^ 



iograpl^y. 



WYMAN ELLIOT, MINNEAPOLIS. 



(See Frontispiece.) 



Mr. Wytnan Elliot was born in the town of Corinna, Maine, May 

 19, 1834. He attended the common schools and completed his edu- 

 cation by an academic course. While yet in his teens, he became 

 useful as an assistant to his father in conducting his business, con- 

 sisting' of merchant, saw and grist mill and farmer. He developed 

 at an early age a taste for horticultural pursuits, assisting his 

 mother in the cultivation of fruits and flowers, to which she was 

 ardently devoted. At twenty j'ears of age he emigrated with his 

 father to Minneapolis, then a hamlet of onlj' seventeen houses and 

 buildings. Here thej^ purchased the eighty acre tract of John L. 

 Tenney for §1,500, which was used many years for a farin and market 

 garden. (Mr. Elliot has the distinction of being the first market 

 gardener in Minneapolis.) 



Going to Monticello, Wright County, Minn., in the winter of 1855, 

 he took up a claim, living in a log cabin located on the west bank 

 of the Mississippi river near the foot of Big Bear island. This is- 

 land at that time was a favorite camping ground of the Chippewa 

 Indians. Mr. Elliot was among the first settlers and actual culti- 

 vators of land west of the Mississippi river. Upon this claiiu, he 

 started a farm, raising a bountiful crop of wheat, corn, potatoes and 

 garden vegetables. The year following, he left his claim and re- 

 turned to Minneapolis, where he took charge of the home place and 

 continued farming and market gardening for twenty-five years. 

 From time to time, fruit, shade and ornamental trees were planted, 

 convenient buildings erected, and the farm soon became known as 

 the "Minneapolis Garden and Nursery." In 1862, an extensive mar- 

 ket garden had been established. In 18G4, he erected a greenhouse 

 for the production of plants and flowers. In 1866, a nursery of trees 

 was also planted, which not ooly made the Elliot farm attractive by 

 its rows of fine shade trees, but this nursery was the source from 

 which most of the trees were taken which have made the streets of 

 Minneapolis so shady and beautiful. He also added to the garden 

 and nursery the seed business, and maintained for several years a 

 store in the city market for the sale of trees, shrubbery, plants, veg- 

 etables and flower and field seeds. 



Mr. Elliot had a natural love and taste for horticulture, and 

 whether its indulgence brought profit or loss, he has amid his 

 other important l:)usine88 enterprises always found time to engage 

 in his favorite pursuit. Not only has he practiced the art for his 

 own pleasure and profit, but he has labored with energy and zeal 



