William Thomas Ellis
Encyclopedia
William Thomas Ellis was a U.S. Representative
from 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.
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.
Ellis was elected to represent Kentucky's Second District
in the U.S. House of Representatives
in 1888. He was twice re-elected, serving in the Fifty-first
, Fifty-second
, and Fifty-third
Congresses (March 4, 1889-March 3, 1895). While he was away from his law practice on congressional business, the firm's business was handled by his law partners, one of whom was future Congressman William N. Sweeney
.
During the Fifty-second and Fifty-third Congresses, he chaired the Committee on Revision of the Laws. A Free Silver
supporter, he served on the Banking and Currency Committee
and was critical of President
Grover Cleveland
's sound money position. He did not seek re-election in 1894.
. He also engaged in literary pursuits.
Ellis died in Owensboro, Kentucky
on January 8, 1925 and was interred in Elmwood Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
Early life and family
William Ellis was born near Knottsville, KentuckyKnottsville, Kentucky
- Settlement :Knottsville is a small unincorporated community in eastern Daviess County, Kentucky. Knottsville was laid out in 1836 by William R. Griffith and James Millay. The first house was built by Leonard Knott in the fall of 1827, for which the town was named. The town was so named...
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
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the First Kentucky Confederate Cavalry. This unit became a part of the Orphan Brigade
Orphan Brigade
The Orphan Brigade was the nickname of the First Kentucky Brigade, a group of military units recruited from the Commonwealth of Kentucky to fight for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. The brigade was the largest Confederate unit to be recruited from Kentucky during...
. Ellis eventually rose to become a non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
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
Daviess County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 91,545 people, 36,033 households, and 24,826 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 38,432 housing units at an average density of...
. 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
Ohio County, Kentucky
Ohio County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 22,916. Its county seat is Hartford. The county is named for the Ohio River, which originally formed its northern boundary. It is a dry county, which means that the sale of alcohol is restricted or...
in 1867 and 1868. Admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1868, he attended a course of lectures at Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
before commencing practice in Owensboro
Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro is the fourth largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the county seat of Daviess County. It is located on U.S. Route 60 about southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and is the principal city of the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's...
in 1870.
On October 20, 1871, Ellis married Alice Coffey. Coffey died in 1872, and on November 2, 1876, Ellis married Mattie B. Miller.
Political career
In August 1870, Ellis was elected county attorney for Daviess County. He was re-elected to this position in 1874. He served as a DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
presidential elector
United States Electoral College
The Electoral College consists of the electors appointed by each state who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Since 1964, there have been 538 electors in each presidential election...
for the ticket of Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel Jones Tilden was the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidency in the disputed election of 1876, one of the most controversial American elections of the 19th century. He was the 25th Governor of New York...
and Thomas Andrews Hendricks in the 1876 presidential election
United States presidential election, 1876
The United States presidential election of 1876 was one of the most disputed and controversial presidential elections in American history. Samuel J. Tilden of New York outpolled Ohio's Rutherford B. Hayes in the popular vote, and had 184 electoral votes to Hayes's 165, with 20 votes uncounted...
. He unsuccessfully sought election to the Fiftieth
50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
Congress in 1886.
Ellis was elected to represent Kentucky's Second District
Kentucky's 2nd congressional district
Kentucky's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Located in west central Kentucky, the district includes Bowling Green, Owensboro, and Elizabethtown. The district has not seen an incumbent defeated since 1884....
in the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1888. He was twice re-elected, serving in the Fifty-first
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
, Fifty-second
52nd United States Congress
The Fifty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
, and Fifty-third
53rd United States Congress
The Fifty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1893 to March 4, 1895, during the fifth and sixth...
Congresses (March 4, 1889-March 3, 1895). While he was away from his law practice on congressional business, the firm's business was handled by his law partners, one of whom was future Congressman William N. Sweeney
William N. Sweeney
William Northcut Sweeney was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.Born in Liberty, Kentucky, Sweeney attended the common schools and Bethany College.He studied law....
.
During the Fifty-second and Fifty-third Congresses, he chaired the Committee on Revision of the Laws. A Free Silver
Free Silver
Free Silver was an important United States political policy issue in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Its advocates were in favor of an inflationary monetary policy using the "free coinage of silver" as opposed to the less inflationary Gold Standard; its supporters were called...
supporter, he served on the Banking and Currency Committee
United States House Committee on Financial Services
The United States House Committee on Financial Services is the committee of the United States House of Representatives that oversees the entire financial services industry, including the securities, insurance, banking, and housing industries...
and was critical of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
's sound money position. He did not seek re-election in 1894.
Later life and death
After his service in Congress, Ellis returned to his law practice. He was a delegate to the 1896 Democratic National Convention1896 Democratic National Convention
The 1896 Democratic National Convention, held at the Chicago Coliseum from July 7 to July 11, was the scene of William Jennings Bryan's nomination as Democratic presidential candidate for the 1896 U.S. presidential election....
. He also engaged in literary pursuits.
Ellis died in Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro is the fourth largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the county seat of Daviess County. It is located on U.S. Route 60 about southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and is the principal city of the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's...
on January 8, 1925 and was interred in Elmwood Cemetery.