board in 1870 creating a civil township by the name Pilot Grove.

    Early Histories are contradictory as to exact dates on divisions of townships in Montgomery County. 

    The town of Elliott was laid out and building operations started in the winter of 1879. ^*3 The land was surveyed by Anselmo B. Smith. The territorial limits of the town are located on SE 1/4 of Sec. 1, Township 73, Range 38. The original plat of the town was purchased in July 1879 from Ed Gilmore, 160 acres for $3700.00, by Charles Elliott Perkins, who was trustee and Vice-President of C.B.& Q. Railroad, and the town was christened Elliott in honor of this man's middle name.

     The Gilmore farm house stood on Southwest corner of the lot where the Christian Church now stands. The first school was held in the old house, also the first Sunday School was organized there by Mrs. W. H. Ammons and Mrs. J. A. Reynolds. The first newspaper, the Elliott Enterprise, was printed Sat., Aug. 21, 1889; O.C. Bates, Editor.   

^*1.  Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875, Andreas Atlas Co. (provided by Keith Mullen, Rt. 2, Villisca, Ia.)

^*2.  History of Montgomery County, 1881. Iowa Historical and Biographical Co.

^*3.  Elliott Enterprise - Newspaper - Sept. 4, 1880.