Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/918

858, he holds the office of president. But it is in other than business lines that Mr. Ellyson has become most widely known. His has been a well-rounded life, devoted largely to the good of his fellowmen, to the preservation of the memory of the honorable deeds of the past, and the improvement of present conditions, that his community may be prepared for a still nobler future. His life is full of hope, courage, faith in humanity and inspiration for his fellow workers. Few men are more widely known throughout the South or more warmly cherished in the affections of their friends. In educational matters he has served his city faithfully for many years, as a member and as president of the board of education and as a trustee of Richmond and Hartshorn colleges. In all the degrees of the fraternal orders of Masonry and Oddfellowship he has demonstrated his love for his fellowmen, and in the Baptist denomination he has taken a prominent part as corresponding secretary for nineteen years of the board of education for the State, and as president of the general association of Virginia. He has served four years as president of the local Young Men's Christian association, sat in its district and State conventions, and represented Richmond in the peace conference of the world at London. His part in political affairs has not been a strife for lucrative office, but rather for opportunity to influence the community and State, for the best interests of all. He has served many years in the city council, in the State senate, and three terms, from 1888 to 1894, as mayor of Richmond, an office in which he was able to justify the confidence of his fellow-citizens and meet the sanguine hopes of his friends. He was re-elected to the second term without opposition. As chairman of the State Democratic committee for eight years, he demonstrated that political wisdom and generalship may go hand in hand with honor and integrity. Not the least, however, of his public services, has been his activity in various ways for the commemoration of the noble deeds and worthy motives of the heroes of the Confederacy. In the Howitzer association, organized in 1866, by the survivors of his own command, he has been honored by his comrades with the presidency for two terms. For years he has been a member of the R. E. Lee camp No. 1, and George E. Pickett camp, Confederate Veterans, which he has represented in all the reunions of the United Confederate veterans, since the organization of the latter. He is also a member of the Confederate Memorial Literary society, and of the Virginia division of the army of Northern Virginia, was a member of the board of directors of the association which erected the Soldiers' and Sailors' monument at Richmond, was a member of the committee of arrangements for laying the corner stone of the R. E. Lee monument, and for the unveiling of the Jackson, Lee and A. P. Hill monuments. As mayor of Richmond, he represented the Confederate capital at the funeral of Jefferson Davis at New Orleans, and a month later, being chosen president of the Davis Monument association, was in that capacity the escort of the members of the late president's family on the occasion of the transfer of the remains from New Orleans to Hollywood cemetery. He also served upon the committee of arrangements at the laying of the corner stone of the monument to the chief executive whose memory is so dear to Southern