The 1850 federal census shows Solomon Bowen the proprietor of Montgomery Hall, Fort Plain’s largest hotel at the time, built in 1832. The hotel, conveniently located a few steps away from the Erie Canal, was host to many canal and train travelers of that time period. Bowen and his family lived at the hotel according to the 1850 and 1870 census. He and his wife Eve had seven children. Their second oldest child was Mary Bowen (1830-1911). Mary was married to George W. Elliott (1831-1898) who for a time was the editor of the Mohawk Valley Register (local newspaper). Mary and George lived for awhile on Mohawk Street in the village. While living on Mohawk Street they entertained Mark Twain (Samuel Clemons) who had come by train to deliver his “Innocents Abroad” essay to the residents of the village in 1867. The 1870 census shows Mary and George residing back at Montgomery Hall with George’s occupation as salesman in a paper store. George Elliott is most notably known for the poem he wrote to Mary entitled, “Bonnie Eloise, the Belle of the Mohawk Vale”. This poem was set to music by J. Thomas and was played by both Northern and Southern military bands during the Civil War. At the time of their deaths, the Elliotts were residing in Brooklyn, New York.