My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Adair County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Judge James Ellison, Jr., is the son of Judge James Ellison, of Canton, Lewis Co., Mo. He was born in Monticello, Mo., on the 12th of July, 1848, and educated at the Christian University, Canton, Mo., and at the Christian Brothers’ College, St. Louis, Mo. He read law with his father, and commenced the practice at Kirksville, Mo., at eighteen years of age, with his brother, Andrew Ellison. In 1872 he was elected prosecuting attorney for Adair County without opposition, a position he filled with eminent success. In 1884 he was chosen as presidential elector for the First Congressional District, attracting general attention by his fair and forcible discussion of the great issues before the people. In the fall of 1872 he was married to Miss Clara Fout, of Virginia. All his life he has been a Democrat, and by the wisdom and discretion of his counsel is looked upon as a wise and safe leader. Early in life he united with the Christian Church. At the bar he had few equals of his age; his logic and power of analysis was almost irresistible. In a moment he seemed to grasp the strong points of his case, which he presented with a force and earnestness that seldom failed to impress his hearers. Always honest and fair himself, he had little or no patience with the selfishness and trickery of others. As an advocate he ranked high, frequently rising to real eloquence, though never seeming to attempt it. Generous and charitable without extravagance, he accumulated a competency in his practice, which was always a large and lucrative one. Personally he possessed the confidence of all good men; his greatest ambition was to become worthy of it. In 1884 the appointment as one of the judges of the court of appeals, at Kansas City, was tendered him by Gov. Crittenden, which he accepted. He was chosen for his known fitness for the position. Time has vindicated the propriety and wisdom of the selection. In the two and a half years he has served upon the bench his career has been one of steady and successful growth. There the same clearness, logic, strength and fidelity to truth and principle characterize all his opinions, and, though surrounded by able associates, he leaves the impress of his mind upon the jurisprudence of the State. In a word he is one of the strong, growing and good men of the State.

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This family biography is one of 150 biographies included in the Adair County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam, and Schuyler Counties, Missouri published in 1888 by Goodspeed Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Adair County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Adair County, Missouri family biographies here: Adair County, Missouri Biographies

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