Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/440

 ELKINS

ELLERY

war enlisted in the Union army as captain in the 77th Missouri volunteers. He resigneil in 1^04, en- gageil as a wittle driver on the plains, ami went to Albuquerque, N.M., where lie took part in settling disputes among the ranchmen. He continued the study of law, was admitted to the bar, and settled in S;inta FC\ where he obtained indict- ment agjiinst the Mexicans who held peons in bondage contrary to the laws of the United States, and his prosecution of these offenders re- sulted in breaking up this sjiecies of slavery in the territory. He is said to have secured the release of at least 10,000 peons, and the govern- ment rewards, added to his legal fees, he loaned at the prevailing rates of interest, and thus ac- quired wealth which he invested in mining prop- erty and ranches in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. He was a representative in the legis- lature of tlie t^rritorv' of New Mexico, 1866-67; attorney-general, 1868-69, and U.S. district attor- ney, 1870-72. He was a delegate to the 43d and 44th congresses, 1873-77, and while in congress made strenuous efforts to gain the territory admis- sion to statehood. He made a notable speech on the resources of the territory and her treaty claims, but the bill for admission, as prepared in the house, was so amended in the senate as to fail to receive the concurrence of the house. In 1875 he married as his second wife, Hattie, daughter of Henry G. Davis, U.S. senator from West Vir- ginia, and they made their home in New York city where he opened a business office. He sold large interests of his western property and re- invested in West Virginia coal lands. He founded the town of Elkins, W.Va., and with his father- in-law con.structed a railroad to their propertj". He built at Elkins a palatial summer house and removed his family from New York city, mak- ing a winter home in Washington, D.C. He was a con.spicuous member of the Republican na- tional committee and took an active part in the presidential campaigns of 1884. 1888 and 1892. President HarrLson made him secretary of war in his cabinet Dec. 17, 1891, and he served for the remainder of the administration. In Feb- ruary. 1894, the legislature of West Virginia elected him to the U.S. senate for the term end- ing, March 3. 1901, as successor to Johnson N. Camden, whose term was to expire March 3, 189.1. In February. 189G. he annoimced himself as a cjindidate for the presidential nomination, and he was supported by the delegates from several states, but when the convention assem- bled he gave his support to William McKinley. In the senate he was chairman of the select com- mittee on geological survey, and a member of the committees on civil service and retrenchment, commerce, interstate commerce, military affairs, railroads and territories.

ELLERBE, William Haselden, governor of South Carolina, was burn in Marion, S.C., April 7, 18G2; son of William and Sarah (Haselden) Ellerbe; grandson of John Calhoun and Maria (Wickham) Ellerbe, and a direct descendant froniTliomas Elerby, who immigrated from Eng- land to Virginia and thence to Pee Dee district, S.C., in 1737. He prepared for college at the Mar- ion academy, entered Wofford college S.C., in 1880 and afterward attended Vanderbilt tiniver- sity, Tenn., until his health failed. He engaged in planting, 1883-89, and in merchandising after 1889. He was elected comptroller-general of South Carolina in 1890 ; governor in 1896 by a plurality of 54,992 votes and was re-elected in 1898, serving 1897-99. He was married in June, 1887, to Henrietta, daughter of Henry J. Rogers of Marlboro covmty, S.C. He died at his home in Marion county, S.C, Jime 2, 1899.

ELLERY, Christopher, senator, was born in Newport, R.I., Nov. 1, 1768. He was graduated at Yale in 1787, and practised law in Newport. He was elected U.S. senator to fill the unexpired term of Ray Greene who resigned his seat in March, 1801, to accept the position of district judge of Rhode Island, tmder appointment of President Adams. The oflScial term of Senator Ellery expired March 3, 1805. In 1806 President Jefferson appointed him commissioner of loans. President Monroe appointed him collector of cus- toms at Newport in 1820 and he held the office for fourteen years. He died at Newport, R.I., Dec. 2, 1840.

ELLERY, Frank, naval officei-, was born in Newport, R.I., July 23, 1794; son of the Hon. Christopher Elleiy, U.S. senator. He joined the navj' as midshipman, Jan. 1, 1812, on board the President, and while working a gun in the action with the Belvidere the gun burst and he was se- verely wounded. He was with Macdonough in the battle of Lake Champlain and for his services in that engagement received the thanks of con- gress and a sword. He was on the Constellation in 1815 and assisted in the capture of an Algerine frigate and a Turkish flag-.ship in the Mediter- ranean. He was also prominent on the Florida coast in 1817, when McGregor's band of pirates was expelled froni Amelia island and one of its craft with her \mze was captured. He was pro- moted lieutenant in 1820, commanded the Cyane in the Brazilian squadron in 1827, and was on shore duty at New York and Boston, 1829-37. He commanded the U.S. steamer Enterprise, 1840, and on Sept. 13, 1855, was placed on the reser\-ed list, he having readied the age of sixty-one years. He was commissioned commodore, April 4, 1867, and placed on the retired list after fifty-five years service. He died in Castleton, Vt., l^Iarch 24. 1871.