Page:One of a thousand.djvu/215

 ELI IS. ELSON. 20 1 for college, his health became undermined, precluding further efforts in that direction. He studied medicine under the instruc- tion of the late Dr. VV. W. Comstock of Middleborough, and was graduated in the regular course at Harvard medical college in June, 1872. He located in Taunton, in general prac- tice for three years, and was then appointed assistant physician in the lunatic hospital, which position he filled for several years, till breaking down in health, he resigned, and removed to Middleborough and re- sumed general practice. Under Governor Robinson he received the appointment of medical examiner for Plymouth county, which position he still retains. He is chairman of the school board for the town of Middleborough. ELLIS, THOMAS, son of William and Judith (Peirce) Ellis, was born in Rochester, Plymouth count)', August 4, 1812, on the old homestead bought and settled by his great grandfather, John Ellis, in 1755, then primeval forest. Here he lived and labored during his minority, and being the third child and eldest of four brothers, was able to attend only the winter district schools after he was large enough to be of value in farm work. His school attendance was coupled with the disadvantage of living a long distance from the school, the way lying through woods and swamps, and streams that often must be forded. He early acquired a strong taste for reading, and the scanty historical library in town (forty volumes) was conned before his school days were passed. His taste for standard literature has never forsaken him, and has fully supplemented his lack of early educational training. His business has been principally lumbering and farm- ing, and now at an advanced age he is enjoying the results of a long and busy life. Mr. Ellis was married in Rochester, March 10, 1836, to Almy D., daughter of Nathaniel and Ruth (Davis) Tabor. Of this union were three children : Cordelia L. William T. and Mary T. Ellis. William T. Ellis enlisted in the 3d regiment, Mas- sachusetts volunteers, in 1862, served out his time, and returned home to die of dis- ease contracted in the army. His death occurred June 23, 1863. Mr. Ellis was a member of the House of Representatives in 1855, and again in 1869. He has held a commission as justice of the peace for many years, has served as select- man, member of the school board, super- intendent of schools, and has several times been appointed to look after the interests of the town before committees of the Leg- islature. He held the commission of lieu- tenant in the militia for several years — was elected captain, but declined the office. ELSON, LOUIS C, son of Julius and Rosalie (Snell) Elson, was born in Boston, April 17, 1S48. His parents were German, and of some prominence in the rather small foreign col- ony of Boston at that time. His bent to- ward music was displayed at an early age, his instruction proper beginning when he was six years old. He enjoyed the benefit of the acquaintance and instruction of many eminent musicians from this time forward, but owes much of his theoretical knowledge to the friendship of Carl Glogg- ner of the Leipzig Conservatory, who awakened his interest in musical literature and even assisted him in his earliest essays at original production in this field. His studies in the German Lied were fostered by August Kreissman, whom Liszt acknowledged to be one of the best interpreters of Robert Franz. Mr. Elson's first entrance into musical journalism was made in the " Musician and Artist," of which he became musical reviewer. When this magazine ceased to exist he became contributor to, and subse- quently editor of, the "Vox Humana," in which he began his historical work on an- cient music, which has since been pub- lished under the title of " Curiosities of Music." He subsequently became musical editor of the "Score," the " Musical and Dramatic Times," "Wide Awake," and numerous other literary ventures. He is the author of "The Harmonica" (1878), "Home and School" (1S81), "German Songs and Song Writers " (Boston, 18S2), "History of German Song " (1S88), and various translations. His musical work has kept pace with his literary labors. He has been connected professionally with Trinity, Emmanuel, and other leading churches of the city of Boston. In the New England Conservatory of Music he has long been prominent as a teacher of voice and of the theory of music. He has labored faithfully to enlarge the horizon of musical education in America, and to cause the culture of the musician to be at least equal to that of other workers in the field of art. As a lecturer he has made a successful record, and has appeared in many of the leading American educational institutes. Mr. Elson was married in Boston to Bertha Lissner. Of this union is one child : Arthur Elson.