Biography - Darius B. Elliott
DARIUS B. ELLIOTT. Our subject is a representative of a good Southern
family, on the paternal side owing many of the traits of his character to
the warm blood and generous hearts of the state which boasts of having given
more Presidents than any other, to the Executive Department of our
Government. Mr. Elliott is the owner of a good farm located on section 7,
Tower Hill Township, whereon he settled in 1855. Our subject was born in
Anderson County, Ky., November 23, 1825. He is a son of John and Melville
(Berry) Elliott, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky, in which
latter State they were married and where they began the serious
consideration of life together on a farm. Our subject's father died in 1846.
His mother subsequently came to Illinois and passed her declining years with
her son, passing away from this life at the advanced age of seventy-eight
years.
The original of our sketch was one of eleven children and the youngest of
these was twelve years of age before there was a death in the family. Our
subject was the sixth in the family in order of birth, having five older and
five younger brothers and sisters. During boyhood his school advantages were
limited, but since reaching manhood he has applied himself diligently to
study, and is a voracious reader of good literature.
While yet a youth, he learned the trade of carpentry in Indiana, to which
State he had removed settling in Davis County, where he remained for some
time. He later went to Marion County. He was united in marriage with Mary J.
Brown, on the 23d of July, 1848. The lady was a daughter of Lewis L. and
Mary (Johnson) Brown. She was born in Marion County, Ind., January 12, 1832.
Soon after marriage, our subject with his wife, came to Shelby County and
settled on the farm where he now resides. At that date he purchased two
hundred and thirty acres of Government land, which was then new and
unbroken. Upon it he has made valuable improvements, having erected a
commodious and comfortable dwelling, with barns and outhouses necessary for
the protection and accommodation of his stock.
When Mr. Elliott settled upon the prairie, there was no one else living any
place near, and he has thus seen the development of the whole State. Pana
was unknown al that date, and the Illinois Central Railroad was not yet
completed. Our subject has given his undivided attention to farming and
mixed husbandry. He is now the owner of three hundred and thirty acres of
land which, with the exception of twenty acres of tine prairie land, is
under thorough cultivation, and well improved in every way.
Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have been the parents of six children, whose names are:
Elizabeth L.. John Irvin. Emma. Walter and Fannie. One child died in
infancy. Elizabeth is the wife of Moses E. Simmons, of Pana; John Irvin is a
resident in Nevada. Mo.: Emma and Walter remain at home, and are the
comforts of their parents" middle life: Fannie is the wife of Thomas
Finefrock, and resides in Pana, this State.
Extracted 09 Apr 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 488-491.
