The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-07-24
HON. JOHN W. ELLIS.
From the Raleigh slandAra.

John Willis Ellis was born in 1920 10 the
Jersey settlement, IN Davidson county, ia
this State, ot highly respectable parents. Al
ter the usual preparatory studies. he enter
ed Randolph Macon College. Va. aud from
thence 10 the University of the State, wlle re
he graduated in 1871. lie subsequently
studied law under the present Chief Justice
Pearson. and commenced its practice in the
town of Salisbury, in lSi2 OF IS. In 1874
he was elected to the House 81 Conmpn.
from Rowan. Daring this year he was mar
ried to an excellent lady. the accomplished
daughter Of Phlo White. ESQ.,. then Of Bronx
Ign, N. Y, who lived bu, short time after
her marriage. lie continued to represent
the county Of Rosan 10 the House &c Com.
mons. until 1913, whenhe wa. elected une OF
the Judges Of The Superior Courts, then in
his 29th year, and the youngest man al that
time, who had been called 10 that post IN our
State. He continued I, ill the Office IL
Judge until he was elected Governor Of the
State in 1858, discharging his duties with
commendable zeal aud ability.
Subsequently 10 his election 10 the gnber.
Material chair. he was united ia marriage 10
Miss Mary Graham Dawes, Of Newbern, me
Of the aniable AMI accomplished daughters
Of the late John r. Dawes, al that town.
Pending his first term Of service as Gov
ernor but lltlie occurred beyond The usual
routine duty. 10 excite public interest. II
1860 he passed through an exciting and ar
duous Campaign with an able competitor,
John Pol, Esq, aud vas reelected b. d
handsome m4jarity. Bot his naturally deli.
cate frame, We think, received shock from
this iaborIous ;ask--one demanding more sac.
rlfce Of health and life th.n ordinary pru.
dencs should demand from any man--lrom
which il never recovered.
The succeeding Legislature was long
one. aud u bOrdered upon exciting and mel
aneIOly events. IL hts Annual Message, q
mnng other important suggestions. he called
the attention Of the Legislature To- the me-
cessity u recognizing The militia and arm.
iag The State. aud the imminent hazard 81
delay. The Legislature adopted hl. views,
and It is TO be regretted that tie plan adopt.
ed should, fran any cause. have failed Vi
prompt aud foil execution.
The pressure OF business sas loo severe
Tor hin, and the close OF the Legislature
found him emlclated and worn. 4 trip 10
Newbern and WILMINGTON ser,ed to brace
W his system, and lie returned to his duties
With renewed energy.
II has been often sail, that Gov Eli. ear
ly sympathized with the South in hpr pres.
ent struggle. This Is no doubt strictly true
Bat il may be recorded with equal truth 10
hl. hDnor, that @hatever might have been his
convictions aud feelings, be held them in a.
bsyance, 50 lar a, his public acts are con.
eerned, 10 the OmnipDtent will II he PEG.
pie Of the State, - strongly ani emphatical. /
ly expressed by them al tie ballot bDx IN
February 10 the election Of delegates to tie
Convention. The crisis in our national al. /
lars was rapidly approaching It's CLIMAX, aud
the Governor, though feeble and wan, was
bracing himself tor the task imposed on him
BY bis position. On the 18th Of April las,
the diabolical proclamation 81 Lincoln fell
like thundefbolt irSm clear sky upon the
country. Then came the insulting demand
from Lincoln FOR her quota Of troop, % SUP
lngate the South, from North Carolina. The
Governor seemed al this to rally his remain.
Ing strength. and gallantly flung back the
insult in lhOse burning words, !" You can
get no troops from North Carolina 20 file
promptly caused the occupation of Fort,
caswel and Macon, and 10 good time, with.
,at the loss Of blood, effected the taking Of
he Arsenal al Fayetteville. He called on
he volunteer troops Of the State, and our
.iiizens from Oh erokee to Curriluck respond.
u with alacrity. These several acts met
he hearty and general appreciation Of his fel.
Ow citizens Of the State and Of the South.
Anriou. TO do what he could ia repelling the
INVADER Of Southern soil, he doubtless taxed
~ strength far beyond what ordinary pru.
lenes directed. Hoping sill TO live, ne START.
d with his family, on the 2lst Of June, from
bis city, when unable TO sit up, TO the Red
sulphur Springs. Monroe county, W., where
se learn he breathed his last on Sunday, the
N inst, - the 4lst year Of his age. leaving
deeply befeaEed widow. two lnfefe,ting