Hardin County IA Archives Biographies.....Ellsworth, Eugene Stafford 1848 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 29, 2011, 10:03 pm Source: See below Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1896) EUGENE STAFFORD ELLSWORTH.—A man not of Iowa alone, but of the entire West, whose interests have been closely interwoven with those of the central Mississippi valley, whose enterprises have promoted the material welfare of this section of the country, and who has been largely instrumental in the rapid development and upbuilding of the Hawkeye State, is Mr. Ellsworth. His life has been one of eminent success. Singleness of purpose, intelligence, and an ability to seize opportunities are among his marked characteristics. The success of his life is due to no inherited fortune or to any happy succession of advantageous circumstances, but to his own sturdy will, steady application, studious habits, tireless industry and sterling integrity. He can claim no university as his alma mater, his education having been acquired in the public schools and a business college, but he has made the most of his opportunities through life, and to-day is numbered among the most eminent real-estate dealers and bankers of the West. Eugene Stafford Ellsworth was born in Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, on the 2d of November, 1848, being a son of Orlando and Almira Shaw (Hinds) Ellsworth. His grandfather, Stukley Stafford Ellsworth, was born in Otsego county, New York, and became quite prominent in the commercial and political circles of that State, having served for many years as a member of the State Senate. His son, Orlando, was reared and married in Otsego county, but is numbered among Wisconsin's honored pioneers, having located in Milwaukee county in the summer of 1836, when Milwaukee was but an Indian village. He, too, was honored by his fellow townsmen by an election to the State Legislature, on the Republican ticket, for the term of 1857-8. A loyal, patriotic citizen, he at once responded to his country's call for troops at the breaking out of the Civil war, raised a company of volunteers and was elected its Captain. It became Company K, of the Twenty-fourth Wisconsin Infantry, which in September, 1862, went to the front with the Army of the Tennessee. Captain Ellsworth commanded his company until stricken by disease, when he was honorably discharged. He then took up his residence in Iowa Falls, Iowa, where he made his home until his death, which occurred on the 27th of June, 1872. Mr. Ellsworth of this review attended the public schools of Milwaukee until thirteen years of age, when he went to the war as a drummer boy in the company which his father commanded. There he remained until a severe illness forced him to go to the hospital and eventually caused his return home. In December, 1863, he came to Iowa and located at Iowa Falls, where he engaged in teaming, hauling lumber, supplies and all kinds of goods to that place from the nearest railroad station, then more than fifty miles distant. For two years he was thus employed, during which time he gained an excellent knowledge of the country and of real-estate values. He afterward pursued a short course of study in the Bayless Commercial College, of Dubuque, Iowa. He saw that this State was the natural home of the husbandman, and the question of its early settlement and development being but a matter of time, he foresaw and believed that the real-estate business would prove a profitable one. In consequence he turned his efforts in that direction with such energy and diligence that he soon secured a liberal patronage and was reaping therefrom a good income. He also did a very extensive business in loaning money for Eastern capitalists on Iowa improved farms, and he can be justly proud of the magnificent record that he has made in the years of his active business in this line. Not a single dollar of any investor has been lost through him, nor did a single piece of real estate sold by him prove unsatisfactory to the purchaser. As Mr. Ellsworth carried on this line of business and saw advantageous opportunities to make good investments in real estate, he did so, and is now one of the largest individual land owners in Iowa. Much of his property is very valuable and, as is well known, he has among other holdings three of the best improved and largest farms in the State, which stand as monuments to his faith. In 1880 Mr. Ellsworth organized and was elected secretary and treasurer of the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls & Northwestern Land & Town Lot Company, an organization created for the purpose of purchasing lands and town sites on the line of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad, covering a distance of over 300 miles. He had the entire management of the business for eight years and justly claims to be the founder of more than thirty cities and towns in Iowa. In this connection and through the prosecution of his vast business interests he has probably done more than any other one man in the State for the development, growth and upbuilding of Iowa. Its rapid progress caused his business to assume such extensive proportions that it was beyond the management of one man and in 1884 Mr. Ellsworth admitted to a partnership in his business Mr. L. E. Jones, of Iowa Falls, who for seven years previous had been his confidential clerk, which relationship still exists. Mr. Ellsworth is a man of broad capabilities and his efforts have by no means been limited to one line of endeavor. He is a most able financier, and in 1890 was elected vice-president of the First National Bank, of Iowa Falls, which position he held until the annual meeting of the bank in January, 1896, when he was unanimously elected its president. He is also a stockholder and director in several other of the leading banks in Central Iowa which he has assisted in organizing. In his political views, Mr. Ellsworth is an unswerving Republican, and though his private interests have been extensive and varied, demanding much of his attention, he has yet found time to aid his fellow citizens in the administration of public affairs, and served as Mayor of Iowa Falls from June 15, 1876, until March 5, 1877. He was also a member of the town Board of Trustees of Iowa Falls from 1877 to 1888. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm friend and stalwart supporter, and "Ellsworth College," which was established in Iowa Falls in 1890, was named in his honor and is now one of the leading educational institutions in the State. He takes a deep interest in Masonic affairs, having been initiated into the order in 1878, since which time he has taken all of the degrees up to and including the thirty-second. On the 18th of September, 1879, he became a Knight Templar, and was chosen one of the charter members and the second Eminent Commander of St. Elmo Commandery, No. 48, K. T., of Iowa Falls. He also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine. The home relations of Mr. Ellsworth have been most pleasant and he takes great delight in advancing the interests and happiness of his family. In September, 1872, he led to the marriage altar Miss Hattie A. Northrup, of Otisville, Franklin county, Iowa. They have two children, a son and daughter,—Ernest Orlando, who is a graduate of Shattuck School, of Faribault, Minnesota, and who is now taking an active part in the management of his father's business affairs; and Carrie Pearl, who is a graduate of the Grant Collegiate Institute, of Chicago, and who is now about to enter Vassar. Mr. Ellsworth has traveled quite extensively, both in this country and abroad, and in 1878 crossed the ocean to England, traveling thence to Ireland, Scotland and continental Europe. In 1891 he spent several months abroad, principally in France, Germany and Switzerland, visiting various points of interest. In social life Mr. Ellsworth displays a kindly, genial nature that has won him a host of friends. In business he is decisive, energetic and thoroughly reliable, and he considers that one of the best features of his success is not the good that it brought to him but to others. He has been instrumental in building up numerous industries, each of which has added its full share to the general welfare, and he is numbered among those who have made Iowa what it is to-day. Additional Comments: Extracted from: A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1896 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/hardin/bios/ellswort254nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/iafiles/ File size: 8.9 Kb