Tehama County CA Archives Biographies.....Ellison, John Francis 1853 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 22, 2007, 2:35 pm Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891) HON. JOHN FRANCIS ELLISON, a prominent citizen and lawyer of Red Bluff, was born at Falls Church, Fairfax County, Virginia, November 30, 1853. His father, William H. Ellison, a native of the State of New York, removed to Virginia about 1845. He married Miss Elisabeth Fish, who was born on the farm in Virginia, where he still resides. To them were born three sons and one daughter. Mr. Ellison's grandfather, Andrew Ellison, was of English ancestry and an early settler of this country. The Ellisons were Methodists, and were highly respected for their honesty and industry. The subject of this sketch received his early education in a private school; afterward attended college at Richmond, Virginia; read law under the instruction of Judge Cox; and graduated at the University of Virginia, in 1877. Immediately after his graduation he came to Red Bluff, California, and engaged in the practice of his profession. As a lawyer he has met with marked success and occupies an enviable position among the members of his profession. He is an enthusiastic and influential Republican, and is well known throughout the State. During the Presidential campaigns of Garfield, Blaine and Harrison he took an active part, doing much for the success of his party and dealing the opposite party powerful and effective blows. Mr. Ellison is an eloquent and argumentative speaker, carrying his opponent's position by storm. In 1884 he was nominated for the State Assembly by his party, and was elected by a large majority. He served during the session and also the extra session of 1886, in a manner which reflected credit both on himself and his constituents. While there he held the important position of Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He is now a member of the Republican County Central Committee of Tehama County. In 1888 Mr. Ellison was a Republican delegate to the National Convention at Chicago, and was strongly in favor of the greatest statesman in the country, James G. Blaine; but finally aided in the nomination of President Harrison. After the convention he visited his relatives and friends in Virginia, took a trip through the East and returned home. In 1890 he was a delegate to the Republican State Convention held at Sacramento, and was one of the Committee on Resolutions. His name was urged for chairman of the convention, but he declined to accept. Aside from the many duties of his profession and the numerous public positions he has filled, Mr. Ellison has also been engaged in other pursuits. He has a ranch of 1,500 acres, on which he is raising hogs, mules and trotting horses. He owns 640 acres of choice farming land in Colusa County, and 240 acres near Corning, Tehama County. He has a fine residence at the corner of Main and Cedar streets, and also owns other valuable property in Red Bluff. In 1880 Mr. Ellison was united in marriage with Miss Minnie B. Cason, a native of Howard County, Missouri. She is a daughter of Mr. Benjamin Cason, a prominent planter of Missouri before the war. He lost nearly all his property in that great struggle, and died from exposure incurred while in the Southern army. Mr. Ellison is a member of the A. O. U. W. and a Royal-Arch Mason. He is a man of force and energy of character, a thorough lawyer, standing in the front rank of his profession. He has just been elected by a large majority Superior Judge of Tehama County. Additional Comments: Extracted from Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California. Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of To-day. "A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendents." – Macauley. CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1891. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/tehama/bios/ellison873bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb