Bernard Elliott taught the second grade in the Lee District of Calhoun County public schools during 1915.
This is the certificate issued by the West Virginia Dept. of Free Schools certifying his authority to teach. Also included is an image of the back of the certificate with additional information.
This is a small, pocket notebook -- approx. 3.5" wide and 6" tall -- previously in the possession of Maxine (Elliott) Mottice. The dates of the entries range from 1909 to 1924, two years prior to his marriage.
Most of the notes in this book are school facts, that is, things that a young student would be expected to know about politics, geography, grammar, etc. Since Bernard taught 2nd grade sometime around 1915 it is easy to assume that these notes had something to do with his teaching position.
There are several other interesting entries in this notebook. The first is three pages of what are apparently
time reports for "road work" Bernard and his family and friends did in 1924. The dates recorded range from January to May of that year and there is no indication, unfortunately, where this work took place. On page does mention "removing rocks" and another "bridge". That suggests it is worth checking to see when the bridge over the Kanawha River in Grantsville was built.
Two of the the workers listed as part of the work team he was in were his brothers Oley and Alva. Two other Elliotts are mentioned as well. One is "Lum" Elliott, which was the 
nickname for Columbus Elliott -- Bernard's uncle -- who died in 1935. The other is Henry Elliott. I am not aware of any Henry Elliott who was alive at this time, so his identity is a mystery.
The other interesting entries in this notebook are scattered throughout its pages and give little clue about their origins. They are short notes -- several lines at most -- written to Bernard from females (I say females rather than girls since there is no indication of age) expressing their sentiments toward him.
Are they the musings of girlfriends who Bernard was cutting ties with after he met Goldie? Remember, the latest entry date for anything in the notebook is 1924, which is two years before he married Goldie. This explanation doesn't seem too likely since they are all written in the same notebook in their own hands.
Or might they be simply the words of overly romantic second grade girls who wanted to catch the attention of their teacher when they moved to a higher grade. (Though I would be alarmed if 2nd grade girls would write like this to their teachers). We may never know. In any event, they are amusing to read and, I hope, help us share in some of Bernard's experiences.
Think of me you can you must as long as you can. (?)ight a (?) but when you get one you cannot (?)ight. Think of me with all your might.
Yours, Susa
In the basket of rememberence (sic) please drop one glittering pearl. In hopes that you will remember this wayward naughty girl.
M--
In the slowly gathering twilight I am sitting all alone Thinking of the happy faces of the dear one back at Mt. Zion (at home).
Blanche
I want to clasp your dear hands, and fold them to my heart and say God bless your Darling once more before we part.
R.S.
Upon this page so pure and white let none but Friends presume to write and when you do look on it here for Friendship sake won't you shed a tear?
M--
Angels (?) drop the curtains (?) with a star. I am thinking of you Bernard wandering (sic) where you are. Emily
On these fair pages I claim a shot, to write these words for-get-me-not and if these words you do regret, just blot them out and me for-get.
Ruby
Charles Elliott, 1792-1869
Charles Elliott was a famous educator and theologian, well-known for several books that clearly make the case that there is no Scriptural basis for slavery, and another that was a detailed itemization of the distortions of Roman Catholicism. He emigrated to the U.S. in the early 19th century and taught at Ohio Wesleyan University and Iowa Wesleyan University.
According to family history, primarily a written history of Maxine Elliott Mottice (daughter of Bernard), Charles Elliott was the son of Henry Elliott, the most distant known ancestor of Bernard Elliott. Charles was born in Ireland, and his brother was Jabez Elliott, Sr., Bernard's great-grandfather.
I cannot verify this relationship, however. According to other web-based genealogies, Henry did not have a son named Charles, nor did Jabez, Sr. have a brother of that name.
But Nina Elliott Nicholas had several documents in her possession regarding Charles Elliott. These documents were the result of Bernard Elliott's inquiries about his great-great uncle.
The first document is an 1936 inquiry to Iowa Wesleyan here. It is not clear whether any of the documents we have were a response to this inquiry. But there was evidently another inquiry made a number of years later to Ohio Wesleyan University. OWU's response is here.
Iowa Wesleyan and Ohio Wesleyan supplied Bernard with a total 5 documents, all of which can be described as tributes to or biographies of Charles Elliott after his death. The first is an excerpt from the Annual Register of the Iowa Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, (p.1, p.2) dated 1869. Second is an excerpt from the Iowa Wesleyan History and Alumni Record. (p.1, p.2, p.3) No date is given for this.
Third is a story from the Pittsburgh Christian Advocate (p.1, p.2), evidently written shortly after his death. Fourth is report from the Western Christian Advocate of Cincinnati, also written shortly after his death and dated January 13, 1869 and written by a Bishop Clark (p.1, p.2, p.3). This one is particularly glowing in its description of Charles.
Last of the formal documents is an entry in the 1931 Cyclopedia of Methodism (p.1, p.2). One other document was included in Nina Elliott's papers. This was a poem, entitled "Flowers for the Living" -- but no date, no author, no identifying marks. Might it be Charles Elliott's?
Charles was a prolific writer, as mentioned above. Several of his anti-slavery writings are mentioned in the obituaries. His refutation of Roman Catholicism is available online here.
From the Calhoun County Chronicle, December 22, 1938
Goldie Reip Elliott, daughter of Frank A. and Victoria Reip, was born July 30, 1905, and died December 16, 1938, and the age of 33 years, 5 months and 126 days.
She was united in marriage to Bernard V. Elliott, October 27, 1926. To this union were born five children. One died in infancy. The following children survive; John Francis, Maxine, Pauline and Nina Rose. She is also survived by her husband, her father and three sisters; Mrs. Maude Irvin and Mrs. Merle Place of Little Hocking, Ohio and Mrs. Edith King of Euclid, W. Va. A number of other relatives and host of friends are left to mourn her.
She professed faith in Christ in early life. In December, 1927, she was baptized into the fellowship of Bethlehem Baptist Church of Grantsville, by Rev. M.P. Lowe. She was faithful to this covenant until her death. Funeral services were held in her home, sunday afternoon, December 18, at 1:30 by Rev. Fell Kennedy, pastor of the church. A short service was also held at the Mt. Zion Church where burial was made.
Jabez Elliott, Sr., great-grandfather of Bernard Elliott, married Elizabeth Wigner on Dec. 9 1807 in Harrison Co., Virginia. This area is now part of West Virginia, and is the county in which Clarksburg is located. The marriage bond was executed on Dec. 5, and indicates that Elizabeth's father was Daniel Wigner. The two documents are from the archives of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Vital Research Records.
Partial transcript (with adjustment to modern English) of the marriage bond is as follows:
Know all men by these presents, that we Jabish Elliott and Daniel Wigner are held and firmly bound unto William H. Cabell Esquire, Governor or Chief magistrate of the Commonwealth of Virginia, for the time being, and his ? ? to the use of the said commonwealth in the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars; to which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our and each of our heirs, executors and administrators, jointly and severally ? by these ?. Sealed with our seals, and dated this 5th day of December, 1807.
Whereas a marriage is suddenly intended to be had and solemnized between the above bound Jabish Elliott and Elizabeth Wigner, daughter of said Daniel both of this county. Now the condition of the above obligation is such, that if there be no lawful cause or just impediment to ? the said marriage, then the above obligation to be void, else to remain in full force and virtue.
Signed and sealed in the presence of Archibald B. Wilson
Jabish Elliott
Daniel Wigner
The marriage record simply says (it is the last item on the page):
"Dec. 9, Jabish Elet (sic) and Eliz. Wigner was (sic) married by me, John Davis"
This is a letter to Mrs. J.A. Elliott (Arminda Hathaway) from Mrs. Hattie Nelson, dated Sept. 16, 1926. It is a curious letter, not because of the content but because it still exists.
In the letter, Mrs. Nelson addresses
Mrs Elliott as "aunt" and informs her of the recent death of Mrs. Nelson's mother. She also asks Mrs. Elliott if she would notify "Uncle Frank" and "Aunt Duck."
Notice that the condition of the letter and the envelope is poor -- it appears to be partially eaten by moths or mice. Yet it was in the possession of Maxine Elliott Mottice, Arminda's grand-daughter, and she obviously kept it for many years.
Who is Hattie Nelson and who is her mother, and why was this letter kept? If Mrs. Nelson is a niece to Mrs. Elliott, she is probably a daughter (or daughter-in-law) to one of Arminda's or John A. Elliott's siblings. Since she wrote to Arminda rather than John, I presume her mother was a sister or sister-in-law to Arminda.
Moreover, she makes reference to two of Arminda's siblings. "Uncle Frank" probably refers to Francis Hathaway, but the more convincing association with the Hathaways is "Aunt Duck", which was the affectionate nickname for Serepta Hathaway (Stump).
A potential clue regarding the identity of the sender is that the letter originates from Winona, WV. Winona is in Fayette County, which is south of Calhoun County. I do not have records of which Hathaways lived in Fayette County, however.
Nor does the date offer much assistance in identifying Mrs. Nelson or her mother. None of the records I have of the death dates of Arminda's siblings are 1926, but I don't have records of their spouses' deaths.
As for the question of why Maxine Mottice Elliott had this letter, or why she kept it all these years -- that remains a mystery. Anyone have any hypotheses?
Maxine Elliott and Robert Mottice were married August 18, 1951 in Grantsville, WV.
Photos of the wedding ceremony can by found here.
Below is the transcript of the attached article from the Thursday, Sept. 13 Calhoun Chronicle about the wedding of Maxine Elliott and Robert N. Mottice:
"Miss Maxine Elliott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Elliott of Grantsville, and Robert Neil, Mottice, son of Mrs. Frances Mottice of Canton, Ohio, were married August 18 at the First Baptist Church of Grantsville. The Rev. Fell Kennedy of Sutton performed the single ring ceremony.
"The altar, before which the couple exchanged vows, was banked with garden flowers and white candelabra.
"Preceding the ceremony Mr.s G. Gordon Kingsley of Glenville played a selection of bridal music. Harold S. Orendorf, head of the music department at Glenville State College, accompanied by Mrs. Kingsley, sang "Oh Promise Me" "Because" and "The Lord's Prayer."
"The bride, escorted to the altar by her father, wore a white satin gown with fitted bodice, full floor length skirt, and long lace sleeves, tapering to a point over the wrists. Her shoulder length veil hung from a bonnet of white satin and she carried a white orchid on a white prayer book.
"Miss Pauline Elliott, sister of the bride, was the maid of honor. Her gown was of teal blue taffeta with cap sleeves, fitted bodice, and full skirt. She carried an arm bouquet of yellow roses.
"Merle Mottice of Massilon, Ohio served his brother as best man. Don Mottice of Akron, another brother, and Bob M. Hoffman of Charleston, fraternity brother of the bridegroom, were ushers.
"The wedding reception followed in the church basement. Decorations were cut flowers and white candles. A three tiered wedding cake topped with a miniature bride and groom centered the bride's table. Mrs. C.G. Hannah and Mrs. Bernard Elliott were hostesses. Miss Nina Elliott, sister of the bride, served as an aide.
"The bride's going-away costume was of brown and beige linen with matching accessories. At her shoulder she pinned the orchid from her prayer book.
"The bride is a graduate of Calhoun County High School and Glenville State College.
"Mr. Mottice graduated from Waynesburg, Ohio High School and served four years in the United States Army. At present he is attending Glenville State College where he is affiliated with the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.
"Following a wedding trip to Florida the couple returned to Grantsville where they are now making their home."
Millie Elliott, 1891-1976, was the sister of Bernard Elliott and son of John A. and Arminda Elliott.
This handwritten genealogy, in the possession of Eula Elliott, Millie's niece, is one of the only surviving examples of her handwriting that I am aware of. In it she documents her father's and mother's immediate families. This includes John A.'s brothers and sisters and his mother and father, as well as Arminda's brothers and sisters and her parents.
In listing the ancestors of John A., she identifies his great-grandfather as Michael Elliott rather than the Henry Elliott common to other family histories (see Edna Elliott Shartiger) and a legal document in the Clarksburg, WV Court House. It is possible that one of these names, either Henry or Michael, is a middle name but I have not come across any documentation to suggest that. This is also the only evidence I have indicating that Jabez Elliott Sr.'s wife's name was Mary Elizabeth Wigner rather than simply Elizabeth Wigner.
I conclude that this genealogy was written between 1935 and 1937. That is because her father, John A., does not have a death date listed but we know he died in 1937. Meanwhile, the latest death date Millie has listed is for Columbus Elliott in 1935.
Here is a transcript of her notes: (her notation of "Dad" refers to John A. Elliott)
Dad's great-grandfather:
Michael Elliott
Dad's grandfather and grandmother:
Jabez Elliott
Mary Elizabeth (Wigner) Elliott
Dad's uncles and aunt's on his father's side:
Jacob (b. July 26, 1809)
John (b. Feb. 22, 1811)
Sarah (b. Oct. 5, 1812)
Benjamin (b. June 26, 1814)
Elizabeth (b. May 31, 1816)
Mary (b. May 21, 1818)
Washington (b. April 27, 1820)
Henry (b. Mar. 17, 1822)
Jabez (Dad's father) (b. Sept. 27, 1826)
Dad's father and mother:
Jabez Elliott, b. Sept. 27, 1826 and died Dec. 3, 1912
Sarah Ann Johnson Elliott, b. Apr. 11, 1831 and died July 3, 1893
married July 17, 1851
John Anderson Elliott, b. Nov. 24, 1852
Charles Musgrave Elliott, b. May 30, 1855, d. Nov. 19, 1914
Linza Johnson Elliott, b. Mar. 20, 1858, d. Sept. 3, 1899
Frances Hariett Elliott, b. Nov. 30, 1859
Izetta Matilda Elliott, b. July 19, 1863
Columbus Elliott, b. Nov. 5, 1865, d. Feb. 3, 1935
Jasper Laphiatt [Lafayette] Elliott, b. Aug. 11, 1868
[John Anderson Elliott's children]:
Roxie, b. Oct. 30, 1878
Alva, b. Jan. 16, 1880
Watson, b. Sept. 13, 1881
Florence, b. Jan. 26, 1883
Oley, b. July 8, 1886
Bernard Voak, b. May 26, 1888
Millie, b. Nov. 13, 1891
Verna, b. Aug. 24, 1892
[Arminda Hathaway's parents]:
Henry H. Hathaway, b. July 1819, d. May 11, 1902
Emily (Weaver) Hathaway, died March 1, 1884
[Children of Henry and Emily Hathaway]:
Matilda Hathaway, b. Feb. 13, 1837, d. Feb. 23, 1917
Maryann Hathaway, b. July 5, 1839, d. Oct. 22, 1913
Sarah Hathaway, b. May 8, 1841, d. Mar. 23, 1923
William Hathaway, b. Jan. 2, 1843, d. Sept. 22, 1887
Susannah Hathaway, b. Oct. 17, 1844, d. Aug. 3, 1924
Francis Hathaway, b. Feb. 5, 1847, d. July 7, 1929
James Wesley Hathaway, b. Sept. 21, 1849, d. July 3, 1927
Elizabeth Jane Hathaway, b. Jan. 6, 1851, d. July 1904
Sarepta Hathaway, b. Dec. 17, 1852, d. Oct. 1933
Hannah Hathaway, b. Sept. 21, 1855
Arminda Hathaway, b. Aug. 30, 1856, d. Mar. 6, 1933
Henrietta Hathaway, b. June 14, 1860, d. Dec. 22, 1911
Nina Elliott Nicholas died in 2008. Here is the program to her Memorial Service:
Nina Rose Elliott Nicholas
Nina Rose Nicholas, 73, of Harrisville, died Jan. 20, 2008 at Eagle Pointe Nursing Home, Parkersburg.
She was born Feb. 10, 1934, in Grantsville, the daughter of the late Bernard V. and Goldie Reip Elliott. Nina graduated from Calhoun High School in 1952 and worked as a cook at Harrisville Elementary School for 17 years. She was a member of the Harrisville Baptist Church, where she had been a Sunday School teacher, a deaconess and was in the Hand Bell Choir.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Charles A. Nicholas; daughters and sons-in-law Michelle D. "Shelly" and Rick K. Boyce of Parkersburg and Rebecca Rose and Don Stemple of North Hills; son, Charles Michael Nicholas of Vienna; grandchildren, Justin Boyce and wife, Jennifer, Christopher and wife, Nicole Boyce, Stacey Boyce, Andrew Summers, Jessica Summers, Zachary Nicholas, Bethany, Derek and Nathan Stemple; and great-granddaughter, Evelyn Grace Boyce. She was preceded in death by a brother, John Francis Elliott; sisters, Pauline Husk and Maxine Mottice; and an infant brother.
The family would like to acknowledge the great care and love given by Auguste's Cottage at Eagle Pointe.
Funeral Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Harrisville Baptist Church with Pastor Robert Perine officiating. Burial will follow in the Harrisville IOOF Cemetery. Friends may call from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. today and from 9-11 a.m. Wednesday at Raiguel funeral Home, Harrisville, and from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the church.