Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-08-02
From sketches of Self-made Men, by Frank
.t,alo+& Smyth.
Hon. Henry K EIlyson, Richmond, Va.


The subject of this sketch was born in the
city of Richmond. Virginia, July 3lst, lS23.-
He was named after tic Rev. Henry Keeling,
a weil-known Baptist preacher OF Virginia,
and is the eldest son of Oman lilyson, a ,prac-
tlcai wheeiwright, and who, at the birth OF his
young hopeful, Henry, was industrious!y fol
lowing his trade in Richmond
Mr.. Eilyson being poor mechanic, his
son was consequently denied the benefits of a
liberal educatlon-ln III other words, he did not
receive collegiate or classical education.
When a little urchin of six years (1S29), he
was sent to school, to keep him out ot mis-
chief" Regularly during the summer, but In
the winter only occasionally, he attended the
public school at the corner of Marshall and Eff
teeDth streets, then known as the "Lancas-
tran," and the only free school in the city at
the time.
With the meagre and unsatisfactory advan-
tages afforded by this precarlous schooling, he
managed In SIX or eight years to enter higher
and more practical school of learning and art
the ''arI preservatlve OF all arts, practical
printing.
W hen about fourteen years of age (1S37),
Henry was duly initiated inio the mysteries of
a printing office-that OF the Southern Church.
man, now hourlshiag III the City of Alexandria,
but at that time published In Richmond, and
then as now the organ of the Episcopal Church
of Virginia He had to carry out the papers,
and serve the city subscribers with the same,
which he did faithfully if not religiously.
W hile learning his trade he had the misfor-
tune TO lose his father. Comparatively thrown
| upon his own resources before, he was now
more than ever called upon to shift for himself,
and earn his bread by the sweat OF his brow.
Having served the time out of his appren-
tlceshlp, he squared up his last paragraphs
in the Churchnan by take-Ing new .stlck"
IN another tlhe of business, by composing at
the case for himself before attaining his ma
jority and, having by rigid industry and econ
omy saved enough money from his earnings, he
subsequently established a job-prnting Office.
BY close attention to business-devoting his
whole time and energies to 1.-THE superior
style and manner of his workmanship gained
for him an extensive run OF custom and trade,
making money, and like wise man saving it.
In the year 1854 Mr.. Elyson was nominated
as Delegate to the General Assembly, aud
was elected Representative to the House of
Delegates from Richmond, and served, by sub
sequent election, two terms, lS54-55 and 1855
30. Declining reelection to the Legislature,
he was nominated for the important, response
ble and lucrative Office Of Sheriff of Richmond
in 1857, and elected by a handsome majority.
Mr. EIlyson, by subsequent elections, held the
office with much satisfaction until 1865, when
u
appointed by Gov. Peirpoint to collect the ,,spe-
clal license tax.
Shortly after the fall Of Richmond, Mr. Ely
son went in with Mr.. James A. Cowardin IN
resuScitatiDg and re-estabishing the Daily Dis
patch news paper, which had been totally con-
sumed by the great conhagration of April Sd,
1865. As the general manager and principal
proprietor of that Journal, he has made it what
1t is, a substantial success On the evening of
the 10th of March last, he was unanimously
elected Mayor of Richmond by the City Coun-
eli, in conformity with right granted by law
passed by the Legislature of Virginia, entitled
an Enabling Act. !"
Mr.. Eiyson is gentleman Of unassuming
manners, plain habits, and strictly temperate in
all things, keen and shrewd in his business cal
culatons and management, and Wlthal a man
of undoubted integrity. When an estate has to
be settled up, he is very frequently elected by
the legatees or appointed by the courts TO ad
minister thereon. He was one of the few men
who could give the required bonded security,
So, 600 000r in 1865, to administer on certain
e. tate Ia Virginia He was weighed and not
found wanting.
MIR. Ellyson takes great interest in the Sun
day-school cause, and the religious instruction
OF youth having derived much benefit from it
himself in his more youthful days. For several
years he has been elected Superintendent Of the
Second Baptist Church Sunday school.
An ardent friend of popular education and
general diffusion of knowledge to all classes, he
only equals it by an ardent zeal in that great
| moral organizer OF society, temperance. And
in this as In every other undertaking of his life,
whether or not he has been success or a fall
ure, let his thousands of friends in Richmond
and the State OF Virginia answer .o s4+
We did not make the world we may mend
it, and must live in it.
1t is to be doubled whether he will ever find
the way to heaven, who desires to go thither
| alone. isfi 9af ,hhH449 5d} r3e-'@ @ at
| DO nothing in thy passion why wilt thou put
| to sea In the violence of storm? ef
| Account him thy real trend who desires thy