Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-04-11
DALLAS MOURNS LOSS
MANY PAY sORROWING TRIBUTE
TO MEMORY OF Nj. M. ELLIS.
Life Sketch of Pioneer Business Man
Who Died in This City, Friday,
April z, 1911.

i Simple, but impressive, funeral rite
were held over the remains of the lat,
Mitchell M. Ellis in the United Evan
gelical Church yesterday afternoon
1.-THE service was carried out accordinl
to the wishes of Mr.. Ellis, who, a few
i weeks prior to his DEATH had made
known to relatives and friends hi.
desire as to how his funeral ant
burial should be conducted.
The service was held in the large
| auditorium of the United Evangelical
Church, which was filled with friends
and neighbors who had known and re-
spected Mr.. Ellis and had gathered to
pay their last tribute to his memory
The pail bearers from the residence
to the church were J.. G. VanOrsdel
F. j. Coad, Eugene Hayter, II. L. Fen
ton, August Riser and H. Woods.
The funeral service was conducted
by the Reverend Edgar w. Miles, pas
tor of the First Presbyterian Church,
assisted by the Reverend A. A. Win
ter, President of Dallas College, and
the Reverend ID. M. Metzger, Dean of
the College Faculty. Each of the three
speakers paid eloquent tribute to Mr..
Ellis worth as citizen, telling of his
love for his fellow men, his interest in
the welfare of Dallas, and his influ-
ence for good among the people, es-
pecially the young people, of his com
munity.
Touching musical numbers were
rendered by the Presbyterian choir,
with Miss Olive Smith at the organ.
The floral offerings We're many and
beautiful, spring flowers being used
| in profusion in the many wreaths and
bouquets and in the handsome en-
blematic designs which almost hid the
casket from view.
The burial in the Odd Fellows
cemetery was conducted by Jennings
Lodge, No. 9, A. F. & A. M, with Os-
car Hayter, P. w. M, acting as Wor-
shipful Master. The Masonic pail
bearers were r. e. Williams, Joseph
Craven, w. G.. Vassall, A. B. Muir, Dr.
Mark Hayter and U. s. Loughary. The
active pail bearers at the funeral ac-
companied the body to the grave in
an honorary capacity. Arriving at the
cemetery a few minutes after 2
o'clock, the burial service was con-
Quoted according to the ancient usages
and rites of the Masonic fraternity.
Was Native of Ohio.
Mitchell Montgomery Ellis was born
near GAINESVILLE, Ohio, January 10,
1916. His parents, Henry and Henri
eta Ellis, moved from Ohio to Iowa in
1856 and settled near Decatur, where
Mr. Ellis engaged in farming and
stockraising. Ten years later, the
family crossed the plains to Oregon.
After a memorable journey by wagon,
they arrived in Salem, September IA,
1865. The first winter they passed in
1866 they located on a farm near
Ballston, Polk County. Here the elder
Mr.. Ellis lived the remainder of his
life. The aged widow is now living
with a daughter, Mrs. c. A. Johns, in
Baker City, and is very feeble.
Mitchell M. Ellis was reared on his
fathers farm in Iowa and received his
rudimentary education in the public
schools of that state. Upon the out
break of the Civil War, he enlisted in
Company I, Thirty-sixth Iowa Volun-
teer Infantry, but was rejected on ac-
count of his age. In 1854 he re-en-
listed in Company A, Thirty-fourth
Iowa Mounted Infantry, but his regi-
ment was never mustered into active
service. In 1865 he crossed the plains
with his parents, and since 1866 had
resided almost continuously in Polk
County.
In the fall of 1857 he entered Bap-
tist College at McMinnville, where he
remained for one year. The following
year he taught school in Polk County,
after which he re-entered the college
at McMinnville and completed his ed
ucation.
Begins Mercantile Career.
In 1869 he went to Portland and
was employed as clerk for Arnold & |
Faim. Later he was in the employ OF
Masters & Protzman. In the fall OF
1872 he returned to Polk County and
opened store for himself near where
the town of Ballston is now located. |
Soon afterward he removed to Dallas
and engaged in the general merchsn-
dising business.
In 1878 Mr.. Ellis was elected Clerk
of Polk County, and two years later
was reelected. The duties thus devolv-
ing upon him forced him TO dispose of
his mercantile establishment in order
that he might devote his entire atten-
tion to his office.
After retiring from office, he pur-
chased the general store of w. C.
Brown in Dallas, and after four years
of successful management, sold the
business to its former owner In 1883,
with the assistance Of William Savage,
now deceased. he organized private
concern known as the William Savage
Banking Company. and in 1892 assisted
likewise in the organization OF the
Dallas City Bank. successor to the
institution. AS president
of this bank. he actively managed its
affairs until 1898. when he resigned
to devote his attention to a 6o-acre
prune orchard which he had planted
lust north Of town a few years before.
In 1902 Mr. Ellis re-purchased the
mercantile business Of ". G. Brown
forming a partnership with Alonzo
Brown. and the business was conduct
ed under the style Of Brown a Ellis
In January. 1903. Aionzo Brown hav-
ing died. d. J.. Keyt, Of Perrydale' be-
came a member Of the firm, purehas-
ing the Interest OF the Brown heirs
The new firm Ellis & Keyt continued
In business for several years. and IN
the summer OF 1907 Mr. Ellis sold the
store 10 the Dallas Mercantile Com
many. its present owner. During
greater part Of this time, Mr. Ellis. In
connection with Frank Gibson. owned
and operated the Touring MIL az Rick
reaH
Was PROMINENT In Politics.
In his political aHliation Demo
rrat Mr.. Ellis had served as chairman
az the Democratic County Central