Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-15
Capitalist and Philanthropist
Succumbs to Heart Disease at
His Home in Iowa Falls
PROMOTED BIG UNDERTAKINGS
Identified in a Prominent Way With
Many Big Enterprises in Northsr"
lowa-BuiIt Railways, Colleges and
MISUNDERSTANDING Land Owner
and Splendid Citizen.
special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Iowa Falls. Feb. 15.-Eugene S. Els
worth, millionaire and philanthropist,
died at his home in this city this
morning at o'clock.
When the news that E. S. Ellsworth
was dead spread over the city this
morning it came as a shock to all, as
the death was wholly unexpected.
While it was known that Mr.. Ellsworth
had contracted slight cold, no one
entertained the idea that his indisposi-
tion was in the least serious. His
death was directly due to an old trou-
BILE for which he had taken treatment
for many years. a disease which in
cludes a hardening Of the heart mus
cles.
Mr.. Ellsworth was born in Milwaukee
in 184S, his parents coming to that city
from Oswego county, New York, in
1886. His father organized company
during the war of the rebellion and
went to the front as its captain. His
son, E. s. Ellsworth. accompanied him
as drummer boy. They served eigh-
teen months, when the fathers resig-
nation became imperative on account
of poor health. The son being under
age, was obliged to come home with
his father. The family came to Iowa
at the close Of the civil war, in 1866.
The father opened livery barn and
young Ellsworth drove prospective land
purchasers over the prairies.
It was here that he gained his knowl-
edge Of locations and the value of Iowa
lands. In 1870 E. S. Ellsworth. then
grown to manhood opened land and
loan office in this city. Prior to en-
gaging in business for himself he took
course at Bailey's Business College
in Dubuque. The elder Ellsworth died
two years later, in 1872. The land and
loan office prospered. The training Of
the earlier years was brought to bear
in the business and in a few years E.
s. Ellsworth's holdings Of Iowa lands
OOC0uIC AIlO5t GAtClSAt0 6ilu at fII1G
time of his death there were few coun-
ties or towns in northern Iowa in which
he did not have some interest. The
rise in lands made him wealthy.
When the B. G. r. & N. Railroad
was built Mr.. Ellsworth was one of it's
heaviest stockholders and one Of the
heaviest investors in the Town Lot
Company that laid out the towns on
that line between Iowa Falls and
Estherville. His connection with these
companies increased his holdings and
have added materially to his wealth
Some years ago he conceived the idea
of building steam railroad between
Iowa Falls and Des Moines and suc-
cessfully planned and constructed the
Iowa Falls, Des Moines & Northern.
He was it's president until about a
year ago when he sold his interests in
the road and retired from the presi-
dency
His real estate holdings in northern
Iowa are too various to receive mem
ton. Among them are a splendid
eight hundred acre improved farm,
large improved estate at Crystal Lake
and third near Dows in Wright
county. With these he has landed in
terests in farms and city lots and in
vestments In dozens of banks thruout
the northern half OF the state. Mr..
Ellsworth has been president for years
of the First National Bank of Iowa
Falls, and a director In the State Ma
tional and Home Savings banks here.
He owned brick blocks and much city
property. His buildings were Of the
class suitable to towns ten times the
size of Iowa Falls. The Metropolitan
opera house, one of the finest Of the
smaller theaters of the state, was made
possible in Iowa Falls thru the liberal
ity and home pride of q. S. Ellsworth.
His benefactions were numerous. Few
cities have had such benefactors as
Mr. Ellsworth. His public spirit is
shown in the splendid opera house re-
ferred to, in Ellsworth hospital, an in
stitution which for equipment and Ia
cility of accommodation has FEW su-
periors in the west; in the Ellsworth
Carnegie library, made possible by Mr.
Ellsworth's contribution of $4,000 and
in Ellsworth college to which he has
been q benefactor and contributor OF
thousands for years HIS latest oona-
tion to the school was $4,000 to the
building fund OF $4,000 and resulted In
two new buildings. the girls dormitory
and the library which have just been
completed.
Mr.. Ellsworth was prominent men,
Der Of the republican party, well known
as a leader and welcomed to its state
and national councils. He was dele
gate-at-l large from Iowa in the last
Chicago convention. He has been Sof
MANY years a member of the Masonic
fraternity and was the only S2nd de-
gree Mason in Iowa Falls. He IL sur
vived by his wife, formerly Miss Hattie
Northrop. OF Dodge county. Wisconsin,
and two children, Ernest o. Ellsworth,
Of this place. and Mrs. Caroline D.
AIs-toa, Of Chicago.
Mr. Ellsworth had faith IN Iowa