ALEXANDER PRESTON ELLINWOOD - Biography

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Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 640-644


ALEXANDER PRESTON ELLINWOOD - Probably no man in Reedsburg was better
known in that city and the surrounding country than Captain ELLINWOOD.
Having resided in that place for more than 40 years, and having been
actively identified with many public movements, he was brought into
contact with a large number of people, and though his views were not
always in harmony with those of many of his contemporaries, no one will
deny that his sentiments were honestly conceived and fearlessly
expressed on all occasions.

He was born near Peterboro, Madison County, NY, 09 Sep 1833, and is a
son of George W. ELLINWOOD and Hannah J. ALEXANDER. At the age of 16
years he started out to make his own way in the world and spent the
first season as a farm laborer at $8 per month. The next year he entered
New York Central College at McGrawville [Allegany County], a progressive
institution, which was the second in the U. S. to adopt the system of
co-education for both sexes. He spent several years there earning the
means to continue his studies at intervals, by such employment as he
could secure. A part of this time he taught a country school for $17 per
month and "boarded round." Later he was engaged as principal of a graded
school at McGrawville, NY, but a few days before he was to begin he
learned that some of [p 643] the patrons were seriously opposed to his
being employed on account of his "free thinking" principles, and
determined to seek a position elsewhere. In company with A. J. WARNER,
since famous as a leader of the "free silver movement," but at that time
a penniless student like himself, he went to central PA. They earned
enough to meet their meager expenses by working for farmers along the
route until they reached the Kishacoquillas Valley, where they taught an
academy until they had procured sufficient means to return to college.
The same indomitable spirit of perseverance which induced him to obtain
an education at any sacrifice characterized subsequent efforts, and he
never was known to abandon an undertaking which he set out in earnest to
accomplish.

Having finished the sophomore year at college, he took a trip through
Canada and the west, arriving in Sauk County in 1858. He taught at
Reedsburg and elsewhere until the beginning of hostilities between the
north and south admonished him that there were more urgent duties to be
performed and that his assitance was needed in the preservation of the
Union. He accordingly directed the same enthusiasm to this work which
had marked his efforts in other lines, and assisted in recruiting
Company A, 19th WI Volunteer Infantry, which included in its membership
a number of his former pupils. He was enrolled 19 Dec 1861 and was at
once made 2nd Lieutenant of the company. The regiment served from that
time until the close of the war, being employed most of the time in VA
and NC, taking part in a number of battles and skirmishes and suffering
much from malarial fever. Though he was offered a much more desirable
position soon after entering the service, he declined to part company
with the men whom he had been instrumental in persuading to engage in
the conflict, and continued to share their hardships and privations
until his services were no longer needed and he was mustered out as
captain of the company, 09 Aug 1865.

Returning to Reedsburg Captain ELLINWOOD organized and taught a select
school after which he was principal of public schools for several years,
many of the successful men and women who were students at that time
bearing testimony to the thoroughness of his instruction. Subsequently
he was engaged at intervals in various lines of business; at one time he
was in the mercantile business, at another time in the lumber trade;
during the period in which the cultivation of hops flourished in Sauk
County he dealt quite extensively in that product, meeting with severe
losses in the crisis of 1868, at which time most of his contemporaries
were hopelessly involved. In 1870 he purchased the square known as
Mott's second addition to the village of Reedsburg [Sauk County, WI],
for $150. It was then a tract of wild land containing something over two
acres. Though his lack of judgment was derided by the real estate
dealers of that time, he built his residence theron and set about the
improvement of the property, which is now covered with buildings and
good residences. From time to time he made additional purchases,
acquiring at one time about 300 acres in and adjacent to the city. The
value of all this property has greatly increased and much of it has been
subdivided and improved.

One of Captain ELLINWOOD's greatest enterprises was the conduct of the
Reedsburg Fair, which he held annually upon his own grounds for 17
years. He spared neither time nor money in fitting up the premises for
this purpose and always paid all premiums promptly, though, owing to
unfavorable weather, this was sometimes done at a heavy loss. The people
soon began [p 644] to appreciate his efforts and heartily cooperated in
the undertaking, making the fairs great successes as long as they were
continued, but owing to failing health and other considerations, he
finally found it expedient to abandon the exhibitions. His wife, to whom
he was wedded 21 Dec 1868, conducted the ladies' department of the fair
and was of great assistance to him in this as in many other
undertakings. The maiden name of this lady was Hannah COTTINGTON. She
was born in Waterville, NY, and is a daughter of Jesse and Rebecca
(FORWARD) COTTINGTON, who were among the pioneers of Sauk County. [See
also the biography of Hannah's brother, Amos COTTINGTON, this county.]
The three boys born to Mr. and Mrs. ELLINWOOD died in infancy. They
reared and educated one adopted daughter, Edith, now the wife of E. A.
THOMPSON, of Reedsburg.

Captain ELLINWOOD maintained liberal but decided views on most public
questions. He leaned toward the Unitarian faith, though not connected
with any church. For 40 years or more he was identified with the Masonic
order and was active in the work of the G. A. R., being a past commander
of H. A. Tator Post, at Reedsburg. The temperance cause always found him
a ready and able champion. The lively interest which he always
manifested in public affairs led to his being chosen for the execution
of numerous official trusts. For several years he was chairman of the
town and village and, though he vigorously opposed the incorporating of
the city, was elected its second mayor; for several years he filled the
office of chairman of the county board of supervisors, of which body he
was a member for 20 years or more, and in 1877 and 1878 he represented
his district in the WI assembly. He was one of the committee of five
appointed by the county board to take measures for the relief of the
poor in Sauk County, and in erecting the county poor farm buildings, a
work he took much pleasure in, as he was a friend of the indigent and
helpless. Being naturally gifted with unusual powers of language and
reason, he had no hesitation or embarrassment in expressing his ideas on
any topic in public or private, whenever occasion required. Although his
position regarding matters of public policy was sometimes vigorously
assailed, he retained no malice toward any one and enjoyed the personal
friendship and esteem of most of the people of Sauk County.

Captain ELLINWOOD died 06 Feb 1900. His body was escorted to the grave
by many of his comrades of the 19th regiment, six of whom acted as pall
bearers. Many comrades of his company were present, as well as members
of H. A. Tator Post, G. A. R., and of the Women's Relief Corps, and a
large concourse of friends. Mrs. ELLINWOOD is still residing in the home
place, built in 1872.