Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-05
Appreciation of alr. Ellyson.

various sections OF the state will prove
OF interest to thoughtful voters
Appreciation of MIR. Eilyson.
To the Editor OF The Times Dispatch
Sir,-When the history OF Richmond
is written ii Will not be complete un'
less there he prominent mention of
the part that has been taken in the
city's welfare by Lieutenant Governor
: j. Taylor Ellyson during the years
that he has resided here. In referring
to his long and eventful career in pub
lie life the other day. friend of the
Lieutenant Governor said he did not
believe the people understood and APP
preciated Mr.. Ellysons value to this
city.
Afaole and courteous. as he always
is, he told me recently of the great
pleasure that had been his the past
few months in mingling with the peo-
pie in all parts of the State. He said
he found himself at the close y. IN.
campaign in the enjoyment Of good
health, thus showing that the siren
uous work in which he has been en-
gagged had not impaired his usual
vigor.
At the outbreak OF the War Between
the States the Ellyson family resided
in Nottoway County and two years
later. while student at Hampden-
Sidney College j. Taylor ENyson. 4
mere youth. responded 10 the call OF
the South and joined the confederate
ranks and followed the matchless Lee
until the surrender at AppomattoX.
When asked If this were not true Mr..
Ellyson replied in the affirmative and
related the following incident:
Incident ut Funeral Of Davis.
AT the time jefferson Davis, the
President OF the Confederacy, died.
was the Mayor of Richmond. and was
ha cit
funeral. This was in December, 1899.
The remains were placed in vault
in New Orleans. On the night of the
day the funeral was held, there was
meeting of the Confederate veterans
in the Washington Artillery Hall
General John E. Gordon presided. The
Governors OF all the Southern States
were eN-Confederate soldiers and
these States were represented by their
Governors except Virginia. General
Fitz Lee was detained in Richmond By
the assem- bling OF the Legislature and
was unavoidably absent. Ahe States
were called III alpha betical order and
each Governor responded, When Nir-
Sinia was called. DIR. John William
Jones, who WAS present, announced
that Governor Lee could not leave his
State. but that Mayor Ellyson, or
Richmond. was in attendance, and
asked that he speak for the Old DO
.
cluded took seat on the platform
near General Gordon. When the ex-
erciseS were over General Gordon
turned TO me and asked: Were YOU in
the army | told the General thought
i could prove il by him. He wanted
to know how and related Il CONVEX
sation had heard between Generals
Lee and Gordon late in the afternoon
of the day OF the battle at Sailors
Creek. which was fought just before
the surrender at .Appomattox This
conversation took place following a
council OF war held by General Ice.
General Gordon said he remembered
II and added that he had never re-
peated that conversation TO a living
soul. General Gordon. in the CONVEX
Sat!oD alluded L., advised General Lee
to surrender
Why lie Entered Politics.
How did come TO enter politics
II was thr"Hfh thi.. solicitation OF Drs.
j. l. M..tu'H'y and j. b. Jctcr. two
prominent ministers who are rcmem-
bered TO this day by thousands Of Rich
mond people. These gentlemen wanted
me 10 permit the use Of my name for
vacancy on the City Council ! at
hrst declined, but. after consulting
with my father and reaching the con-
clusion that every man owes a duty to
the public, advised Drs. Curry and
Jeter that ! would acccdc to their re-
quest and was later elected to the
Council from my ward"
An interesting incident in the life
! OF Mr. E!lyson took place While he was
student at the University OF Virginia
lie was elected editor OF the University
Magazine. representing the Jefferson
. Literary Society. and secured ana pub-
iished sketch OF the life OF Edgar
Allan Poe, who was a student AT IN.
written by the secretary To the faculty
and, contrary 10 rumor. MIR Poe was
Woodworking student and distin-
guished himself at tina, institution of
learning. This brief history Of Edgar
4 Allan roe is wcN preserved In Mr.
Ellyson's library. which. by the way.
is one Of the most complete libraries
in the State.
J. Taylor El!yson was elected Mayor
of Richmond in lSSs and served three
terms. In 1890 h" was a delegate 70
the peace conference held in London
and attended the conference in com
pany with the late John T. Branch.
or this city. Returning from London
Governor j.. ". Mckinney apuointed
Mr. Eilyson 10 serve with Senator
Thomas ;. Martin and the late John
>. Harbour to confer with the Olcou
COMMITTEE that represented the for
tign bondh"ldtrs in an effort 10 settle
the STATE debt. The first conference
was held in Kew York. the second in
! Washington, ana the third in Rich
mond These conferences paved the
way for the settlement that was finally
agreed upon.
Heads Confederate Memorial.
MI Eilvson Is the president Of the
: Confederate Memorial Association
which erected the Battle Abbey. and
! was largely instrumental in securing
4 both the Lee and IIowitzcr monuments
!! in Richmond. He is a member Of sew
u eral Confederate organiZa tions and
his counsel is often sought in all mat
g tiers pertaining 10 the work OF these
organizations. II was his good priv.
. lege TO be on intimate terms with
& President Jefferson Davis, and the
members of his family. and was pres
ent at the funeral OF each member fo,
4 lowing their deaths. On several COCA
sions he escorted Miss Winnie Davis
g to the Confederate reunions. where she
Z was always introduced as the Daughter
u of the Confedcracy.
4 a h.. ne ia,