William Elliot
William Elliot, a leading tobacconist of Henderson, Kentucky, son of H. Clay and Elizabeth (Palmer) Elliott, was born in Daviess County, Kentucky, August 14, 1857. He was educated in the public schools of Henderson, and after leaving school he began the business of stemming tobacco and preparing it for the English market. In 1892 he built a large stemmery, which was burned May 1, 1895, with a loss of about $50,000. He subsequently bought the old Shelby property and equipped it thoroughly, in which he continued his business with only temporary interruption, and in which he has been remarkably successful. He is a man of great energy and push, of more than ordinary enterprise and of reliable business judgment.
He is interested in some of the leading business enterprises of the city, particularly the Farmers’ Bank, a branch of the Farmers’ Bank of Kentucky, at Frankfort, which has a capital of $360,000, the largest capital held by any bank in the state outside of the city of Louisville. Mr. Elliott is Vice-President of the Henderson branch of this strong financial institution. He has served six or eight years as trustee of the public schools, and has always taken a deep interest in the cause of education and in the moral and religious welfare of his city, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and for fifteen years superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Elliott has performed well his part as a good citizen, voting according to the dictates of his conscience and using his influence in behalf of men and measures for the best interests of society.
He was married December 29, 1879, to Mary Nunn of Henderson ; and the result of this union is a happy family of four children.
Mr. Elliott’s father was a native of Nelson County, who removed to Daviess County after his marriage. His mother was a native of Washington County, Kentucky, and was a daughter of Robert Palmer, and granddaughter of the eminent jurist, Ben Hardin.
Dr. William Elliott (grandfather) is now living in New Haven, Nelson County, where he practiced medicine for many years, and is now ninety seven years of age.
Robert Palmer (maternal grandfather) was a resident of Springfield, Washington County, Kentucky, and his mother was a daughter of Ben Hardin. (See Collins’ History, p. 646.)
Source: Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. John M. Gresham Company, Chicago, Philadelphia, 1896. Courtesy of the Daviess County Bicentennial Committee