Biography of William J. Elliott

WILLIAM J. ELLIOTT, cashier of the First National Bank
of Princeton, has been identified with the mining district
of the state for a number of years as an accountant with
mining companies, and has had a progressive series of re-
sponsibilities in the industrial and commercial affairs of
Mercer County.

Mr. Elliott was born in Ashe County, North Carolina,
August 13, 1877, son of Monroe and Mary (Hamm) Elliott,
and of Scotch and Irish ancestry. His father was born in
North Carolina and his mother in Virginia. His grand-
father Elliott lived to the age of 103 years and his grand-
mother Elliott to 107. Several of the family, particularly
on his mother's side, were in the Civil war as Confederate
soldiers. His father's uncle, Nathaniel Price, was on Gen.
Wade Hampton's staff. Monroe Elliott was a farmer and
Baptist minister, and closely identified with church and
educational affairs.

William J. Elliott acquired a common school education
through the limited facilities of log cabin schools in the
farming district of Western North Carolina, and much of
his study he accomplished at night by the light of a wood
fire. In 1894 he graduated from a high school at Lansing,
North Carolina, and for three following years taught school.
In 1897 he spent two terms in a business college at Solitude,
North Carolina, and with that qualification entered upon
his business career as an accountant and bookkeeper. Com-
ing to West Virginia at Maybeury, he became bookkeeper
for the Shamokin Coal & Coke Company for two years and
then for a year did bookkeeping for the Wareagle Coal &
Coke Company, Papoose Coal & Coke Company, and the
Margarett Mining Company. He spent another year with
the Crystal Coal & Coke Company at Crystal, West Virginia,
and was then appointed general superintendent in charge
of the plant of the Hiawatha Coal & Coke Company, and
held that position four years, in the meantime becoming
interested in banking. He left the Hiawatha Company to
become cashier of the Bank at Matoaka, and in 1917 was
elected sheriff of Mercer County. Mr. Elliott gave the
county a highly efficient service as a sheriff for four years.
While in the office he became financially interested in and
was elected a director of the First National Bank of
Princeton, and on leaving office he became cashier.

Mr. Elliott married at Matoaka in 1907 Miss Ada God-
frey, daughter of James A. and Mary (Miller) Godfrey, of
West Virginia. They have four children: Godfrey, Lucy
May, Frances Nell and Mary Ruth. The family are mem-
bers of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Elliott is a Royal
Arch and Knight Templar Mason and Shriner, and is
affiliated with the Elks, Knights of Pythias and Loyal
Order of Moose. He is a member of the Business Men's
Club of Princeton and a charter member of the Princeton
Country Club.

From The History of West Virginia, Old and New, page 46-47

Submitted by Valerie F. Crook <vfcrook@trellis.net>

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