George Ellis 1825 - 1910

ELLIS, GALE, MORRIS, GLOVER

Posted By: Rich Lowe (email)
Date: 4/13/2011 at 09:56:56

George Ellis was born in Bloomingburg, Sullivan county, New York, March 26, 1825 and died Feb. 1, 1910, being nearly 85 years old.

It is quite a coincident that he died only about 10 hours late than his fellow townsmen, Lowell Valentine, who was in his 90th year. We better realize the great age of these two good men when we see that their united lives would reach back to nearly 10 years prior to the beginning of our Revolutionary war. The life of Mr. Ellis alone extends two thirds of the way back to the beginning of that conflict which seems to us so long ago.

He moved with his parents to Iowa and settled in Van Buren county in 1839.

He was married to Ruth Ann Gale, who at the age of 80 years, survives to mourn the loss of him who was her loved and loving companion for 60 years.

Having no children of their own they too an orphan girl, Emma Morris, and reared her to womanhood and from their home she was married and afterward died. Some years ago, her daughter, Anna Glover, took her mother's place in the Ellis home.

It will be seen that Mr. Ellis came to Iowa about 71 years ago while it was yet a territory, and seven years before it became a state. So that to a large sense he was a pioneer product, and did his share, with other remarkable men, toward making our county such a desirable land in which to dwell.

He was a farmer and did not retire from that calling to well merited rest until he was 68 years old. He was a good farmer and as such well deserved the appreciation couched in the remark: "He is a benefactor of men who makes two blades of grass grow where one grew before." My own acquaintance with Mr. Ellis began only 10 years ago and I soon learned to admire him, and always enjoyed a talk with him to such a degree as to make me feel I would enjoy it much more but for my defective hearing. He seemed to have a general interest in affairs, and impressed me as not only just but lenient in his judgment of others. I never heard him speak with bitterness of any one.

Some one was asked when the training of a child should begin and the reply was “It should begin with his grandmother.” Probably this accounts for the good character of Geo. Ellis, at any rate his training began in the preceding generation, for I knew his father Jeremiah Ellis, and though him one of the very best men, who without a doubt must have had a good mother.

As to George Ellis, on every hand I have heard willing testimony in his praise from many who knew him long and well. The sum of this testimony is that his life was beautiful for its thoughtfulness and gentleness, that as a neighbor he was greatly respected; as a citizen perfectly law-abiding, interested in all that was likely to build up the community in which he lived, and more certainly promote good government in the state and nation.

Especially did Mr. Ellis have a remarkable reputation for integrity, a man who was truthful, fair in his dealings, altogether upright and morally incapable of wrong doing. It is a great thing to have such a reputation, but it is even a greater thing to deserve it, for it is at least nearly true that “An honest man is the noblest work of God,” and such a man was Mr. Ellis.

It is well for all of us to have a clear vision as to right living. It comes to us often through the lives of good men – it comes to us today through this good man’s life which was an open book, known and read of all men. Let us not be disobedient of the visions.

Verily, he liveth long who liveth well. Our departed friend did even better than that for he lived both long and well.

Rev. J.W. Cheney

Source: Entler Scrapbook; vol. 5; Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA