Albert E. Elliott

"Who Were His Parents and Family ?"

Researching the family history of Albert E. Elliott has been a challenging effort.  Finding information on who Albert’s parents and siblings were has been and is an ongoing challenge.  To date, all documentation that has been collected on the man contains no concrete information on who his parents were.  The following presents information that has been collected to date.

                             Birth Record

Documentation indicates that Albert was born sometime in 1871.  This has been determined from the 1910 and 1920 census records, which are the only census records he appears in.  More is discussed about the census' below.  Birth and death records in the 1870’s and 1880’s were not kept from year to year and as such, records for some years during this period are not available.  A record of birth for Albert has not been found.

Marriage Certificate

Albert Elliott was married to Margaret Alice Arnold, daughter of John Marion Arnold and Elizabeth Frances White.  Albert and Margaret were married October 20, 1897 in Hancock County, Kentucky.  The below marriage certificate shows that they were married at the home of Margaret’s father.  Witnesses listed do not include any Elliott surnames.  Margaret’s middle name was “Alice”, but on the marriage certificate it was written incorrectly as “Alimer”.  This marriage certificate is the only document found so far that presents Albert’s names as “Albert”.  The remaining documentation presented through this history states Albert’s name as either “A. E. Elliott” or “Allie Elliott”.

Land Records

A well known Elliott family of Hancock County in the late 1880’s was William T. Elliott and his wife Lucretia Adaline “Mitchell”.  Census records indicate that William and Adaline had six biological children:  Victoria I. Elliott;  William Joshua Elliott;  Elizabeth Jennie Elliott; James Elliott;  Eldred J. Elliott;  and Martha Addie Elliott. 

Lucretia Adaline Elliott (Mitchell) died in 1889.  Information contained in a property transaction (deed) in September, 1899, shows that two parties were involved.  The first party was comprised of the above biological children of William and Adaline Elliott, excluding the name of their son James.  (It is believed that James may have died prior to this, but no records are available.)  The second party contains A. E. Elliott (Albert) and his wife Maggie.  The first and second parties are stated at the end of the deed as inheriting a part of land that was owned by Adaline at the time of her death, and that the two parties are “the only heirs at law” of Adaline.  This statement in the deed is an indication that Albert Elliott was related to Adaline.  A copy of the deed can be found at the end of this history writing.

Other land transactions were conducted between Albert Elliott and Eldred J. Elliott in the early 1900's prior to 1910.  It is my belief that Albert is related this family, but....... "how", is the question.

Census Information

The United States census records are currently available for the years 1790 through 1930 – containing household information for families during the turn of each decade (1850, 1860, etc.)  Albert Elliott and his family do not appear in any of the census records until the 1910 and 1920 Hancock County Kentucky censuses.  It is from these two census records that Albert’s birth year of approximately 1871 is determined.  Unfortunately, no Albert E. Elliott or any derivative of the name is found in the 1880 census records for Hancock County, KY or any of the neighboring counties including across the Ohio River in the Indiana counties of Perry and Spencer.  No information has been found on what the “E” stands for in Albert's name either.

Another possibility - census information shows that William T. Elliott and Adaline’s son, James Elliott, was also born in 1871.  Speculation has been made that James Elliott and Albert Elliott might be the same individuals, but I tend to rule that out as I have not found any way to turn the name “James” into Albert, Allie, or A. E.

Albert Elliott – His Marriage and Family

Like most everyone else in the Hancock County area, Albert was a farmer.  Information available indicates that he was a tobacco farmer.  A review of the deed books from the early 1900’s kept at the Hancock County KY Administration Building show a number of land purchases and sales between Albert Elliott, Eldred Elliott, John Arnold and others.

The first appearance of Albert Elliott in a census record is in the 1910 Hancock County Kentucky census – Utility Precinct.  Albert’s name is written as, Allie E. Elliott, head of household age 39, born in Kentucky with both parents born in Kentucky.  The name Allie appears in several of the documents found for Albert.  Albert’s occupation is listed as a farmer.  His wife’s name is listed as Margarette, age 34.  Three children are given:  Guy G., age 9; Thomas A., age 5; and Albert F.; age 1 and 3 mos.

1910 Hancock Co., KY Census for Albert Elliott

Albert Elliott and his family are listed again in the 1920 Hancock County Kentucky census – Magi?? District.  Albert’s name is written as Allen E. Elliott, head of household age 49.  His wife’s name is listed as Maggie, age 43.  His occupation continues to be listed as a farmer.  Four children are given:  Gilbert, age 18;  Thomas, age 14;  Fielden, age 11; and Brooks, age 2.

1920 Hancock Co., KY Census for Albert Elliott

Based on statements made in court records filed by Margaret Elliott in June 1913 for separation, Albert Elliott was an abusive husband.  No indications are given in the records that he was abusive to the children.  The record also indicates that Albert spent time at the Western State Hospital for the Insane in Hopkinsville, KY.  A search was performed by current hospital admissions personnel for any records of Albert’s stay.  The only item found was an admissions card.  A copy of the card is shown below.

(front of card)

(back of card)

It is my guess that Albert spent time at Western State because of his abusive nature.  This is the only assumption that can be made at this time.  After his release from the hospital, Albert and Margaret made an agreement to stay together based on a promise from Albert that he would “amend his treatment of Margaret”.  Her statements indicate that she returned to Albert on the urging on one of her brothers who was a pastor.

The marriage went on for another seven years with the birth of their daughter, Brooks Elizabeth Elliott, taking place in 1917.  The problems between Albert and Margaret continued over these years.  On January 1, 1921, Margaret filed for divorce citing ongoing abuse by Albert. 

Sometime during the same year of 1921, Albert, and the male children, migrated southwest to the Hickman County and Fulton County, Kentucky area.  It is unknown whether Margaret and Brooks went with them at this time.  The men lived in an area of the “Upper Bottoms” along the Mississippi River around the city of Hickman, KY.  The first indicator for this move comes from the death certificate of the youngest son, Fielden Elliott.  He died of “Acute Nephritis” (inflammation of the kidneys) on October 30, 1921 in Hickman County, KY.  He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery just west of Clinton, KY.  The remaining children were married in Fulton County, KY. 

According to her death certificate, Margaret Elliott died of Pneumonia on February 11, 1930 in the city of Hickman, KY.  This is an indicator that she came to the Hickman area at some point after she and  Albert divorced, or she was brought there after her death.  No evidence has been found to determine exactly when she came.   The oldest son, Gilbert, died in 1934 of Pneumonia.  The 1930 census shows Brooks living in Michigan with one of Margaret’s brother’s, Urey B. Arnold.  Brooks came to the Hickman area sometime before 1934, as she was married to Raymond Rice in Hickman, KY in 1934.  Brooks died in 1938 of a heart attack which was set on from Pulmonary Tuberculosis.  Thomas died in 1940 from Chronic Malaria.  All of the family members are buried at Oakwood Cemetery outside of Clinton, KY (Hickman County).

In the end, Albert E. Elliott, out-lived his entire family.  According to his death certificate, Albert died on November 19, 1944 due to a concussion he received as the result of a fall.  No obituary was listed in the local Hickman, KY newspaper.  Due to his age in the 1930's, when the Social Security Administration was created, Albert did not obtain a social security card, so no record exists with them.

Below is the Deed mentioned in the "Land Records" section above.

Deed

(Part 1)

 (Part 2)