Nathan was born May 21, 1821, in the town of Florida, Montgomery county, New York. His father, Alexis Elliott, was also a native of that county, and in 1829 removed with his family to Otsego county.

Nathan T. Elliott is the oldest of a family of seven children. When young he learned the broom making trade, and still works at it occasionally. He removed from Otsego to Herkimer County, New York, and, in February, 1844, he and his father started for Michigan on foot. After walking as far as Rome, however, they began to think that a journey of several hundred miles on foot was not as pleasant as riding, consequently they took the cars from Rome to Buffalo. From there they again started afoot, and, after coming through Canada, walking most of the way, they arrived at last in Michigan, and finally came to the township of Holly. Some two or three years afterwards he purchased an interest in the farm now owned by Timothy Ostrander. In the mean time his father had re- turned to New York.

Mr. Elliott taught school to some extent while living in New York, and also in Michigan, both before and after his marriage. On the 21st of January, 1850, he was married to Williamine Broas, then visiting relatives in Holly township. She was born in the town of Union, Broome county, New York, July 26, 1830.

Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are the parents of seven children, of whom four are now living, two sons and two daughters. The sons are both teachers. The daughters, Ella Grace and Bertha J., are living at home. The elder son, Charles B. Elliott, is at present attending the Northern Indiana Normal school, at Valparaiso, Indiana. The other son, D. Carter Elliott, is attending school at Fenton, Genesee county, Michigan.

Mr. Elliott was for several years school inspector in the township of Holly. In politics he is a Republican. He was formerly a Democrat, and facetiously remarks that "he is as much of one now as he ever was, but the party has left him!" He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Holly, which society they united with soon after its organization. They were formerly members of the "Olive Branch Methodist Episcopal church," of Groveland, and afterwards of the Methodist Episcopal church of Fenton, Genesee county.

Mrs. Elliott taught one term of school when she was young, and was entirely satisfied with the extent of her experience that far, and has never tried it since, although she was very successful as a teacher, as was also Mr. Elliott when in the same vocation.

When living on what is now the Ostrander place, in the neighborhood of the Olive Branch church, soon after their marriage they lost their property by fire. Mr. Elliott finally sold that farm, and in March, 1854, came to the one upon which he now resides, section 21. He owns at present one hundred and twenty acres, lying on sections 16 and 21. A man named Dennison Scranton made the first improvements on the place, built a log house, etc. Mr. Elliott lived with his family in this house until 1873, when he erected the fine brick residence he now occupies.

The frame building now standing on the opposite side of the road from Mr. Elliott's house was originally used as a barn. A cousin to Mr. Elliott's father, Peter Elliott, settled on the farm now owned by W. Rexford, on section 29, as early as the fall of 1843. He had been out the same summer and purchased the land, and moved his family in the fall. His brother, Luke Elliott, came to the township several years later. Both are now deceased.

In common with all who came into this region when it was new, and worked their way perseveringly to wealth and independence, Mr. Elliott has seen his share of hard trials, reverses, and successes, and can look back on his life of thirty-three years in Michigan with the satisfaction that, by his own industry, he has accomplished so great results, and created the pleasant surroundings of his present home.