Mahala Jane Elliott, a business woman of Kingswood, a native of Preston, County and a member of an old and well connected family near Newburg.
Her grandfather, Thomas Shay, founded the family near Newburg. He was the grandson of an Irishman who established this branch of the Shay family in America. Thomas Shay served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Otherwise his life was devoted to his farm, and he never sought the distinctions of public service. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was about eighty years of age when he died. Thomas Shay married Phoebe A. Sidewell, who survived him three years. Their children were: Ezekiel, a blacksmith, who died in Monongalia County; Mary, who became the wife of Alfred Moreland and died in Barbour County; Rees, a farmer who died in Preston County; Benjamin, who died on his farm in Lyon District of that county; Hugh, who spent his life as a farmer in Preston County; Jesse, a farmer of Preston County; Debbie, who died in Preston County, the wife of William Shannon;
and James.
James Shay, youngest of the children and the father of Mrs. Elliott of Kingswood, was born near Newburg, October 7, 1829. He became a farmer and besides cultivating the soil raised stock on a rather extensive scale. His entire life was spent on the farm where he was born. He died there in May. 1878. He participated in politics only to the extent of voting, and like all the other members of the Shay family, was a stanch Republican. James Shay married Mary Hanway, daughter of Samuel and Mahala (Cox) Hanway. Samuel Hanway was a resident of Reno District in Preston County, but in the early 70's removed to Kansas and settled in Bourbon County, and he died at Barnsville. His children were: Mary, George, Ezekiel, Mrs. Sarah Bishop, Mrs. Rachel Bishop, Mrs. Jane Thomas, James Madison, Holton, Mrs. Rebecca Shaw, john, who died during the Civil War at Camp Chase, Ohio, Robert, and Joseph, a resident of Howard, Kansas. Three of the children, Ezekiel, George, and Mrs. Sarah Bishop, died in Bourbon County, Kansas. Mrs. James Shay died April 5, 1892, mother of the following children:
Mrs. Mahala Elliott; Thomas R. of Tunnelton; Carmac and George L., of Kingswood;
Elizabeth E., whose first husband was Walter B. Garner and she is now the wife of Elmer Christopher, of Kingswood; Dela A., wife of Waitman T. Newcomb, of Kingswood; and Ella, wife of Charles A. Fletcher, of Washington D.C.
Mahala Jane Shay was born at Newburg, March 1, 1860. She and the other children had only the advantage of the common schools, and her years were spent at the old homestead until her marriage on December 20. 1891, to James M. Elliott.
Mr. Elliott was born and brought up on a farm within three miles of Kingswood.
His father was John Elliott, and he was the youngest of the children to reach mature years, the others being Isaac, William, Mrs. Rebecca Bailey, Mrs. Nancy Forker, Samuel, John Dougherty and Mrs. Minerva Bailey.
When Mr. and Mrs. Elliott were married they established themselves on the old Elliott farm, and lived there until Mr. Elliott's death, which occurred January 12, 1912. Mr. Elliott was chiefly interested in the efficient conduct of his farm, and outside of this he worshiped as a Methodist and voted as a stanch republican. The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Elliott was named John Shay, and died at the age of three years.
Mrs. Elliott in 1919 removed to Kingswood and has since engaged in the grocery and confectionery business. She cast her first ballot in 1920, and the head of the ticket bore the name Warren G. Harding.
