ELLYSON, John Talbot - 1890 Bio (1852-1905)

ELLYSON, TALBOT, TALBERT, MCCLURE, CHAFFIN, ECK, SMITH, REAM

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/5/2007 at 12:02:36

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 186-187

John T. ELLYSON, one of the leading business men of Pleasant Plain, is now carrying on a wagon and repair shop in that thriving little village. He was born in Cass County, Mich., June 6, 1852, his parents being Zachariah and Esther C. (TALBOT) ELLYSON. His father was born in Virginia on the 5th of February, 1794. He volunteered for the War of 1812, but the company in which he enlisted was not called out. He learned the trade of a mill-wright and mechanic and followed those pursuits during the greater part of his life. He was twice married. In Virginia he was joined in wedlock with Miss Nancy TALBERT and with his young wife removed from that State to Ohio, where he resided until 1848, when he became a resident of Michigan. After eleven years' residence in the latter State, we find him located in 1849 in Washington County, Iowa, and three years later he became a resident of Jefferson County, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in Pleasant Plain, December 3, 1867. During the Civil War his patriotic impulses prompted him to offer his services in defense of the Union, but on account of his age he was rejected. When the Greybeard Regiment was being organized, he again tendered his services, when much to his disappointment he was again rejected.

By the first marriage of Zachariah ELLYSON twelve children were born, ten of whom grew to maturity during the residence of the family in Ohio. The other two died in childhood. In Cass County, Mich., in 1850, Mr. ELLYSON was again married, his second union being with Miss Esther C. TALBOT, daughter of John and Mary (McCLURE) TALBOT. Her mother was a daughter of William and Martha (CHAFFIN) McCLURE, of Grayson County, Va., where Mrs. TALBOT died. The mother of our subject was born December 1, 1812, in Virginia, and her death occurred at Pleasant Plain, Jefferson County, Iowa, on the 28th of October, 1871. She was reared a member of the Society of Friends, but early in life she joined the Methodist Church and continued a consistent member of that body until her death. By her marriage with Mr. ELLYSON she became the mother of two children -- John T., whose name heads this sketch, and Lydia Ellen, born December 7, 1854, who is now the wife of Frank L. ECK, a prosperous merchant of Pleasant Plain. Zachariah ELLYSON was reared in the faith of the Society of Friends but was expelled from the church on account of his marriage with one not of that belief. In his latter years he joined the Methodist Church and remained, until his death, a faithful and consistent member, alive to the interests of the cause. From childhood he was opposed to the institution of slavery, did all in his power in opposition to the evil, and when the combination known as the Underground Railroad was formed, he opened his home as one of its stations. He joined the Republican party on its organization and became one of its stalwart supporters.

John T. ELLYSON, whose name heads this sketch, spent his early boyhood days in Michigan, and after coming to Iowa obtained a common-school education. At the age of sixteen years he began life for himself, and has since made his own way in the world. He leared the trade of wagon-making, and in the intervals of hard labor obtained his education by attending school for about three months each winter. In 1877, he embarked in business for himself, opening a wagon and repair shop in Pleasant Plain, where he has carried on operations continually since. He does general repairing, wagon-making and machine work, and also conducts an undertaking establishment. He started in life a poor boy, with a cash capital of only $200, but he possessed industry and thrift, and the satisfactory manner in which he performed his labors won the confidence of the public and secured a liberal patronage. He is now numbered among the substantial citizens of the community and would prove an addition of importance to any locality in which he might choose to locate.

On the 26th of October, 1881, Mr. ELLYSON was united in marriage with Miss Cora B. SMITH, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret E. (REAM) SMITH, who were pioneers of Van Buren County, where she was born, February 23, 1857. One child was born unto them but died in infancy. In political sentiment, Mr. ELLYSON is a stanch Republican but is not a politician in the sense of office-seeking. However, he keeps himself well posted on political issues and on all other topics of general interest. Socially, he is a member of Pleasant Plain Lodge, No. 411, I. O. O. F. Mrs. ELLYSON is a member of the Congregational Church.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.