Phi Gamma Delta

James Elliot Jr.

James Elliott, Jr. (1824- 1883)
"Jim" Elliott was born on December 6, 1824, in Lawrenceville, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh, of parents who had fled England to find greater personal liberties. His father had been a saddler to British royalty and an "Elliott saddle" was long treasured among discriminating English horsemen. James was one of eleven children. Shortly after his birth the family moved to Mount Pleasant, where he prepared for college at a private school, going from there to Jefferson in 1844. Aside from Wilson, Elliott was the best scholar among the six Founders, being particularly gifted with the pen.

The other brothers took advantage of his ability and good nature by getting him to compose literary gems for their lady friends. He was thoroughgoing and accurate in everything he did, of a genial, kind and generous nature, despising sham and hypocrisy in any form. Among other valuable contributions which he made to the early success of the fraternity, it is believed that he negotiated for the manufacture of the first badges; it is his emblem which serves as the pattern for the badge, beautiful in its simplicity, in use today.

Like Wilson, Elliott began to teach school at the conclusion of his college career, first in Indiana, where McCarty had obtained a position for him, and then in Virginia and Maryland. But soon he, too, turned to the study of law and was admitted to practice at Steubenville, Ohio, in 1852. In 1853, he journeyed to nearby Wellsville to claim as his bride Rachel Crane, who was to bear him four children-three sons and a daughter. Before long he was elected clerk of the court, which post he held for three terms. In 1864 he enlisted with the Union forces and was stationed at Fort Delaware as adjutant of the 157th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry in charge of the Confederate prisoners. Elliott thus was the only one of the Founders to wear a soldier's uniform. Indeed, three of the six died before the War began and one died during its progress.