John W. Ellis, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 521-522 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JOHN W. ELLIS, M. D.  

	Dr. John W. Ellis, a physician and surgeon living at Elk Point, 
South Dakota, has continuously practiced his profession in that city 
since his graduation from Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago. He was 
born at West Avon, Livingston county, New York, on the 19th of August, 
1852, a son of William W. and Helen M. (Blankenship) Ellis, the former 
a native of Canada and the latter of New York. The father was a farmer 
by occupation and spent the greater part of his life in Ontario, 
Canada. The Ellis farm was given to his father, John Ellis, by Captain 
Brent, an old Oneida chief, who had secured the land from the English 
government, and the place is situated near Brantford, Canada. Crossing 
the border into the United States, William W. Ellis took up his abode 
in New York, where he was married, but soon afterward he returned to 
Canada, where his death occurred. His widow then again became a 
resident of the Empire state, where she passed away ten years later, 
each being thirty-nine years of age at the time of their demise.  

	Dr. John W. Ellis lived with his mother until her death, but has 
maintained himself since his father's death, at which time he was but 
ten years of age. In his youthful days he mastered the branches of 
learning taught in successive grades in the public schools and 
continued his education in the high school of Lowell, Michigan, whither 
he had gone as a boy. He worked for his board while attending school 
and in his desire and efforts to secure an education he displayed the 
elemental strength of his character, giving promise of advancement and 
the attainment of success in later years. After reaching manhood he 
worked in the lumber woods of Michigan. The year 1875 witnessed his 
arrival in Elk Point, South Dakota, and he has since been familiar with 
its history, its upbuilding and its progress, although his residence 
here has not been continuous. For some time he was employed as 
collector by the firm of Cole Brothers and by the Hart Company, dealers 
in machinery and lightning rods at Council Bluffs. In that connection 
he traveled through Nebraska and the southeastern part of South Dakota. 
In 1877, however, he returned to Elk Point and accepted a situation in 
the general store of C. W. Biggs, with whom he continued until he was 
married. He then went to the Black Hills, locating in Central City, 
where he worked in the mines. In August, 1880, he again became a 
resident of Elk Point and secured employment with Freeman Brothers, 
merchants, with whom he remained for five years. In 1885 he was made 
the census enumerator for Elk Point and Brule townships and in the fall 
of that year he was elected assessor of Union county and also served as 
deputy clerk of the courts. After a year, however, he resigned the 
position of assessor and was elected registrar of deeds and ex-officio 
county clerk. In 1892 he went to Chicago and took up the study of 
medicine, entering the Hahnemann Medical College. While pursuing his 
course there he acted as gatekeeper at the fair grounds of the World's 
Columbian Exposition. He was graduated from Hahnemann on the 13th of 
April, 1895, and at once returned to Elk Point, where he opened an 
office and has since been engaged in successful practice.

	Dr. Ellis was married to Miss Laura M. Steckman, of Elk Point, in 
1878, and they became the parents of two children: Ray W., who is a 
graduate of Yankton College and of the National Law School of 
Washington, D. C., and is now state's attorney at Elk Point; and 
Lillian June, who is voice instructor at Parsons College in Fairfield, 
Iowa. The family is prominent in the social circles of the city and the 
hospitality of the best homes is freely accorded them.  

	In the Masonic fraternity Dr. Ellis is well known, beg longing to 
Elk Point Lodge, No. 3, A. F. & A. M.; Vermillion Chapter, No. 21, R. 
A. M.; Vermillion Commandery; Oriental Consistory, No. 1, A. & A. S. 
R., of Yankton; and El Riad Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Sioux Falls. 
He is also a member of the Elk Point Commercial Club. In politics he 
has always been an earnest republican, giving unfaltering support to 
the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has 
served as a member of the school board at Elk Point and for several 
years was its secretary, doing effective work for the benefit of the 
schools and the improvement of the educational system. He served for 
several years as president of the state board of health and is the 
present superintendent of the county board of health. He is a member of 
the South Dakota Homeopathic Medical Society and profits from the 
discussion in its meetings of the most advanced methods of practice. He 
has always kept in touch with the scientific research that is 
continually shedding light upon the laws of health and, while never 
hasty in discarding the old and time-tried methods of practice, he is 
ever ready to take up any new idea that his judgment endorses as of 
benefit in the alleviation of pain or in checking the ravages of 
disease.