California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 COLUMBUS WATSON ELLIOTT. Very early in the history of the United States Andrew Elliott came to this country from Scotland and settled in Maine, where he built and operated a grist and saw mill at New Portland, remaining in the same town as long as he lived. He was a man of sturdy principles, irreproachable character and a devoted member of the Baptist Church. After his death the mill was managed by his son, Robert, who was born in New Port- land and continued there until his death. Afterward the old mill descended to the hands of his son James, who like himself had been born and reared in New Portland, and this third owner of the mill not only superintended its management, but also followed the millwright's trade and built mills in different parts of Maine. After retiring from business affairs he turned the mill over to the charge of his son-in-law, D. Butler, and it still remains in the family. In religious belief James Elliott was a Universalist. At the time of his death he was seventy-four years of age. By his marriage to Rebecca Kasley, who was born in Maine and died there at the age of sev- enty, he had three children, of whom Columbus Watson was second in order of birth, and he and a sister are the only survivors. He was born at the old home place in New Portland, Me., June 17, 1841, and received a common-school education in the town, after which he was appren- ticed to the carpenter's trade. On leaving home in 1867 Mr. Elliott went to Minnesota, where he engaged in the building business at Lakeland, Washington county. From there he came to California in 1873 and endeav- ored to secure work in San Diego, but the building business was dull, so he sought other em- ployment. Going thirty-two miles east of that city he began to farm a raw tract of land, but at the end of a year he had nothing but debts to show for all his hard work, so he decided it would be wise to seek another location. Packing his blankets, he proceeded to the Julian mines. where he worked for two years. With the money thus secured he returned to his ranch and re- mained there three years, paying off all of his indebtedness by 1879. During that year he came to Tulare county and settled at Cross Creek, where he followed the carpenter's trade. In 1880 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land at $5 an acre and two years later settled on the tract, at once beginning the improvement of the wild land. Not a tree was in sight and no buildings had been erected, but it was not many years before the place had taken on a homelike appearance under his capable oversight and constant care. For three years he gave his attention entirely to raising wheat, but since then he has raised other kinds of grain and has also made a specialty of the stock business. A small part of the land has been sold, but he still owns one hundred and forty acres, situated six miles southwest of Dinuba and four and one-half miles north of Traver. The marriage of Mr. Elliott was solemnized at the Snedeker home near Smith Mountain, Fresno county, and united him with Laura Snedeker, who was born in New Orleans, La., of Ger- man descent, came to California in 1873, and died in Tulare county on the home farm, Feb- ruary 22, 1904, leaving to mourn her loss Mr. Elliott and their four children, Amy, Etta, Claudia and Ira. Among the people of his community Mr. Elliott is highly esteemed for his qualities of mind and heart that have contributed to his success and have made him a progressive and public-spirited citizen. Though not active in politics, he has been a pronounced Republican ever since attaining his majority, and in 1894 he was his party's candidate for county super- visor, but, not desiring the office, he refused to enter into the work of the campaign, yet, not- withstanding his indifference, he lost only by two votes against two opponents, a fact which proves his popularity among associates and acquaintances.