Charles S. Elliott

CHARLES S. ELLIOTT. Some of Topeka's most valuable citizenship has been furnished by the Elliott family during the past forty years. One of them was the late George N. Elliott, who was prominent as a lawyer and at one time filled the office of probate judge in Shawnee County. Mr. Charles S. Elliott, son of Judge Elliott, was for some years connected with the work of the first State Railway Commission of Kansas as its secretary, has been active in business affairs at Topeka for many years, and only recently retired from the office of president of the Topeka Commercial Club.

George N. Elliott, who came to Kansas in 1878, and began the practice of law at Topeka, was born at Millersburg, Ohio, grew up and received his education in that state, and later moved to Winterset, Iowa where he married Mary E. David. He continued the practice of law in Iowa. He possessed an intense loyalty to his country and its institutions, and early in the Civil war, leaving behind his young wife and two children, he went into the army, joining the Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was made captain of his company when mustered into service. He was in the war almost from the beginning until the end. He fought in the Atlanta campaign, on the march to the sea, the campaign through the Carolinas, and afterwards participated in the Grand Review at Washington of Sherman's victorious troops. He came out as brevet lieutenant-colonel of his regiment.

After the war Colonel Elliott moved his family to Warrensburg, Missouri, and from there went to Topeka in 1878. While living in Missouri he served as mayor of Warrensburg and as judge of the district courts. For two terms after coming to Topeka he was judge of the Probate Court for Shawnee County. Politically he was an uncompromising republican, and was especially an admirer of General Grant. He possessed an unusually kindly disposition at home and in his relations among his fellowmen, and was a brave soldier, an excellent lawyer, and a splendid gentleman. For years he was active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. His death occurred in 1889, while his wife passed away in 1911.

Mr. Charles S. Elliott was born at Winterset, Iowa, January 12, 1862, while his father was fighting the battles of his country, and he grew up in Missouri and in Topeka. He was graduated in the third class of the high school of Topeka and was also a student of the Missouri State Normal at Warrensburg.

In 1880 he entered the service of the Santa Fe Railway Company in a clerical capacity, and in 1886 became clerk to the first board of State Railway Commissioners of Kansas. In 1889 he was made secretary of the commission, an office he filled until 1893, and he is perhaps the best authority on the early relations between the railroads of Kansas and the state governing body.

In 1893 Mr. Elliott organized the Capitol Building and Loan Association, and is its managing officer and president of the Shawnee Investment Company. From 1895 to 1899, for two terms, he was city treasurer of Topeka. He also served twelve years on the governor's staff as paymaster general. It was during 1915 that he was president of the Topeka Commercial Club, and one of the noteworthy accomplishments of his administration was securing the contribution from Topeka to the Washburn College Endowment Fund. Mr. Elliott is a trustee of Washburn College. He is also an honorary member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.

In 1903 he married Mrs. Carry B. Prescott. Their two children are John and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are members of the Methodist Church.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
VOLUME 1 & 2
BIOGRAPHIES — VOLUMES 3, 4, & 5
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z