Seth Ellison ²³³

Portrait and biographical record of Iroquois County, Illinois: containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens
p. 244

Seth Ellison, the popular and efficient station agent of Onarga, has occupied his present position with the Illinois Central Railroad Company since 1882, and for ten years has been one of its trusted and faithful employees. He is of English birth, but the community find in him one of its best citizens, and it was a fortunate day for him when he determined to seek a home in the New World.

Mr. Ellison was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, December 11, 1845, and is the third in order of birth in a family of five children born to Thomas and Mary (Speight) Ellison, who were also native of England. The mother died in 1849. The father, who survived for many years, departed this life in 1878. Of their family of three sons and two daughters, Frederick, Alice, Seth, John and Mary Jane, all are yet living. Frederick Ellison, the eldest, was the first to cross the broad Atlantic to America, making a location in Chicago, where he secured a position as clerk in a drygoods store. A few years later he was employed as Paymaster on the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad. He and Seth are the only ones of the family who have come to this country.

The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood and youth in the land of his nativity, and was educated in its public schools. At length he determined to emigrate to America, and in 1879, bidding goodbye to his old home and friends, he crossed the briny deep. Going to Chicago, he secured a position as bill and entry clerk in a dry goods store. He served in that capacity for a short time and then entered the employ of the railroad company, being appointed station agent at Ullin, Ill., near Cairo. As before stated, in 1883 he came to Onarga, where he has since made his home.

Ere leaving the land of his birth, Mr. Ellison was married, in 1877, the lady of his choice being Miss Alice Wheen, a daughter of John Wheen, of Mexboro, England. Four children were born of their union, Florence Edith, Alice Maud, William and an infant. The mother and the children are now all deceased. April 25, 1883, Mr. Ellison was again married, his second union being with Miss Anna Eliza Hawk, daughter of James and Caroline (Newell) Hawk. Her father was for a number of years a grocer of Onarga, carrying on business in partnership with J.C. Culver. Two children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Ellison: James born in 1884; and Onarga born in 1886.

Mrs. Ellison is managing on the Hotel Roney, of Onarga, which has both a fine transient and home trade. The hotel is well located, being close to the depot and also to the business part of the town. Her guests are made to feel at home, and she is enjoyed a liberal patronage which is well deserved.

  Events

• He worked as a real estate agent.

Seth married Anna Eliza Hawk 25 April 1883 in Iroquois County, Illinois.²³² (Anna Eliza Hawk was born about January 1857 in Rising Sun, Ohio County, Indiana and died in 1908.)