ELLIOTT, LEO L. AND LILLIE E. (BRADLEY)

by Erma Boyer

Entry F123 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Leo L. and Lillie E. Elliott about 1920

Leo Elliott's Service Station

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.