Frank Ellis

Frank Ellis papers
S420
1843-1910, bulk 1906-1910
5 folders
Manuscript Section, Indiana Division
Indiana State Library

Processed by: Christina Baich, April 2006

Biographical Note:

Frank Ellis was born on February 12, 1842, in Muncie, Indiana. He was apprenticed at a printing office at the age of sixteen. When the Civil War began, Ellis enlisted and became a member of his father’s company in the 84th Indiana Regiment. His father, John, was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga (20 Sept. 1863), and Ellis was then appointed Captain to succeed his father. In 1864, Ellis was elected treasurer of Delaware County despite being absent from the County due to his military service. He took office following the war and was re-elected for an additional term. After leaving the office of treasurer, Ellis served on the Muncie City Council and as City Attorney. He also practiced law with Orlando J. Lotz and John T. Walterhouse. In May 1871, he married Mary E. Martindale with whom he had two daughters, Ethel Joy and Elizabeth.

Ellis served as the Mayor of Muncie from 1883 to 1891, U.S. Postmaster in Muncie from 1891-1894, and as U.S. Commissioner from 1898-1910. He was then elected Judge of the 46th judicial circuit, a position he held until November 17, 1916. He returned to private practice after leaving the bench. He died on July 12, 1918.

Sources:

"Ancestry Library." Indiana State Library. 7 Apr. 2006.

Monks, Leander J. Courts and Lawyers of Indiana, Volume III. Indianapolis: Federal Publishing Co., 1916.

Proceedings of the Twenty-Third Annual Meeting of the Indiana State Bar Association Held at Indianapolis, Indiana, July 9 and 10, 1919. Indianapolis: Harrington & Folger, 1919.

Scope and Content Note:

The collection contains professional and personal correspondence including letters regarding state and local Republican party politics; letters from his daughter while she was a student at the University of Chicago (1909); and a small number of letters regarding his legal affairs. Also included are papers regarding the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, a Civil War veterans organization to which he belonged; various political campaign materials and clippings; and receipts and subscription information.

Correspondents include John A. M. Adair, John Gillett, James P. Goodrich, Isaac H. Gray, Nathan P. Hawkins, James A. Hemenway, and General Washington Harrison Kemper.

Folder Listing:

Folder
1. Correspondence, 1907-1908
2. Correspondence, 1909-1910, undated
3. Society of the Army of the Cumberland papers, 1907-1910, undated
4. Political materials, clippings, etc., 1843-1910, undated
5. Receipts and subscriptions, 1906-1910, undated

Collection Information:

Size of Collection:
5 folders

Collection Dates:
1843-1910, bulk 1906-1910

Provenance:
Vigo County Historical Society, 25 July 1967

Access: This collection is open for research.
Restrictions:
None

Reproduction Rights:
Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript Section, Indiana State Library. Possession of a reproduction from an Indiana State Library collection does not constitute permission for use.

Language Materials are entirely in English
Alternate Formats:
None

Related Holdings:

Notes:

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