P. A. EARLY.     P. A. Early, deputy prosecuting attorney of Nappanee, is a native of Germantown, Montgomery county, Ohio, born on the 13th of July, 1854.  His ancestral history can be traced back to Virginia where lived his grandfather, John Early.  The latter, a native of the Old Dominion, removed to Montgomery county, Ohio, where he spent his remaining days, following the occupation of farming.  His son, Joseph B. Early, who was also born in Virginia, was a young lad at the time of the establishment of the family home in Ohio.  He was married in Montgomery county to Miss Lydia Myers, who was there born and is now living in Ashland, Ohio, at the age of seventy-four years.  In early life Joseph B. Early engaged in teaching school and also followed agricultural pursuits.  About 1857 he removed to Wabash county, Indiana, but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, his death occurring there in 1860.  His widow afterward brought her family to Elkhart county.  They were the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters, but one son and one daughter died when about six years of age.  The surviving daughter is Sarah, the wife of Guilford Leslie of Ashland, Ohio.
     P. A. Early, the eldest member of the family, was only about three years of age when taken by his parents to Wabash county, Indiana, and when a youth of six years his father died and the mother removed to Elkhart county where she was again married.  He remained with her until he had attained his majority and his education as acquired in the public schools.  When he had sufficiently mastered the branches of English learning in order to pass an examination he secured a certificate and began teaching, this profession being followed in Wabash county for two years.  He also engaged in farming in Wabash county for seven years and in 1883 came to Nappanee.  Here he turned his attention to merchandising, first as a dealer in hardware but at this writing is proprietor of a drug store.  He employs a man to conduct the business, while he gives his attention largely to the practice of law.  He entered upon the study of law in 1888 and in 1892 was admitted to the bar since which time he has been in active practice with a constantly growing patronage.  He is now deputy prosecuting attorney of Elkhart county and also state attorney, occupying the latter position for about ten years.  The public and the profession accord him a leading place in the ranks of the legal fraternity, and he is known as a conscientious, earnest and painstaking lawyer, whose devotion to his clients' interests is proverbial.
     On the 15th of October, 1875, Mr. Early was married to Miss Eliza Gilbert, a daughter of Israel and Mary (Horning) Gilbert.  They became the parents of three children, but Maud, the eldest, is deceased.  Nora M. is at home and Clyde is an undertaker of Chicago.
     In his fraternal relations Mr. Early is a Mason and a Knight of Pythias and is true and loyal to the teachings and tenets of these organizations.  Since age gave to him the right of franchise he has given his political support to the Republican party, takes an active interest in its work and has served on the town board and in other local offices aside from those in the direct line of his profession.  His devotion to the public welfare is above question and the qualities of his manhood aside from his professional and official relations are such as commend him to the confidence and good will of those with whom he is associated.
Source: A Twentieth Century History & Biological Record of Elkhart County, Indiana by Anthony Deahl - Publ. by The Lewis Publishing Company - 1905 - Page 404

CHARLIE W. ELLIOTT, postmaster of Middlebury and a stock dealer of Elkhart county, was born in Clinton township, this county, Feb. 23, 1862.  He is a son of Daniel and Cynthia (Larimer) Elliott.  His father, Daniel Elliott, was born in Stark County, Ohio, and was one of ten children.  His father, Thomas Elliott, was of English lineage.  Daniel Elliott came to Indiana at an early period in the development of this state.  His parents had traveled overland by wagon, had visited Chicago and Iowa and eventually settled in Clinton township, Elkhart county, Indiana.  There Daniel Elliott made his home until 1865, when he removed to Middlebury township and purchased land on section ten, living upon that place until 1884, when he took up his abode in the town of Middlebury, where on the 1st of January, 1885, he established the Exchange Bank, the first institution of that character in Middlebury.  The first draft was issued to J. F. Cooper.  He then conducted the bank successfully up to the time of his death, when it went into possession of Jonathan S. Mather.  After Daniel Elliott purchased a farm in Middlebury he also sold farm machinery and disposed of the first car load of Walter A. Wood binders ever sold in this county.  He likewise engaged in the hardware business in Middlebury, conducting his store until 1872, when he sold out to the firm of Foster & Blough, while eventually the store passed into possession of the firm of Wise & Varns.  Mr. Elliott was a man of marked business enterprise, keen discernment and sagacity and accumulating a handsome property he left his family in very comfortable circumstances.  He died July 22, 1896, in the sixty-third year of his age.  He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, served as one of its officers and took a helpful part in its work.  He was also a strong Republican and a man firm in support of his convictions.  He did much to promote the commercial prosperity of Middlebury and his own business record was characterized by untiring activity and honorable principles leading to success.  He married Cynthia Larimer who died in October, 1894, in her fifty-eighth year.  Her father, Moses Larimer, came to Indiana in an early day, settling in Clinton township, where he followed the occupation of farming.  He was of English lineage.
     Charles W. Elliott pursued his education in the schools of Middlebury and afterward gave supervision to his father's farm until twenty-four years of age, when he entered his father's bank, remaining there until the death of Daniel Elliott.  On the 1st of July, 1897, he was appointed postmaster of Middlebury and has since discharged the duties of the office most acceptably to his constituency and the general public.  In addition he is also engaged in dealing in horses and making shipments.  He has likewise dealt in land and as a trader has become well known, manifesting in his business enterprises keen sagacity and sound judgment.  He is rarely mistaken in the value of any purchase which he makes and his sales have brought to him an excellent return.
     On the 14th of October, 1885, Mr. Elliott was married to Miss Mary M. Gary, a daughter of Victor and Barbara Gray.  She was born on what is known as the Haw Patch in Noble county, Indiana, Jan. 13, 1865, her father having taken up his abode in this state when the work of improvement and progress had scarcely been begun.  He followed the occupation of farming and upon the homestead farm which he developed reared his family of nine children.  Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have become the parents of five children.  Dick W., the eldest, born Oct. 29, 1886, spent three years as freight clerk with the Michigan Central Railroad at Battle Creek and is now in the superintendent's office of the same road at Chicago.  Ruth, born Feb. 21, 1888, is a graduate of the high school at Middlebury and is quite accomplished as a pianist.  Helen, born Mar. 24, 1892; Daniel Otis, born Jul. 29, 1894, and McKinley, born Sept. 20, 1901, are the younger members of the family.  The parents are devoted adherents of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Elliott's name is on the membership rolls of the Knights of Pythias lodge of Middlebury.  He is a stanch and ardent Republican and for two terms has served as village clerk and now he is capably discharging the duties of postmaster.  In whatever relation of life we find him he is true to the trust reposed in him and he has a wide and favorable acquaintance in the county where he has always lived.
Source: A Twentieth Century History & Biological Record of Elkhart County, Indiana by Anthony Deahl - Publ. by The Lewis Publishing Company - 1905 - Page 721