, 1873-05-18

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Death OF william Ellis, One OF the
, Pioneers OF Chtcngo=3A Han: Of Strict
=. Integrity and a Good Printer.
The announcement that William Ellis ia deai
will dim many an eye with tear Of regret. HI
passed away at an car1y hour On Friday morning
last in the 61st year Of his age, and the: s3d Of
his residence in Chicago. The disease which
carried him of was L. galloping consumption
superinduced by an internal injury sustained il
= railroad accident about two years ago., while
bringing the remains of his wife from Montana
to this city He ,vas confined to the house for
about two months preyious to- his death The
funeral will take place at noon today from his
late residence, No. IS Aberdeen street, proceed
ing thence in carriages to Calvary Camete1g
treal, where he Ind served long and faithfnl
apprenticeship at the printing business. He
Immediately obtained employment At tho office
Of the original TRIBUNE, and worked there until
1871, when be formed copartnerahlp with Mr:
Robert Fe1gus, Who is at the present time one ct
the Oldest, best, and most prominent printers
in Chicago. Ellis Fergus we're the only really
capable printers in the Northwest in those days,
and their business soon oorresponded With their
rnerits. During the first year Of their partner
paper published in Illinois, called the Q11id- Nunc.
In 1874 they started the Democratic Advocate,
and wero made the Corporation Printers
hy the Common Council: Previous to
this time, John Wentworth. who WAS
member Of Congress, and the editor OF paper
advocating his peculiar political views, was one
OF tbs most powerful men in tho State. His
paper had circulation Of about 5000 copies,
and generally speaking had matters municipal
arranged pretty much to Its own satisfaction.
their Democratic Aduooate, and their superior
knowledge of the printing business and OF the
value OF news, they mhde q large inroad upon
Johns patronage, and their journal rapidly be-
came the faronte paper Of the public :1hey
newspaper meant, though neither Of them; we're
professional Journalists.
In the Epeni,ag Journal, the other day, there
appeared u readable sketch Of old times in Chi
cago, from the pen Of Benjamin F. Taylor, who
pacity or smother for great many years. With
the exception Of one or two unimportant por-
tionE, the article was purely imaginative hut,
US it has reference to the time in which Mr.
Ellis figured as publisher, it is proper to give
Mr. Taylor points With commendable prida to
the fnct TINT the Journal Of that day published
the Pre5ident'e Message in full, feat in local
journalism which had never before been nc
comp'ished, and claims that it gave the docu-
asn to the se' ha h N 'd;s9ss ss E s. its s
is, that the Journal was furnished with
a copy Of the message from the office
OF the Democratic 4duocdte which had gone
to the unheard-of expense Of sending cou1iers to
Michigan in order to beat Long Johns neW8-
paper. The Journal and another unimportant
paper we're supplied with copies, SO that Went
worth might be made to feel his defeat all the
more keenly. The securing Of the message was
but one of the many enterprises in Chicago
journalism which Mr. Ellis set On foot.
After having been together for about eight
years, Ellis 4 Fergus dissolved partnership, and
the former vent to California the gold fever be-
ing then at its height. It does not appear that
he worked in the gold mines, for good printers
were scarce in that wild country, and commanded
enormous wages. He secured the position Of
foreman in the leading Office Of; one
Of the principal towns in the State, at
. a1ary Of 800 in gold per week, and remained
there for some years. Being . thrifty man
he experienced no difficulty in saving money,
which be wisely invested in Chicago real estate
One Of his many speculations was the purchase
Of the old city pasture lot, situated in the Yicin
II OF what is now the corner OF Douglas
place and State street. The tract comprised ten
acres, md Mr.. Ellis risked 800 On the whole
lot. OF course, all the wise men Of the time
said he WAS foolish, aud would never get his
money back, but he sold it not q great many
years ago for about $88, 600. He leaves hand
some fortune behind him.
Perhaps the best epitaph that could be written
of him ia, that he waa q man Ct strict integrity
End 3 good printer