Preston County, West Virginia          Biography of Mahala Jane ELLIOTT

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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923,  The American Historical Society, Inc.
Chicago and New York, Volume ll.
pg. 117-118


Mahala Jane Elliott, a business woman of Kingswood, a native of Preston,
County and a member of an old and well connected family near Newburg.

Her grandfather, Thomas Shay, founded the family near Newburg. He was the 
grandson of an Irishman who established this branch of the Shay family in 
America. Thomas Shay served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Otherwise his
life was devoted to his farm, and he never sought the distinctions of public
service. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was about 
eighty years of age when he died. Thomas Shay married Phoebe A. Sidewell,
who survived him three years. Their children were: Ezekiel, a blacksmith, 
who died in Monongalia County; Mary, who became the wife of Alfred Moreland
and died in Barbour County; Rees, a farmer who died in Preston County;
Benjamin, who died on his farm in Lyon District of that county; Hugh, who 
spent his life as a farmer in Preston County; Jesse, a farmer of Preston 
County; Debbie, who died in Preston County, the wife of William Shannon; 
and James.

James Shay, youngest of the children and the father of Mrs. Elliott of Kingswood,
was born near Newburg, October 7, 1829. He became a farmer and besides
cultivating the soil raised stock on a rather extensive scale. His entire 
life was spent on the farm where he was born. He died there in May. 1878. He 
participated in politics only to the extent of voting, and like all the other
members of the Shay family, was a stanch Republican. James Shay married Mary
Hanway, daughter of Samuel and Mahala (Cox) Hanway. Samuel Hanway was a resident
of Reno District in Preston County, but in the early 70's removed to Kansas and
settled in Bourbon County, and he died at Barnsville. His children were: Mary,
George, Ezekiel, Mrs. Sarah Bishop, Mrs. Rachel Bishop, Mrs. Jane Thomas, James 
Madison, Holton, Mrs. Rebecca Shaw, john, who died during the Civil War at Camp
Chase, Ohio, Robert, and Joseph, a resident of Howard, Kansas. Three of the 
children, Ezekiel, George, and Mrs. Sarah Bishop, died in Bourbon County, 
Kansas. Mrs. James Shay died April 5, 1892, mother of the following children: 
Mrs. Mahala Elliott; Thomas R. of Tunnelton; Carmac and George L., of Kingswood;
Elizabeth E., whose first husband was Walter B. Garner and she is now the wife 
of Elmer Christopher, of Kingswood; Dela A., wife of Waitman T. Newcomb, of 
Kingswood; and Ella, wife of Charles A. Fletcher, of Washington D.C.

Mahala Jane Shay was born at Newburg, March 1, 1860. She and the other children
had only the advantage of the common schools, and her years were spent at the
old homestead until her marriage on December 20. 1891, to James M. Elliott. 
Mr. Elliott was born and brought up on a farm within three miles of Kingswood.
His father was John Elliott, and he was the youngest of the children to reach 
mature years, the others being Isaac, William, Mrs. Rebecca Bailey, Mrs. Nancy
Forker, Samuel, John Dougherty and Mrs. Minerva Bailey.

When Mr. and Mrs. Elliott were married they established themselves on the old 
Elliott farm, and lived there until Mr. Elliott's death, which occurred January
12, 1912. Mr. Elliott was chiefly interested in the efficient conduct of his 
farm, and outside of this he worshiped as a Methodist and voted as a stanch 
republican. The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Elliott was named John Shay,
and died at the age of three years.

Mrs. Elliott in 1919 removed to Kingswood and has since engaged in the grocery 
and confectionery business. She cast her first ballot in 1920, and the head of
the ticket bore the name Warren G. Harding.