Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3103spent in professional preparation at Rochester, New York, and his activitiesserved to give him prominence not alone in the line of his vocation, but as thepromoter and executive in a number of business enterprises which contributematerially to the prestige of the thriving county seat of Wayne County.Doctor Ellis was born in Hampton County, South Carolina, December 21,1869, and was a son of Samuel F. and Elizabeth (Hamilton) Ellis. His father,also a native of that county, became an extensive planter and prior to thewar between the states was the owner of a large number of slaves, who livedin contentment and comfort on the plantation of a kindly and consideratemaster. "When the war broke out, Mr. Ellis offered his services to the Confederacy and was accepted as a gunner in Kennipaw's Battery, in the command of General Beauregard, with which he served throughout the period ofthe war. "While he was never wounded, and came through the struggle safely,he suffered considerably from the concussions of the great guns, which frequently caused the blood to flow in streams from his mouth, nose and ears.When he returned from his military service, he again engaged in planting,and while a great deal of his holdings had been swept away by the war, hewas generally successful in his undertakings and was well-to-do at the time ofhis death. The high regard and esteem in which Mr. Ellis was held by hisfellow citizens was evidenced on one occasion when practically the entirerepublican population of Columbia, South Carolina, formed a delegation andvisited him at his home, requesting him to accept the nomination for governor.He refused, saying that he would always give his allegiance to the democraticparty, which frequently sent him to public office. Mr. Ellis married MissElizabeth Hamilton, who was born in the Black Creek section of HamptonCounty, South Carolina, a daughter of Thomas Hamilton, and she is deceased.They became the parents of six sons and two daughters, Samuel F. havingbeen the fifth in order of birth.Samuel F. Ellis started to school at the age of seven years, in HamptonCounty, South Carolina, and until he was fourteen years old went to schoolfor three months each winter. His early education being completed, hereturned to the farm, where he worked until reaching the age of seventeenyears, and at that time came to Jesup, Georgia, his late home. His firstemployment was in a naval store, and while thus engaged he became interestedin dentistry, finally entering the Atlanta Dental College, where he was graduated in 1897. On October 3, 1897, he married, but his wife died, leaving onechild, Louis Edes Ellis, of Jesup, Georgia. After his marriage he went toRochester, New York, where he pursued a post-graduate course in dentistry,and then returned to Jesup and established himself in practice. Here he wasagain married, to Miss Alma Brown, of Jesup, and they became the parentsof one child.After returning to Jesup, Doctor Ellis was not long in establishing himselfas a reliable and skilled practitioner. He followed his profession energetically,and soon became interested more and more in business affairs. At the time ofhis death he was vice president of the Bank of Jesup, a large stockholder in the-Jesup Mercantile Company, and secretary and treasurer of the Jesup Dentaland Loan Company, and was heavily interested in twelve different turpentinecompanies, located all over the state. He possessed the somewhat rare attributes,that make for success both in a business and professional way, and the highregard and confidence in which he was held by both his business associates and!his fellow practitioners evidenced the fact that he harbored high ideals of commercial and professional ethics. Doctor Ellis was a member of the Knights ofPythias, and with his family belonged to the Methodist Church. He was aaenthusiastic hunter and fisherman, and at the time of his death was presidentof the Jesup Fishing Club.ALBERT S. THUEMAN. Born about three years after the close of the Civil'war, Judge Thurman was named in honor of one of the great distinguished;