ELLIOTT, LEO L. AND LILLIE E. (BRADLEY)
Leo L. Elliott, youngest of Abrahm and Margaret E. Elliott's family of twelve chil-dren was born June 15, 1895 at Independence in Grayson County, Virginia.
He and his brothers and sisters received their education in a rural school near their home during the times before schools were graded. Their basic learning was done in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Each child was allowed to progress at his own speed as his talents permitted. Gradually as children became accustomed to the 3 basics each child was given the opportunity to pursue study in an additional subject of his choice. One might choose spelling one history, another geogra-phy or grammar eyc. Discipline was main-tained by the use of a hickory switch cut from the trees so abundant in the region.
At the age of 13 Leo had his first job away from home, for which he received 14 cents per day.
By the time he was 15 years old he felt very fortunate to get employment, working as a cook for a wealthy family. Many of his cooking experiences were highly treasured, but the most outstanding seemed to be the feeling of accomplishment, as well as grati-tude for the appreciation shown him by the family when he made a huge fruit cake which was served at Christmas time. In fact, the cake was so large that the lady of the house acquired a new special size dish pan in which to bake it. As time passed Leo was treated almost like one of the family and felt very much at home there.
However, after receiving a number of letters from relatives in the “Sandhills'' encouraging him to come West, he made the decision. And in 1912 at the age of 17 he came to Cherry County, Nebraska to join his father and 2 sisters who had homesteaded a few months earlier.
Leo first found employment North of Mullen at the Cyrus and Lizzie Wolfenden ranch, then later at the Eck and Minnie Cox ranch.
June 24, 1914 he was married to Lillie E. Bradley, eldest of Charles R. and Bettie A. Bradley's 5 children. In 1915 he and Lillie took a homestead in Cherry County north-west of Mullen. A daughter Erma L. was born October 5, 1915. Their little family continued to live on the homestead until 1918 when they moved into Mullen.
Leo began work in a garage owned by Tom and Dick Woods. Through his experience with others and by taking home study courses he became quite a good mechanic. He and Cad Mercure formed the “Mercure and Elliott Garage'' partnership which continued for sometime.
Leo sold his share of the business in the early part of 1926 and was planning a trip for his family to Virginia that summer. He wanted to show them where he was born and lived before he came to Nebraska, and give them an opportunity to get acquainted with his relatives there.
However, plans for the trip were dropped suddenly when Lillie's father died of a heart attack on July first. The Elliotts spent the summer helping the widowed Bettie and son Dale with the work at their ranch through the haying season.
Then later Leo went into business for himself and built the “Elliott Service Sta-tion'' which was located where the “Mullen Coop Station'' now stands.
The Elliott family was blest with the birth of a son, Almond D. on January 9, 1924. During his childhood he grew to have a liking for automobiles and his father's type of work. Then as he matured he studied and pursued training in Mechanics and ultimately became outstanding in his field. He established his own business in Mullen known as “Mullen Motor Company'' which he operated until failing health overtook him and resulted in his death on September 21, 1986.
Leo's Service Station was purchased by the Mullen Coop Oil Company. Then Leo worked the night shift at the “C.E. Brown Garage'' in Grand Island for a year and had just begun work at a garage in Broken Bow a short time prior to his accidental death on September 30, 1934.
His surviving wife Lillie lived in their home in Mullen until the last few years of her life. An apartment on main street east of the post office where the Historical Society Annex is now located became her home until her death on November 25, 1972.