DANIEL MITCHEL ELLIOT

Daniel Mitchel Elliot, son of Dr. Jacob Gault and Betsey Tyler (Moore) Elliot, was born October 7, 1842, at Littleton, Massachusetts. He received his preparatory training at Pembroke Academy, Pembroke, New Hampshire, and entered college at the beginning of Freshman Fall term, August 24, 1860.

He completed the full course; and after graduating, he received a position as clerk in the office of the Central Vermont Railroad, at St. Albans, Vermont, which he held from September 5, 1864, to May 13, 1865. He then devoted himself to teaching for a few years, his first location being at Castine, Maine, where he was Principal of the High School from May 22, 1865, until March 2, 1866. He then taught the Academy at McIndoes Falls, Vermont, until the Fall of 1868. He then decided to study medicine, and went to Pembroke, New Hampshire, as a pupil of Dr. B. H. Phillips, and afterward to Manchester, New Hampshire, under the instruction of Drs. W. D. Buck & L. B. How. He attended one course of lectures at Dartmouth Medical College, and one at Harvard Medical School, where he graduated in June, 1869. He commenced practice immediately at Littleton, Massachusetts, and remained there until April, 1871, when he removed to Harrisville, New Hampshire, and practiced for one year. In May, 1872, he moved to Yarmouth, Maine, giving up medicine temporarily, and took charge of the Academy at that place as Principal, remaining there only until October, 1872.

At this time, he went to South Deerfield, Massachusetts, and resumed the practice of medicine, continuing there until the Spring of 1877, when he removed to Peabody, Massachusetts, where he remained with increasing success in his chosen profession until his death. He received the degree of Master of Arts in course, from Dartmouth. He was a member of the Peabody Board of Health; also a prominent Odd-Fellow, and was identified with several other secret societies.

In July, 1882, he had become worn out with hard work, and having more care than usual, he gave up, one afternoon, to rest a little while, saying he was not sick, but only tired. It proved to be the beginning of an attack of inflammation of the meninges of the brain, which steadily progressed to a fatal termination. He was able to speak to his wife a little at times, though it was extremely painful for him to do so. His chief anxiety seemed to be for his wife, and two nieces, whom they had adopted. His death occurred on July 26, 1882, at Peabody, Massachusetts. His funeral was attended in the old South Church, the Odd-Fellows of the town having charge of the remains, and attending them to the depot in a body, while four of their number were sent to Littleton, Massachusetts, where the body was interred. The expressions of sympathy which were uttered, the reminiscences of his uniform kindness to those in distress or suffering, his charity to those in need, and his unswerving purpose to do the right, were frequent, and showed that he had endeared himself wonderfully to the hearts of his fellow citizens. A newspaper published in the town of Peabody concludes a notice of him thus: "Fortunate, indeed, will be our town, if, in all the duties which he has been called upon to perform, shall be found one upon whom his mantle is worthy to fall." He was a member of the Congregational church. He always took an active interest in politics, though never desiring office. He was a strong Republican.

He was married September 22, 1870, to Miss Sarah A. Childs, of McIndoes Falls, Vermont, who survives him. They had no children.

Source: "Memorialia of the Class of '64 in Dartmouth College" complied by John C. Webster, Shepard & Johnston, Printers, 1884, Chicago

Submitted by Deborah Crowell