Happy 143rd birthday!

I was working on some projects recently and realized that one of my direct-line ancestors has a birthday coming up. Honestly, with how many ancestors are in my family tree there’s probably always a birthday or anniversary or death day in the next few days, right?!

Maybe it’s because I’ve been focusing on him for this project, or maybe it’s because this was one of the first branches I ever worked on, but I’m feeling the need to celebrate this ancestor a bit.

So, let me introduce you to my great-great grandfather….

Thomas William Elliott

Born 24 April 1881 in North Dorchester, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada

Fun fact: Thomas William was a twin! AND, to add to the fun, Thomas William and his twin brother, Alfred George, married sisters. (Not twins, but still. Pretty cool.)

Thomas William moved his family west to Saskatchewan for a bit when a friend or coworker wrote to him about a job opportunity in Portland, Oregon. The family was on a train down to Portland when it stopped just over the border in Blaine, WA. Thomas William stepped off to stretch his legs, and ended up unloading his family there because he found a job with much better pay.

He died 8 December 1962 and is buried in Ferndale, Whatcom, Washington.