William Elliott was born on November 10, 1822 in Ray County, Missouri to Willis Willard Elliott and Mary Polly Vanderpool both originally from North Carolina. They lived on small plantations where they grew tobacco and possibly cotton in Ray, Buchanan, and Nodaway Counties in Missouri. William Elliott married Jane Carnes Guthrie, widow Howard, daughter of James Guthrie and Margaret Phillips, on April 12, 1842 in Buchanan County, Missouri. She brought a couple children with her to their marriage, Mary and John Finley Howard. To the couple were born 8 more children: Margaret Susan in 1843; James Willis(William) in 1844; Tilitha Jane in 1846; Abigail Delilah in 1849; Pernita Morrow in 1850; Serena Ellen in 1852; Phoebe A in 1854; and Martin VanBuren Rhodes Elliott in 1856. The family made their home in Marshall, Buchanan, and Nodaway Counties in Missouri. While living in Nodaway County, along with his father and brothers joined the Confederate side of the Civil War in 1861. First they joined with the Missouri State Guard Company A, 5th Regiment, 5th Division Cavalry then on January 29th, 1862 into Company B, 3rd Missouri Battalion Cavalry. They fought in the Battles of Blue Mills, Lexington, Sugar Creek, Elkhorn, and Farmington together. Then William was discharged at Camp Sand Hill, Mississippi, then rejoined at the Battle of Lone Jack, Missouri where he was killed. He was killed at some time during the battle circa August 15-17, 1862 on the battlefield. Word of William Elliott's death being at the Battle of Lone Jack (Oak), Missouri was carried to his widow, children, mother, and siblings back home and eventually the news of his death made it to the ears of his father and brothers in the war. His widow, Jane never got to say goodbye to her dear husband. William Elliott doesn't even have the honor of having a tombstone as a memorial. To escape bushwhackers, the family back home in Nodaway County eventually were forced to take refuge in Nebraska. William's blind uncle John Elliott had been shot by Bloody Bill Anderson's Raiders while standing in his doorway. William's brother Jeremiah was killed at the Battle of Corinth in Mississippi. The remainder of the family moved to Oregon in 1867 after they earned enough money after the Civil War was over to escape reconstruction and be near relatives to start anew.