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Maziah C. Edgar was born at Virginia, Cass county, Illinois, May 12, 1845. His father, George Edgar, was a native of Franklin county, Kentucky, and was there reared and married; he emigrated to Illinois at an early day, and was one of the honored pioneers of Schuyler county. After a few years he removed to Cass county, Illinois, and located at Virginia, engaging in farming near that place. In 1849, when the gold fever swept this country, he joined the train of emigrants journeying to the Pacific coast. He reamined in the Golden State sixteen years, and then returned to Illinois, and resumed agricultural pursuits in Cass county; his death occurred soon after his return. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Nall, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of Gabriel and Fanny Tuttl) Nall. To them were born four children: Martha, Robert, Amaziah C., the subject of this biography, and Henrietta.
Mr. Edgar received his education at Virginia, and in early life was thrown upon his own responsibility; he also assisted in the support of the family, and by industry and economy managed to save his earnings until he could get a start in the world. He resided at Virginia until after his marriage, and then revmoved to Macon county, Illinois, and purchased a farm near Niantic; here he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1882, when he sold this land and came to Rushville, where he lives a retired life.
He has been twice married: In 1868 he was united to Julia (Carr) Cook, a native of Cass county, Illinois, and a daughter of David Carr: her first husband was John Cook, and her death occurred in 1875. Mr. Edgar's second marriage was in 1878, to Eliza E. Ford, a native of Arkansas and a daughter of Elias E. Ford; her father was a Kenruckian by birth and one of the pioneers of Macon county, Illinois; he removed thence to Arkansas in search of health, but soon returned and now lives a retired life at Niantic; he married Sarah McDonald, a native of Ohio. Mrs. Edgar died at Las Vegas, New Mexico, April 23, 1892, on the thirty-fourth anniversary of her birth; she had gone there in quest of health, but the hand of death was laid upon her, and she was called from this life to the reality of the future. She was the mother of two children: Effie May and Ballinger. Mr. Edgar had one child by his first marriage. mamed Nevada. Politically he has always been a Democrat, and a stanch suppo9rter of the principles of the party. He represented Niantic on the County Board of Supervisors for six years and as a member of the County Central Committee. He was president of the Macon County Fair Association four years. He is a member of Rushville Lodge, No. 9, A.F. and A.M. In all the walks of life his action has been characterized by that integrity and honor which insures the respect and confidence of the entire community.
pg. 137-138
John Elliott, a retired farmer, living at the corner of Jackson and Seventh streets in Beardstown, Illinois, was born in county Antrim, Ireland, November 1830. He came of Scotch ancestry, of a very old family of pure blood, not mixed with Irish by marriage. He is the son of William Elliott of the same place, a farmer and a keeper of a public inn, who lived and died in that county at the age of forty years. His grandfather was David Elliott, a farmer of Scotland, who died when quite old. William Elliott was married to an Antrim lady of Scotch blood, whose name was Mary Thompson. She was the daughter of Robert and Mattie (Ridhie) Thompson, who were county Antrim farmers, and there Robert Thompson spent his last years, but his wife came with her son at an early day to Virginia, Cass county, Illinois.
John Elliott came of a large family, grew up in his native county, learned the tailor trade and afterward with his mother and brothers, in 1841, came to America and joined other brothers in Connecticut. In 1845 the mother and son came on to Cass county. Some worked the farm, and others followed their trade. The mother made her home with her children until her death, which occurred in 1877, aged eighty-four. She was a noble-hearted woman and had done much to help and encourage her children. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, a great student of Scotch history and literature, a fine reader of the Scotch dialect and a writer of some local repute. She also composed some music, which has been considered very fine. She is remembered as a noble, generous woman.
He lived for some years in Beardstown, sorking at his trade and with the money he made and saved, with his brother, David, he bought 160 acres of land near Virginia, later sold it and then purchased the 160 acres that became his home until his retirement. His farm, the scene of his labors, lies near the city of Beardstown. The land is highly improved, and has good buildings, and as he now enjoys the comforts of life he can remember that they have been obtained by his own efforts.
He was married the first time in Connecticut, to Margaret Frey of Ireland, who came to the United States in 1841, and after forty=eight years of married life left a bereaved husband, in 1890. The living children are: William W., of San Francisco, California; Thomas F., of Jewell county, Kansas; George W. of Holliday, Kansas; Robert S. of St Louis, Missouri; Lucy A., wife of John Thompson, of Jewell county, Kansas; and David H., now running his father's farm. Mr. Elliott was married a second time in this county, to Mrs. Ann E. Johnson, formerly, Hiles. She was born i New Jersey, December 12, 1823. She and her first husband came to Macoupin county in 1856, and he died there.
Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. Elliott is a Republican in politics and was a Whig.
pg. 333
