Biographical Sketch of John Frizzell Elliott, Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** John Frizzell Elliott (better known as "J. Lell Elliott") proprietor of the "Walnut Hill Stock Farm," was born February 5, 1864, in Holmes county, Ohio, a son of Moses and Martha (Frizzell) Elliott, the former, a native of Holmes county, Ohio and the latter, of Maryland. Moses Elliott was born in 1826 and he was reared and educated in Holmes coun- ty. He was united in marriage with Martha Frizzell and to them were born the following children: Elmira, married James Reid, and they are both now deceased; Mary J., Warrensburg; James B., a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Emma, married Adolph Spiess, and is now deceas- ed; John Frizzell, the subject of this review, and Martha A., wife of J. A. Statler, Akron, Ohio, who are twins; and Cora W. died in 1916. All the children of Moses and Martha Elliott were born in Holmes county Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott moved from Ohio to Johnson county, Missouri in 1872 and settled on a farm in Warrensburg township, which place is now owned by their son, James B. Elliott. The death of the father occ- urred in the spring of 1895 and the mother died in 1909. The remains of both parents were interred in the cemetery at Warrensburg. John F. Elliott attended the public school of Warrensburg and the Warrensburg State Normal School. His three sisters were teachers and both Emma and Cora were graduates of the Normal School. Cora Elliott was a graduate in the class of 1885 and Mrs. Adolph Spiess graduated prior to that date. All taught in their home district school, the Union Prairie dis- trict. Mr. Elliott remained at home with his parents until his marriage in 1897. In 1897, John Frizzell Elliott and Anna Thompson were united in marriage. Mrs. Elliott was a student in the Warrensburg State Nor- mal school at the time of her marriage. She is a graduate of the C course in that institution. Anna (Thompson) Elliott is the daughter of M. J. and Rhoda (Hart) Thompson. Mrs. Thompson was born in Cole county, Illinois, and is now deceased. Her death occurred in 1914 and inter- ment was made in Carthage cemetery. Mr. Thompson is a retired merchant, now residing in Joplin, Missouri. M. J. and Rhoda (Hart) Thompson were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Mary Belle Eckert, Wasco, California; Aura, who lives at home with her father; E. W., Joplin, Mo.; and Edward, who was an engineer employed by the Missouri, Kansas & Topeka Railway Company, and in 1909 was accidently killed at Chaffee, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have been born three children: Ruth, James Edward, and J. Lell, Jr., all at home. Ruth is a student in the Normal School. The "Walnut Hill Stock Farm," of which John F. Elliott is the owner, is a beautiful place, comprising 200 acres of valuable land, 40 acres of which are in timber and 160 acres of splendid, well watered upland. Five acres of the farm are in alfalfa, which has a re- markable record of standing eight years. Many farmers in this section of the country have tried alfalfa and have failed. The "Walnut Hill Stock Farm" was formerly the James Shumate place. Mr. Shumate purchas- ed the land from Mr. Adams, who entered it from the government. James Shumate came to Johnson county in the early thirties. About 1875, Moses Elliott purchased the farm from James Shumate and for nearly 20 years the place was known as the "Elliott Ranch" and the two boys, James B. and John F., were engaged in raising stock on the place, com- ing from their home two miles away to attend to their interests on the Ranch. The present residence was built in 1897 and the three barns in 1897, 1904 and 1913. Mr. Elliott devotes most of his attention to stock raising, handling for the past ten years purebred Shorthorn cattle for which he has ever found a ready market. Mrs. Elliott raises purebred Barred Plymouth Rock chickens. She has complete charge of the poultry industry on the "Walnut Hill Stock Farm" and her success is sufficient proff that the industry is in competent hands. Both Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are widely known and esteemed in Johnson county. There is no better view of the surrounding country than the one from Walnut Hill Stock Farm. For 20 miles or more, one can scan the country from this old, historical place. Charming as is the location and view, the farm has other attractive features for the historian. The old Shumate home is still standing, a house which was built in the thirties or forties. It was originally a log cabin, but many years after it was erected the logs were covered with native lumber. The house is now deserted. There are five tombstones in the old family burial ground of the Shumates and they tell the following somber facts: "James Shumate. Born in Henry county, Virginia. October 13, 1913. Died December 9, 1883." "Susan- nah, the wife of James Shumate. Born in Wilkes county, North Carolina, November 27, 1815. Died February 24, 1882." "William D. Shumate. Born in Johnson county, Missouri, May 9, 1836. Died January 20, 1875." "Nancy J., daughter of J. and S. Shumate. Born February 9, 1850. Died November 24, 1854." "Isaac, son of J. and S. Shumate. Born November 9, 1852. Died May 25, 1853." Lingering beside the stones, which mark the last resting places of a family who lived and moved amid the scenes of the long ago, one receives the impression that a spirit of weird melancholy pervades the spot. John Shumate now resides on part of his father's homestead, where he was born 75 years ago. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================