George Elliott Family
Compiled and Edited by Michael R. Reilly
Last Revised 09/05/2012
MRS. GEORGE ELLIOTT, one of Waukesha County’s most highly respected ladies, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., November 24, 1831, and is a daughter of William Weaver, Sr., a sketch of whom appears
elsewhere in this work. She was a maiden of eight summers when, with her parents, she came to
Wisconsin. She acquired her education in the public schools and was trained to household duties.
With the family she went through the experiences of pioneer life, its hardships, trials and pleasures.
On the 19th of October, 1855, was celebrated the marriage of George Elliott and Susannah M. Weaver. He was a native of Kent County, Eng- land, born September 3, 1825. At a very early day he came to the Badger State, being numbered among the pioneer settlers of Lisbon Township of 1837. He had no capital at that time, but he was industrious and energetic, and made the most of his opportunities. He drove the oxen which turned
the first furrow for the canal at Milwaukee, and at one time he knew every settler in the wliole town-
ship. His hrst home was a log cabin, the floor of which was made of rough, loose boards. He ground coin in an old coffee mill to make “johnny cake,” and did his harvesting with a cradle and flail, and used other primitive implements in his farm work. He frequently killed deer and thus supplied the table with meat. Indians still visited the neighborhood, and the unimproved condition of the county did not seem to indicate that in course of time it would rank among the leading counties of the state.
To Mr. and Mrs. Elliott were born twelve children, seven sons and Ave daughters, of whom eight
are yet living. Ida J. is the wife of John R. Small, a prosperous farmer of Lisbon Township. Emma L. is the wife of Edward Peffer, a lumber merchant of Pewaukee, Wis. George W. resides
with his mother on the old homestead, and super- intends the farm. He is a stanch Republican and a young man possessed of many excellencies of character. Frederick S. married Miss Lillie May, a native of Milwaukee, where he follows mechanical pursuits. Retta S., also of Milwaukee, is preparing herself for work as a trained nurse. Eleanor C. is one of the successful teachers of Lisbon, and is now serving her fourth
term in one school. She was educated in the Sussex school and in the Union school of Waukesha.
She is an active member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church of Sussex, and is a faithful worker in the
Good Templar’s Lodge of that place, now serving as its Secretary. Roderick S., who is now a student in the White Water Normal School, began teaching at the age of eighteen, at Lannon Spring,
and had an enrollment of ninety-five pupils, with an average attendance of about seventy. Al-
though so young, his work proved very satisfactory- Edward S. completes the family.
In his political views Mr. Elliott was a Demo- crat until the breaking out of the war, after which
he became a stanch Republican. He was honored with a number of local otiices, and ever discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity. He helped to survey the ground for Carroll College. AVhen the gold fever broke out in California he went thither in 1849, and remained there four years. He w.is numbered among the influential members of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church and was serving as vestryman at the time of his death. He passed away February 26, 18112, and his loss was widely and deeply mourned, for he was an honorable, upright gentleman, a loyal citizen, a true friend and a loving and tender imsband and father. Mrs. Elliott is also a failiiful inumher of the Episcopal t’luirch, and is a lady highly esteemed for her many excellencies of character. She is now living on the old homestead, which comprises eighty-two acres of land and is pleasantly located between Templeton and Sussex. Ilcr friends are many, and with pleasure we pre-
sent to our readers this record of her life.