Among the earlier merchants who contributed largely to the growth and
prosperity of LaSalle, Illinois, is George A. Elliott, a retired citizen of
that thriving little city. He was born in the northern part of Ireland, near
the city of Dublin, on July 27, 1832. His parents were George and Fanny
(Bourne) Elliott, who came to America in 1851. The father was a farmer by
occupation in his native country, although he held a number of offices under
the English government, serving at one time as deputy sheriff of the county
of Louth, Ireland, and later as assessor and tax collector. After bringing
his family to this country he did not engage in business, but lived in
retirement at LaSalle until his death in the fall of 1870, after having
reached his seventy-second year. His wife was sixty-eight years of age at
the time of her death, which occurred in 1868. They were both members of the
church of England, and were worthy Christian people. Their family consisted
of thirteen children, of whom nine reached adult years and six are still
living. These are as follows: Fanny, a resident of Ireland; Eliza, widow of
F. I. Foote, of this city: George A., our subject; Harriet, wife of Jacob P.
Bixler, of Augusta, Kansas; Joseph I., of Manitoba; and Charlotte, wife of
Thomas Heathcote, who resides three miles north of LaSalle. Both the
paternal and maternal grandparents were lifelong residents of Ireland, the
latter being a wealthy resident of Dublin, where he spent the evening of his
life.
George A. Elliott was reared on his father's farm and given an
education in the schools of Dublin. When he was nineteen he came to America
with his parents and has since been a resident of LaSalle, living here more
than forty-eight years. He was industrious and energetic, always finding
employment of some kind by which to earn his living. When the discovery was
made that coal was to be had here for the digging, he was placed in the
management of the mines at Hog's Back, the mining village three miles north
of LaSalle. This he managed most successfully and then turned his attention
to other business. He engaged in selling agricultural implements, in 1862,
at the corner of First and Joliet streets, and continued in that line of
business for twenty-one years. In connection with this line of goods he
handled feed and flour, finding these very profitable articles of commerce.
He handled his affairs with success, but on account of failing health had to
retire from active work in 1883, since when he has resided at No. 1118 Creve
Coeur street, LaSalle, in retirement from active business cares.
On
the 28th day of November, 1865, Mr. Elliott led to the altar Miss Jennett,
daughter of Aaron and Nancy (Winters) Gunn. The parents of Mrs. Elliott were
among the earliest settlers in this county. Her father was born in
Massachusetts and her mother was a native of Ohio. Five children were born
to Mr. and Mrs. Elliott, three of whom have been spared to bless the lives
of their parents, while two were taken in their infancy, to ''blossom in the
garden of the Lord." The surviving children are: Francis B., a carpenter;
Jessie B., who resides with her parents; and Harriet Elizabeth, a bookkeeper
who has been for several years employed in the office of the Electric Street
Railway Company. Mr. Elliott affiliates with the Republican party, and shows
an intelligent interest in both municipal and national affairs, but has
never allowed himself to be drawn into the whirlpool of politics. In
religion both he and his estimable wife are devout members of the Baptist
church.
Extracted 22 Dec 2017 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 536-537.
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