This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: lukkas007 Surnames: john elliott Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.elliott/6843.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: i found info on john elliott while i was researching my own g gf, john lee of highgate ontario(1845-1915) as my ggf john was a general agent for phoenix foundry (owned by john elliott) at wellington and bathurst streets, london ontario...i also found another name , "ironside", a man who was another general agent for the foundry products (ploughs and other farm equipment and machinery) and, like my ggf john lee and one of his sons, george edward lee, headed to manitoba and sask. and made $$ in the boom of the 1880's... there is a book online "london and its men of affairs", and on pg 119 of 208 there is a brief article with his photo (a very handsome man!!)..the article states he is "founder of phoenix foundry and carried on the manufacture of agricultural implements for many years successfully...he retained his tall, straight, handsome form until his death, which occurred when he was over 80 years' of age... another article i found online, mostly in french, states he married priscilla corsa in 1853 and they had 9 children together...he employed 125 men at the foundry in london including the agents and officers, and over 200 men between manitoba and ontario...his expenses were approx. $300.00/day...it also said he passed on the foundry to his 4 sons and he was known for his integrity, fair dealings, manifest, and industry as an honest businessman...he travelled through manitoba and the older provinces, owning other businesses in manitoba and the northwest of canada, all relating to farm equip. and machinery. The 2 most famous ploughs manufactured were the "warrier" and the "joan d'arc"...featured at many fairs and found on the archives on ontario website....it states he was b. at newcastle eng. in 1820. immigrated to canada with his family in 1827 and age 30, had settled in london ont. and started the foundry. Later he was joined by t. campbell and george jackson. in 1853 he purchased an interest in the phoenix foundry, becoming sole proprieter and carried out a very extensive business. In 1856, he joined partnership with cpt. james burgess. the foundry was located at the corner of bathurst and wellington streets and produced ploughs and stoves for the livingroom and kitchen. in 1875, it was renamed to "elliott and burns" then in another article online, pg. 388,it states john elliott was b. at shahead, beaucastle, cumberland, eng. in 1820, came to canada in 1827, settled in trafalger, on dundas street, known then as "the 16"...he attended school at what was then york (now toronto) and did an apprentice in the mercantile house of george stegman, learning the goods and grocery trade...he joined the cavalry in 1837-8 under cols. chisholm and briggar. from 1840-50 he was in the dry goods business and llived 4 years' in galt ont...in 1850, he joined in partnership with george jackson in a foundry partnership...in 1851, fire destroyed the premesis and the partnership dissolved...in 1852 he purchased the co, with cpt. burgess, calling it the phoenix foundry at bathurst and wellington...he had this for 19 years ('til 1871)/8 years' with cpt. burgess/spent 5 years in australia (having the foundry partnership in both countries)... in 1879, it became john elliott and son... in 1871, it became and extensive co. for all agricultural works/the foundry burned down again in 1885... i find it fascinating that my own gg was given the opportunity to travel with the company and did well financially...makes me realize people were the same then, as now...connecting through people and business/today it's called networking!!!!.. hope this helps in your search! dorothy kay london ontario p.s...i live in london ont., and the buildings are no longer there...bathurst and wellington remains an industrial area of the city though... Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.