WILLIAM J. ELLIOTT, a prosperous merchant and substantial citizen of Canonsburg, was born December 15, 1857, Cecil township, Washington county. The family were natives of New Jersey, where the great-grandfather, William Elliott, was married and reared a large family of children. In 1799 he and his family crossed the mountains to Washington county, Penn., and located permanently on a small homestead in Cecil township. His son William, also a native of New Jersey, always worked on the farm, and when a young man was married to a Miss Smith, of Washington county, who bore him three children, namely: Ellen (Mrs. James Moore), James S. and William. The father was a leading politician in the Whig party, and in religion was an active member of Dr. McMillan's Church, the first church founded in Washington county. James S. Elliott also passed his entire life on the old place in Cecil township, where he attended school. He was married to Mary, daughter of John Wilson, a native of Allegheny county, Penn., and the children born to this marriage were as follows: John W., Lizzie, Maxwell, William J. and Mary B. Of these children Lizzie, Maxwell and Mary B. are deceased. John W., the eldest son, attended Washington and Jefferson College, then, entering Princeton at the age of seventeen years, took a postgraduate course. After completing his general studies he took a course at the Theological Seminary, graduating with honor in his twentieth year, and receiving his first call to preach before he was twenty-one. The father was a very prominent man in all local enterprises, and during the Civil war he was one of the relief committee appointed by the county to aid the destitute. He was one of the first citizens of Washington county to introduce the Spanish Merino sheep. In politics he was a Whig and Republican, and served as justice of the peace many years, county commissioner two terms, and in various other capacities. He first joined the Seceder Church, then united with the Chartiers U. P. Church, of which he was a trustee. He died March 18, 1874, and August 25, 1882, his widow followed him to the grave. William J. Elliott was born in Cecil township, and received a good business education. He managed the home place for some time, and on December 14, 1882, was married to Flora J., daughter of Enoch Hixon, a native of Canonsburg, Penn. They have three sons, namely: James Maxwell, John Lloyd and Norwood. In 1886 Mr. Elliott entered into partnership with D. F. Young, a hardware merchant of Canonsburg, and in 1891 Mr. Elliott purchased the entire business, which is now the most extensive of any in the place; He handles all kinds of farm machinery, in addition to the regular lines in the hardware trade. He is an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and in religion is a member of the U. P. Church, to which he gives a liberal support.

Text taken from page 1108 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Jean Suplick Matuson of Plano, TX as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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