Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-07-13
Death of Gov. Ellis.

sketch of the departed, and to put our columns in
mourning because of the uncertainty recently att
tending rumors and dispatches. Subsequent eventsA
prove that the melancholy announcement was, alas rs
too true and we therefore append such notice now
as the occasion demands and as our scanty mate
rails furnish US.
JOHN WILLIS ELLIS was born in 1920 in the Jer-E
sey settlement in Davidson County, in this State,
of highly respectable parents After the usual pre-
paratory studies he entered Randolph Macon Col E
lege Va, and from thence to the Unverety of ths;
State, where he graduated in 1871. He subsequeEte
" studied law under the present Chief Justices
Pearson and commenced its practice in the town of
Salisbury, in 1912 or 43. In 1874 he was electedE
to the House of Commons from Rowan. DurngE
this year he was married to excellent lady, they
accomplished daughter Of Philo White, Esq, thenS
of Brooklyn, n. " who lived but a short time alters
her marriage He continued to represent the countyE
of Rowan in the House of Commons, until 1S4S, &
when he elected one of the Judges of the Supe
rior Courts then in his 10Th year. and the youngest
at that time who had been called to that posth
in State He continued to fill the Office of JudgeE
until he was elected Governor of the State in 1858,
dScharging his duties with commendable zeal ANDY
ability.
Subsequently to his election to the gubernatorialE
chair, be was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ora
ham Dawes of Newbern, one of the amable and &C f
complished daughters of the late John P. Dawes off
that town.
Pending his first term of service as Governor butt
little occurred beyond the usual routine of duty to
excite public interest In 1860 he passed through
nd ali
pettor John Pool, Esq, and was reelected by al
handsome majority. But his naturally delicateE
frame, we think, received shock from this labo-
rions task-one demanding more sacrifice of healths
and life than ordinary prudence should demandf
from any man-from which it never recovered.
The succeeding Legislature was long one, and,
it bordered upon exciting and melancholy events.
In his Annual Message among other important sug-!
gestions, he called the attention of the Legislature
to the necessity of recognizing the militia and
arming the State and the imminent hazard of delay
In this view his suggestions harmonized with the
views of this paper, and they were frankly and;
promptly endorsed. The Legislature adopted his
views and it is to be regretted that the plan adopt
ed should, from any cause have failed of prompt
and full execution. So far as we know, the failure
was rot any fault of his. Virginia may we'll bewai
similar failure.
The pressure of business was too severe for him.
and the close of the Legislature found him emacated
and worm trip to Newbern and Wilmington
served to brace up his system, and he returned to-
his duties with renewed energy
1t has been often said, that Gov. Ellis early SYM
pathzed with the South in her present struggle
This is no doubt strictly true. But it may be rel
corded with equal truth to his honor, that whatever
might have been his convictions and feelings, he
held them in allegiance, far his public acts are
concerned, to the omnipotent will Of the people of
the State so strongly and emphatically expressed
by them at the ballot-box in February in the cleo
ton of delegates to the Convention. The crisis in
National affairs rapidly approaching its
climax, and the Governor, though feeble and wan,
was bracing himself for the task imposed on him
by his position. On the 18th of April last the da-
bolical proclamation of Lincoln fell like thunder:
bolt from clear sky upon the country. Then came
the insulting demand from Lincoln for her quota of
troops to subugate the South from North Carolina
The Governor seemed at this to rally his remaining
strength, and calamity flung back the insult in
those burning words, "You get no troops from
ton of Forts Caswe and Macon, and in good time,
without the loss of blood, effected the taking of the
Arsenal at Fayetteville. He called on the volunteer
troops of the State and our citizens from Cherokee
to Currituck responded with alacrity These several
acts met the hearty and general appreciation of his
fellow citizens of the State and of the South, and
by none more hearty than by this journal and its
editor. Anxious to do what he could in repelline
the invader of Southern SOIL he doubtless taxed his
strength far beyond what ordinary prudence direct
ed. Hoping still to live, he started with his family
on the 2lst Of June, from this city, when unable tc
sit up, to the Red Sulphur Springs, Monroe county
Va, where we learn he breathed his last on Sunday
the 18th inst, in the 4ls year of his age, leaving
deeply bereaved widow, two interesting children
and numerous friends to lament his untimey end
Dispatches to the Military department in this
City, announcing the death of Gov Ellis, were re-
ceived we learn, on Monday, 10 o'clock, A. NJ I'm.
mediate preparations were made for the proper re-
ception of the remains The melancholy tdings
were received with profound sorrow and sympathy
by our citizens, though not unexpected Two
companies were detailed from COL Fishers regi
ment, to proceed to Petersburg, to meet the body
and escort it to the city. On Tuesday, the Mayor
C. B. Root Esq, called meeting of the citizens al
which he presided. A large crowd assembled, sew
eral gentlemen made appropriate remarks, suitable
resolutions were passed, and committee appointed
to meet the remains at the Depot. On Wednesday
morning, Mr.. Speaker Clark, the acting Governor
arrived little after o'clock, a large crowd re
celVed the mortal remains of the late Governor, al
the depot, which were conveyed thence to the CAPT
FOL THhnrn thn