BIO: Enoch BELLIS, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 617 & 618. _____________________________________________________________ ENOCH BELLIS, mine superintendent, merchant, and bank director, of Burnside, is one of the best known business men in this part of Clearfield county. He was born at Buckley, North Wales, March 5, 1871, son of Thomas and Ellen (Lamb) Bellis. His grandparents on the paternal side were Robert and Elizabeth (Lewis) Bellis, the former a miner and merchant, who died in 1895 at the age of 68 years, his wife dying in 1854 at the age of 35. They were both natives of Wales. Thomas Bellis, father of our subject, was born at Buckley, North Wales, February 2, 1851. After a brief attendance at school, he entered the coal mines at the early age of eight years as a trapper boy, and was subsequently engaged in the mining industry in his native land, in one position or another, until reaching the age of 26 years. He then resided for about three years in Lancashire, England. By this time he had married and, deciding to better his fortunes by seeking larger opportunities in the New World, he came with his wife and children to this country about 1880, settling at Philipsburg, Pa., where he was engaged in mining until 1890. He subsequently removed to Urey, Indiana county, where he held positions as foreman and superintendent of mines until his death, which occurred November 20, 1910. He was married in 1870 to Miss Ellen Lamb, who was born in his own native town of Buckley, North Wales, May 9, 1848. Her parents were Thomas and Mary (Jones) Lamb, the father being a miner. Thomas Bellis was a man well known in mining circles. Either by himself or associated with partners, he was interested financially in various coal companies, including the Urey Ridge Coal Co., the Burnside Coal Co., the Glenwood Coal Co., Cymbria Coal Co., the Springfield Coal Co., of which he was president, the Pioneer Coal Co., and others. He was also vice-president of the Mahaffey National Bank, of Mahaffey, Pa.; and vice-president of the Clymer Brick and Tile Co., and was interested in the Farmers Bank of Indiana, Pa., and the Eldorado Brick Co., of Altoona; also in the Barnsboro Bank, of Barnsboro, Pa. The last three years of his life were spent in retirement from business activity at Altoona. In addition to the subject of this sketch, Thomas and Ellen Bellis were the parents of the following children: Sarah, who is the wife of Ed Kantz, of Burnside; Mary, who is unmarried and resides at Burnside; Cora, the wife of J. N. Ake, of Egg Harbor, N. J.; Maud, wife of John A. Plyler, of Brookville, Pa.; and Florence, who is single and resides at Mahaffey, Pa. As may be seen, Thomas Bellis was a man of great energy and was a highly respected citizen. He was a member of the Masonic lodge, No. 314, at Clearfield, and the Consistory at Williamsport. Enoch Bellis, like his father, received an early initiation into the mining industry, beginning at the age of ten years, after a brief schooling. After coming to this country he found employment as a clerk for the Passmore Burns Co. of Urey, Pa., dealers in various supplies. Two years later the firm became Passmore & Bellis, with our subject as manager, and he has continued a successful mercantile career, at the present time being in charge of the Burnside Supply Co.'s store at Burnside and also of their store at Glen Campbell. He is still a member of the firm of Passmore & Bellis at Urey, Pa., and is financially interested in the Springfield Coal Co. at Nanty Glo, Pa. He is also treasurer of the Springfield Land Co., and director of the Mahaffey National Bank, and is interested in the Farmers Bank of Indiana, Pa., the Eldorado Brick Co., of Altoona, the Bellmore Coal Co., of Burnside, Pa., the Barnesboro (Pa.) Bank, and other flourishing business concerns. He has served in public office when it has been the desire of his fellow citizens, having been a member of the school board and being at present a member of the borough council of Burnside and tax collector. He is a member, steward and trustee of the Methodist Protestant church, of Burnside. He also belongs to the Masonic lodge at Clearfield. Mr. Bellis was married June 22, 1907, to Perella Lovelace, who was born in Indiana county, Pa., June 17, 1878, a daughter of Thomas L. and Laura (McCullough) Lovelace, the former of whom is still living at the age of 62 years. Mrs. Bellis's mother died in 1887 at the age of 31 years. She was a daughter of Alexander McCullough, born in 1824, who came from Indiana county to Clearfield county, with his parents, John and Margaret (Sharp) McCullough. The latter was a daughter of Capt. Andrew Sharp of Sharpsburg, who was shot by an Indian on the Ohio river, and died from the effects of his wound. Mrs. Bellis, who is a graduate of the Burnside high school, belongs like her husband, to the Methodist Protestant church, and is an active member, being president of the Ladies' Aid Society. There have been born to our subject and wife four children, namely: Helen, April 17, 1899, who is attending school; Catherine Ruth, May 13, 1902; Sarah Jane, November 26, 1905; and Gwendola, who died in infancy.