Bissell Buzz - July 24, 2025

Bissell Buzz

It has been more than a year that Robin Clark collected the George A. Locke Studio glass negatives. None of these negatives were labelled in any way to identify people or places. We have been diligently sharing the photos as Robin has been uploading them, all in the hope that people will be identified. We always are excited when one actually is recognized by family. And we are even more excited when we find connections with what we already know and also have at the museum.

Robin’s description of the photo: “shows a Civil War veteran proudly wearing two pins: one for the 20th annual reunion held in August 1902, and the other a Grand Army of the Republic badge. His suit, medals, and posture all speak to a life of service, honor, and memory”. This past week, a Will Ellis identified him as Lewis William Ellis, the brother of his great-great grandfather and gave some more information about him. Between his recollection, his son Elwood’s family Bible entry and snippets found through Newspapers.com, we find a fine man - a Civil War veteran, family man and farmer.

Louis William Ellis was born May 6, 1847 near Martin’s Mill in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and died September 11, 1930 in Phillips County. He is buried at Iowa Union cemetery. He was enlisted July 27, 1863 and mustered August 15, 1863 in Co G 8th Iowa Cavalry. Was taken prisoner on October 30, 1864 in Florence, Alabama. He mustered out on May 29, 1865 in Clinton, Iowa.

It is unclear when he came to Phillips County, but our guess is that he, like so many others, was lured to Kansas with the Homestead Act, as he is described as one of the settlers. In August 1889, he has property in Freedom Township, that is listed on the tax sale, for delinquent taxes of $21.39. In 1891 this property is transferred to Jennette Tannahill. Further documents show his property being in Dayton Township, near Dickeyville.

Later plat maps of Phillips County in fact show his name in close proximity of the Dayton Hopper (97) school that we have on our premises. Further research may even reveal that one or more of his four children (Wilbur, Elwood, Jennie and Ross) could even have attended that school.

In 1874 he married Julia Adalaine Smith and from this union the four named children were born. Julia suddenly and unexpectedly passed away in 1902 after feeling sick from pain in the head. In 1907 Lewis married Martha (Mattie) Breakey and they had no children together. Both of his wives are also buried in the Iowa Union cemetery.

He was a farmer and owned a large steam thresher. He also had horses and manually threshed wheat for other farmers. The Long Island Leaf reported in July 1893 that his barn burned down after being struck by lightning. He lost three horses, one of them an imported Norman, 250 bushels of corn, several fat hogs and three or four sets of harness. Even in those years, he had the foresight to have insurance. In 1906 he is described together with George Tannahill and A. Skelton as a prosperous farmer and extensive cattle feeder.

In 1895 his name appears in several notices as one of the witnesses for George W. Reece’s final proof in support of his homestead claim, before the Probate Judge of Phillipsburg. Incidentally, Frank Strain, of whom we have well-documented history, was the probate judge at that time. By his own hand, Frank wrote in some memoirs that he was appointed probate judge in 1895 to finish the unexpired term of the incumbent, who became ill. He was then elected to three successive terms, but declined the fourth nomination.

In 1919 the Phillips County Post reported that Lewis Ellis would attend the national G.A.R. Encampment which was held in Columbus Ohio on September 7, 1919. Several others from Phillips County planned to attend the encampment, which was a big event for Civil War veterans and their wives. We are sure to find more interesting snippets about this fine man.

This week we will be setting up our booth at the County Fair and our focus will be on education. Due to the conflict with the County Fair, we have also cancelled our Fun Friday activity that was scheduled for July 25^th.

We are halfway with our 2025 season – if you have not been down to the Fort, we invite you to come and visit us. As always, we look forward to seeing you at the Fort. A reminder of our hours:
Tuesday to Friday 9am to 4pm
Saturdays 9am to 2pm

Ruby Wiehman – Curator