Ellis, Mace P. (1856-1923)

ELLIS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/15/2019 at 12:52:25

Mace "Macey" P. Ellis
Mar 27, 1856 - May 29, 1923

[From the 1891 Biological History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.637]
M. P. ELLIS, druggist at 556 Broadway, Council Bluffs, was born at Elkhart, Indiana, March 27, 1856, a son of Joel and Emeline (BAILEY) ELLIS. In his father's family were Jacob, William, Charles, M.P., Fred, Joel, Sophia and Clara, the two latter of whom are deceased. Joel ELLIS, the senior, was born in Chautauqua County, New York, February 14, 1818, of Scotch ancestry, who emigrated in early days to America, settling on the Hudson River, where their descendants resided for many generations and served their country both in the Revolutionary War and in the War of 1812. In 1830 the senior ELLIS emigrated with his parents to Elkhart, Indiana, in covered wagons, and became a thoroughgoing citizen of that State. The grandfather of Mr. M. P. ELLIS opened a hotel known as the Three Mile Plain Tavern, named with reference to its locality. Many thrilling incidents were connected with their pioneer life there among the red savages and wild beasts of the forest; being before the days of civil law, and criminals were punished by lynch measures. The famous Black Hawk War occurring while they were resident there, the Indians were particularly bold and insolent, and one or two serious frights seized the people. Mr. ELLIS, the grandfather, was a Whig in his political views, a member of the Congregational Church, and died at the age of eighty-four years, leaving an aged companion, who died in 1874, and was buried by his side at Elkhart.

Joel ELLIS remained at home with his parents to the age of twenty-one years, making the best of his meager educational advantages. Naturally possessing good business qualifications, he soon advanced to the front among businessmen. He built three large warehouses on the banks of the St. Joseph River at the mouth of the Elkhart, and established and operated a barge or flat-boat line for the transportation of goods to Lake Michigan, practically enjoying a monopoly until the building of the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad, now the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern. He accumulated a fortune, sold out his business and purchased a section of land (640 acres) and commenced farming on a large scale and in a scientific manner. In 1868 he sold his farm, moved to the village of Elkhart and engaged in the rearing of fine horses. He bred the horse Edward, which was afterward sold to Worth of New York, who drove him in harness with Dick Swiveler. They made the extraordinary low record of 2:12. Mr. ELLIS was a strong Abolitionist during the days of slavery, being a conductor on the underground railway. He died at his home in Elkhart, July 23, 1890, as the remote result of la grippe.

The mother of Mr. M. P. ELLIS was born in Erie County, Pennsylvania, now the only surviving child of Cyrus and Catherine (HOLCOMB) BAILEY. Her parents died when she was about sixteen years of age, and a year afterward she married. She is still living on the old homestead, a zealous and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. ELLIS, the subject of this sketch, at the age of seventeen years entered the employ of Hill & Kelly, druggists at Elkhart, and by strict attention to business, he became proficient. In 1882 he went to Fairbury, Nebraska, where he entered the employ of Hinkle, Carr & Co., druggists. By the observance of rigid economy,, he managed to save means enough to buy a piece of land in Jefferson County, Nebraska, which increased rapidly in value and finally he sold it. He invested the proceeds in commercial paper, which also proved a profitable venture. Hinkle, Carr & Co. sold out, and Mr. ELLIS, in looking for a place to establish a store, came to Council Bluffs and was offered a position by the Foster Brothers, wholesale and retail druggists. Accepting the place, he remained with them until the winter of 1887, when he formed a partnership with J. H. Camp, under the firm name of CAMP & ELLIS, 556 Broadway. In September 1889, he bought out his partner and since then has continued in the business alone. Mr. ELLIS is an example of what a young man may accomplish by strict attention to business and adhering to the principles of honesty and integrity. Step by step he has ascended the rounds of the ladder, and though young in years, he ranks among the leading businessmen of the city. In politics he is a Democrat.

September 10, 1889, he married Mrs. Alice WILSON of Council Bluffs, and they have one child. Mrs. Ellis' parents were W.H. and Matilda (THOMPSON) MURLIN, who had six children: Elvira, James, Alice (born January 11, 1855), Allie G., Edgar E., and Herbie; all of them are now deceased excepting Mrs. ELLIS and Edgar E., the latter of whom now resides in Denver, Colorado. Mr. MURLIN was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, remotely of German ancestry; and when he was sixteen years of age, his parents moved with him to Mercer County, Ohio, settling near Salina. February 10, 1850, he married and took his bride, in company with a number of young associates and their families, and in three weeks arrived at Vinton, Iowa, their destination, which then contained but a dozen houses. To this place his uncle, James THOMPSON, had preceded him the year before; and his second born, Eva, was the first white child born in Hampton, whither he had moved from Vinton.

Mr. MURLIN was successfully engaged in the grain business for many years, hauling his grain in wagons to the Mississippi River and unloading it into boats. September 10, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, 28th Iowa Infantry, and during his service, which was under GRANT, MCCLELLAN and BANKS, he was promoted first to the rank of First Sergeant and afterward to that of Second Lieutenant. He was with BANKS in the Red River expedition. He was a valiant soldier, engaging in many hard-fought battles, and was honorably discharged at Savannah, Georgia, July 21, 1865. After returning he was out one day with a hunting party and accidentally received a wound, from the effect of which he ultimately died, September 14, 1865 at Vinton. Matilda THOMPSON was born at Springfield, Ohio, September 28, 1832, the ninth in a family of thirteen children of James and Mary (McINTYRE) THOMPSON. Their children were: Lucinda, Samuel, Elizabeth, Edward, Mary, Jane, James, Eleanor, Matilda, Andrew, Alvina, Louisa, Martha and Kate. William THOMPSON, father of James, was born in Ireland in 1762; came to America in 1774 and settled near Carlisle, Pennsylvania. After her husband's death, Matilda THOMPSON was left with comparatively little means to educate and bring up her children. Through the dishonesty of a partner of her husband lost nearly all of the accumulations of years; but with a brave heart and a mother's devotion and love, she undertook the battles of life alone. After remaining at Vinton about four years, she moved to Oskaloosa, where resided her brother, Samuel THOMPSON, County Judge, to educate her children, and nine years afterward, she came to Council Bluffs.