ZADOK ELLYSON

The attractive home of Zadok Ellyson is situated on North Columbus street in West Liberty. Here he is now living a retired life but for many years was closely associated with the farming interests of the county and through his well-directed labors gained the competence that enabled him to put aside further business cares. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, April 26, 1828, a son of Robert and Hannah (Butler) Ellyson, who were natives of Virginia and New Jersey respectively. They were married at a point west of Salem, Ohio, and spent the remainder of their days in that locality, the mother passing away with her son Zadok was fifteen years of age. He continued to reside in Columbiana county for a long period and married again. By his first marriage he had nine children, of whom one died in infancy, while six are yet living. By his second marriage there were three children, all of whom yet survive.

Zadok Ellyson spent his youthful days amid the conditions and environments of pioneer life in Ohio. His educational privileges were somewhat limited but reading and observation have made him a well informed man. He was a young man of twenty-six years when he came to Cedar county, Iowa, with his brother Benjamin. He located in Gower township, where he lived until 1861, when he removed to Iowa township, where he maintained his abode throughout the remainder of his active connection with business affairs. His entire life was devoted to farming and stock-raising and he became the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land on sections 30 and 31, Iowa township. Year by year he carefully and systematically managed his property and year by year he gathered good harvests as the reward of his labor. He found for his crops a ready sale on the market and as time passed by he prospered, operating his farm until 1902, when he began the erection of his present residence in West Liberty. The following year he removed to the town where he now makes his home, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.

In 1861 Mr. Ellyson was united in marriage to Miss Malinda J. Wolf, a most estimable young lady, who has been a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life’s journey. She was born in Canton, Ohio, January 18, 1838, and came to Cedar county with her parents in 1856. She is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Ann (Smith) Wolf, the former born in Pennsylvania, June 14, 1803, and the latter in Maryland, February 29, 1808. They were married on the 23d of September, 1828, and Mr. Wolf died December 17, 1868, while his wife passed away September 1, 1890. He filled the position of postmaster at Canton, Ohio, and engaged in merchandising at different times in Canton and Harrisburg, Ohio. He likewise filled the office of postmaster in the latter place and his record as a public official was as creditable as his record as a merchant. He taught school for many years in his younger life and when a boy was apprenticed to the shoemaker’s trade, this being his first occupation. In later years he concentrated his energies upon agricultural pursuits and became a well known and representative farmer of Gower township, Cedar county. Both he and his wife died at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Ellyson, in Iowa township. They were highly esteemed because of their many excellent traits of character and their devotion to all that they believed to be just and right between themselves and their fellowmen. They had a family of four sons and four daughters: Newton, who died unmarried; Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Morgan, of Searsboro, Iowa; Judge William Penn Wolf, deceased, of Tipton, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Catharine A., who became the wife of Jackson Binegar and died in South Dakota, March 7, 1910; Malinda J., now Mrs. Ellyson; Blair, who is a resident of Winterset, Iowa; Michel, the wife of Brinton T. Gruwell, of West Branch; and Garrison A., who died at the age of four years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ellyson has been born four children: Albert W., of Citronelle, Alabama, who has served as postmaster there for twelve years; Edwin P., who is living on the home farm near Downey, Iowa; Ella M., the wife of George Gause, of West Liberty; and Dr. Charles W. Ellyson, a practicing physician of Alta, Iowa.

In his political views Mr. Ellyson has always been a stalwart republican from the organization of the party and has taken an active interest in all matters of citizenship, contributing in substantial measure to the work of public improvement and progress. He has served as township trustee, as road officer and has been president of the township board of education for several years. He is a birthright member of the Society of Friends and is still connected therewith. He was president of the Union District Agricultural Society for ten years and has been identified with it for almost fifty years, acting as one of its directors since its organization. This society was established at Springdale in 1856, while later headquarters were removed to Wapsie and afterward to West Liberty. Mr. Ellyson is not now associated with the organization, giving way to his sons and to younger people. He has passed the eighty-second milestone on life’s journey but still manifests a deep interest in matters of public concern and is numbered with the respected and valued citizens of the community whose efforts have constituted a potent force in the upbuilding and improvement of Cedar County.