William Thomas Ellis | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Ellis by Aurelius O. Revenaugh | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1895 | |
| Preceded by | Polk Laffoon |
| Succeeded by | John Daniel Clardy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 24, 1845 Daviess County, Kentucky |
| Died | January 8, 1925 (aged 79) Owensboro, Kentucky |
| Resting place | Elmwood Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Alice Coffey Mattie B. Miller |
| Alma mater | Harvard Law School |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861 – 1865 |
| Unit |  1st Kentucky Cavalry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
William Thomas Ellis (July 24, 1845 – January 8, 1925) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky, United States.
William Ellis was born near Knottsville, Kentucky, on July 24, 1845.[1] He was one of two sons born Luther R. and Mary M. (Kellum) Ellis.[2]
Ellis was educated in the common schools until age sixteen.[1] On October 5, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the First Kentucky Confederate Cavalry.[3] This unit became a part of the Orphan Brigade.[1] Ellis eventually rose to become a non-commissioned officer in command of scouts.[3] He served until the end of the war and mustered out on April 21, 1865.[1]
After the war, Ellis resumed his studies at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Daviess County.[1] To defray the cost of his education, he worked during the summer months.[3] He studied law, supporting himself by serving as principal of Mount Etna Academy in Ohio County in 1867 and 1868.[1] Admitted to the bar in 1868, he attended a course of lectures at Harvard Law School before commencing practice in Owensboro in 1870.[3]
On October 20, 1871, Ellis married Alice Coffey.[2] Coffey died in 1872, and on November 2, 1876, Ellis married Mattie B. Miller.[2]
In August 1870, Ellis was elected county attorney for Daviess County.[3] He was re-elected to this position in 1874.[3] He served as a Democratic presidential elector for the ticket of Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas Andrews Hendricks in the 1876 presidential election.[3] He unsuccessfully sought election to the Fiftieth Congress in 1886.[1]
Ellis was elected to represent Kentucky's Second District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1888.[3] He was twice re-elected, serving in the Fifty-first, Fifty-second, and Fifty-third Congresses (March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1895).[1] While he was away from his law practice on congressional business, the firm's business was handled by his law partners, one of whom was future Congressman William N. Sweeney.[2]
During the Fifty-second and Fifty-third Congresses, he chaired the Committee on Revision of the Laws.[1] A Free Silver supporter, he served on the Banking and Currency Committee and was critical of President Grover Cleveland's sound money position.[4] He did not seek re-election in 1894.[1]
After his service in Congress, Ellis returned to his law practice.[1] He was a delegate to the 1896 Democratic National Convention.[1] He also engaged in literary pursuits.[1]
Ellis died in Owensboro, Kentucky, on January 8, 1925, and was interred in Rosehill Elmwood Cemetery.[1]
