ELLIS, Edward M. D.

EDWARD ELLIS, M. D., born Jan. 15, 1804, at Cheshire Mass. attended school at Windsor, Conn., in 1818; grad Berkshire Med. College, Dec. 16, 1829; afterward studied at New York and Philadelphia. His health being then delicate, he determined upon a radical change of locality and climate, and, therefore, in 1826, settled at Meadville, Crawford Co., Pennsylvania, a then comparatively new and unsettled region. For many years after his coming to this country, he was obliged, in the discharge of his professional duties, to ride on horseback to all parts of the county, and largely through forests, where "blazed," trees i. e., marked by the axe, were the only guides. But, always devoted to his profession, his sense of duty to the calls of suffering humanity enabled him--despite his delicate constitution--to endure the fatigues of this frontier practice; and in 1884 at the age of 81 years, his erect form, stalwart figure and unimpaired mental faculties, gave little or no sign of the severe labors which so tested his zeal and endurance. He had then never been out of the professional harness for a period of sixty years; and was still able to attend to his practice with as much ability as ever. He was the first President of the Crawford Co. Medical Society, organized at Meadville, Pa., in 1832, and held the office for many years.

He was, also, for many years a Warden, and a Vestryman of Christ Church, Meadville, Pa.

During his long residence in Meadville, Dr. Ellis took an active interest in the welfare of the community; aiding many young men in obtaining an education, and establishing others in business, some of whom are now prominent and successful men. He was, at one time, largely interested in manufacturing and other enterprises which promised to contribute greatly to the prosperity of the place, but which proved to be unfortunate investments, and resulted in the total loss of his large property. His losses, however, neither lessened the cheerfulness of his temper, nor his kindness of heart. Dr. Ellis died at Meadville, Pa., May 2, 1885.

Dr. Ellis was twice married; (1), April 4, 1832, to Mary Kennedy, who died in 1840; (2), to Sarah Buchanan, of Meadville, March 31, 1842. She died March 14, 1844. By this marriage he had one daughter, Elizabeth Ruth, born March 12, 1843; married, June 1, 1864, Rev. Morison Byllesby, then and for some time afterward rector of Christ P. E. Church, Meadville Pa. Issue: Ruth Ellis Byllesby, born March 9, 1865; Lewis Smith Byllesby, born July 3, 1868, died of cholera; Edward Ellis Byllesby; Ellis Buchanan Byllesby, born Jan 28, 1872; Langton Byllesby, born April 14, 1873; and Sarah Elizabeth Byllesby, born Nov. 24, 1875.

The Stiles Family in America,1895, pages 224-225
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