W. B. Elliott

Founder of Elliott School of Business

OBITUARY -- from the Wheeling News-Register, Jan. 11, 1957. © (reproduced with permission)

W. B. Elliott, School Head, Dies at 89

W. B. Elliott, 89, founder and president emeritus of the Elliott School of Business, died today at 12:40 a.m. in the Ohio Valley General Hospital.

In 1900, Mr. Elliott founded the Elliott School of Business in Wheeling, which is now situated in the Market Auditorium Building. He was a pioneer in the teaching of Gregg Shorthand and the touch system of typewriting. He also established other schools in Cincinnati, O., and in Fairmont, Clarksburg, Martinsburg and Charleston, W. Va.

An active civic leader, he ws one of the founders of the National Association of Accredited Commercial schools, serving on its Board of Governors. He was founder and first president of the Tri-State Commercial Education Association, and of the Private Business School Owners of America.

Mr. Elliott was president of the Wheeling Business Men's Association, forerunner of the Ohio Valley Board of Trade; the first president of the local chapter of the Red Cross; a president of the Huroquois Council of Boy Scouts; former city council member and West Virginia State Legislature member.

A member of the Fourth Street Methodist Episcopal Church, he was affiliated with the Masonic Bodies and the BPOE and a charter member of the Rotary Club.

Born on a farm near Coshocton, O., Jan. 23, 1867, he was a son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Elliott. He was a graduate of Coshocton High School, and Scio College, Scio, O., and a teacher in Birmingham, Ala., and Charleston, W. Va.

In 1899, he was married to May Cornwell, who survives with one son, Ward C. Elliott, and one granddaughter. A sister and a brother preceded him in death.

Friends may call at Kepner's, 1308 Chapline St. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

-- from the OCPL Vertical File

Biographies Index  |  Wheeling History Home  |  OCPL Home