Ellis, James W.

ELLIS

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 10/12/2007 at 14:34:18

Maquoketa Excelsior, April 12, 1929:

Obituary of James W. Ellis.

Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at the Congregational Church for James Whitcomb Ellis who passed out of this life early on Tuesday morning at his home in this city where he had been sick since Feb. 15.

Mr. Ellis was born in Indiana, Nov. 25, 1848, and when but a lad of 4 years came with his parents to Iowa where he had lived ever since, much of his life having been spent on a farm. His life has always been an extremely busy one for no matter whether it was farming or insurance or other things he gave himself heartily to the work. During the Civil War he made several attempts to join the Army and finally did get to the front long enough to witness the terrible campaign in 1864, then because of his youth his parents had him returned home. He served three years under General Custer in the Indian War, being a member of Company H, 5th U.S. Cavalry.

On October 16, 1870, he was married to Miss Mary M. Forbes. Her death occurred March 3, 1907.

Mr. Ellis served as representative from Jackson County in the 33rd General Assembly of Iowa and while there he was instrumental in securing the removal of the body of Ansel Briggs, the first governor of Iowa, from Omaha, Neb. to Andrew, Iowa, the governor's former home. The assembly making an appropriation for a monument to the governor's memory.

He was a member of fraternal organizations including the Masonic lodge, the Chapter and the Commandery in Maquoketa. He was a member of Kaaba Shrine of Davenport 21 years. He was a member of the Congregational Church. He was a Charter member of the Fulton, Iowa, lodge of Odd Fellows, was a Knight of Pythias, a member of the Maquoketa Kiwanis club and was a Son of the American Revolution.

He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Belle Eastman of Clinton, Mrs. Jessie Albright of Ankeny, Iowa, and Mrs. Nellie Miller of this city, and one son, Frank, also of Maquoketa; three brothers, W.A. Ellis of Seattle, Wash.; I.D. Ellis of Ocosta, Wash., and John of Fairbanks, Alaska; also 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Mr. Ellis has built up a wonderful collection of relics and curios and "The Ellisonian Institute" is one of the largest private collections in the state.

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