John Elliott was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 24, 1900 to Henry and Josephine Elliott. In 1913,
the family moved to La Crosse where Elliott attended La Crosse Central High School. Elliott then attended
the University of Notre Dame and received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in Commerce in 1926. The same
year, while managing the Nelson Hotel in Rockford, Illinois, Elliott met his first wife Virginia Baker.
She was the daughter of Calvin W. Baker, who purchased the Hotel Stoddard in 1912 and operated it until
his death in 1916. In 1927, Elliott accepted a position at the Hotel Stoddard as the assistant manager
working under Charles Spencer. Within the year Elliott was promoted to full management and operated the
Hotel Stoddard until 1972 when he sold it to Peter Hurtgen. During the 45 years that Elliott owned and
operated the Hotel Stoddard he completed several renovations and was credited with building up an elegant
and financially successful establishment.
Elliott was a past president of the Wisconsin Hotel/Motel Association, a Wisconsin representative on the
National Board of the American Hotel/Motel Association, and he also served as a director of the greater La
Crosse Chamber of Commerce, through which he received the “Man of the Year” award in 1974. Elliott died on
February 20, 1994.
