My Genealogy Hound

Mrs. S. M. Elston, widow of Elias Elston, is a resident of Cole County, Mo., and has one of the finest residences in the State. This residence is situated on an elevation which forms a natural amphitheater overlooking the village of Elston, and has fine prospects on every side. Elias Elston was born on the site of the present town of Elston in 1836, and was the fifth of nine children born to A. M. Elston. He was educated at the State University at Columbia, Mo., where he carried off the first honors in elocution, and was presented with a valuable volume by the professor, T. L. Kemper. Mr. Elston and father, A. M. Elston, opened a store in 1856, the year before the railroad was finished through. This interest he carried on until his death, which occurred in 1888, and this business his widow still continues. He married Miss Sallie Harper, daughter of John Harper and granddaughter of Thomas Harper, who lived and died in Scotland. John Harper left Scotland in 1854, immigrating to America and settling in Madison County, Ill., where he followed contracting on the railroad. He died in 1887. Mr. Elston left six children: Maggie May, Harry, Andrea McCartney, who was born on her grandfather’s birthday and was given his name; Roy James, Elias Randall and Guy Winfield. Mr. Elston was quite a politician, and was usually a member of the county and State conventions. His father, A. M. Elston, was hurt by a horse, and died on the morning of his seventy-second birthday, and his grandfather, Elias Elston, was also killed by a horse. The grandfather was a very prominent man in his day. He was one of the framers of the first constitution of Missouri, and was afterward a member of the State Senate, which position he held at the time of his death. His son, A. M., was also a prominent man, was a member of the Legislature, judge of the county court, and at one time, in 1840, refused the nomination for governor of Missouri. The fine residence in which Mrs. Elston now resides was erected by her husband in 1879, and is surrounded by a large tract of land, he having left 500 acres at the time of his death. George Elston, the youngest of nine children born to Andrew M. and Jane (Anthony) Elston, was reared in Cole County, Mo., and remained at his home until the death of his parents, which occurred in 1879 and 1865, respectively. Mrs. Jane (Anthony) Elston was the daughter of Lewis C. Anthony, formerly of Albemarle County, Va., but who came to Boone County at a very early day. George Elston engaged in merchandising with his brother Elias in 1870, and continued at this for fifteen years, after which he opened a drug store, and has carried on this ever since. In connection with his drug business Mr. Elston has also filled the position of station agent, express agent, and now occupies the office of associate judge of the county court, to which position he was elected on the Democratic ticket. He usually takes a prominent part in county politics, and is often a member of the county convention. He was married to Miss Helen M. Moore, daughter of Don Lorenzo Moore, of Moniteau County, Mo., and to this union were born two children: George B. and Sarah G.