William Thomas Ellis
| William Thomas Ellis | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Ellis by Aurelius O. Revenaugh
|
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 2nd district |
|
|
In office March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1895 |
|
| Preceded by | Polk Laffoon |
| Succeeded by | John Daniel Clardy |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 24, 1845 Daviess County, Kentucky |
| Died | January 8, 1925 (aged 79) Owensboro, Kentucky |
| Resting place | Elmwood Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Alice Coffey Mattie B. Miller |
| Alma mater | Harvard Law School |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Confederate States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 Confederate States Army
|
| Years of service | 1861 – 1865 |
| Unit |
 1st Kentucky Cavalry
|
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
William Thomas Ellis (July 24, 1845 – January 8, 1925) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.
William Ellis was born near Knottsville, Kentucky on July 24, 1845. He was one of two sons born Luther R. and Mary M. (Kellum) Ellis.
Ellis was educated in the common schools until age sixteen. On October 5, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the First Kentucky Confederate Cavalry. This unit became a part of the Orphan Brigade. Ellis eventually rose to become a non-commissioned officer in command of scouts. He served until the end of the war and mustered out on April 21, 1865.
After the war, Ellis resumed his studies at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Daviess County. To defray the cost of his education, he worked during the summer months. He studied law, supporting himself by serving as principal of Mount Etna Academy in Ohio County in 1867 and 1868.Admitted to the bar in 1868, he attended a course of lectures at Harvard Law School before commencing practice in Owensboro in 1870.
On October 20, 1871, Ellis married Alice Coffey. Coffey died in 1872, and on November 2, 1876, Ellis married Mattie B. Miller.
In August 1870, Ellis was elected county attorney for Daviess County. He was re-elected to this position in 1874. He served as a Democratic presidential elector for the ticket of Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas Andrews Hendricks in the 1876 presidential election. He unsuccessfully sought election to the Fiftieth Congress in 1886.
...
Wikipedia