Andrew Barr Ellison
Andrew Barr Ellison was born in Manchester, December 19, 1808, the son of John Ellison, Jr., then Sheriff of Adams County, and Anna Barr, his wife. He was the eldest of a numerous family, and grew up and was trained as boys usually were at that time. From accounts we have, we believe that he, as a boy, and his boy companions had more enjoyment than boys now do. At any rate, he had more sport in hunting. When he was about sixteen or seventeen years of age, he clerked in two different stores in West Union for Thomas McCague & Company, and for Wesley Lee. At that time, it was customary to set out a bottle of good old corn whisky and treat each customer. Young Ellison set out the bottles and glasses many a time, but did not drink himself. His father died a few months before he became of age, and in 1830 he went to Cincinnati and into the employment of Barr & Lodwick, who had a store there and one in Portsmouth. In 1832, he was engaged for a short time in their employment in Portsmouth, and while there witnessed the great flood of 1832. Those of 1847, 1833 and 1884 he witnessed in Manchester. October 20, 1833, he was married to Miss Rachael A. M. Ennes, daughter of Judge Ennes, of Cincinnati.
In 1834, he took up his residence at Lawrence Furnace in Lawrence County and was store-keeper and manager until 1840, when he removed to Manchester, where he resided thereafter during his life. In Manchester he bought out the merchandising business of Henry Coppel and continued it until he went out of business in 1880, forty years. His store in Manchester, during its continuance, was one of the institutions of the county. It was known far and wide. Mr. Ellison kept all kinds of merchandise. If one could think of any article he wanted and could not find it in any other store in Adams County, he was almost certain to find it at A. B. Ellison's. He was the principal merchant in the county, and while in his time department stores were unthought of and unheard of, yet he practically kept a department store. During the early period of his merchandising in Manchester, he and Thomas W. Means went East together to buy their goods every year. During his business career no one ever visited Manchester without having his attention called to A. B. Ellison's store and without visiting it. People went from all parts of the county to deal with him. His store stood on Front Street facing the river, and to all passing boats he and his store were familiar figures.
One of his most notable characteristics was his rugged integrity. He was plain and frank in manner even to brusqueness, yet he had an underlying vein of great kindness. His generosity was large, but without display.
His dress was always of the same style, black in color, low crowned soft hat, low cut vest and small pleated bosom shirt. His marked individuality caused him to be regarded as eccentric. He had but one price for his goods. If he could not sell any article at the price he marked on it, it remained unsold.
No one acquainted with his character ever attempted to jew him down, but if a strager tried it, he was at once told, "This is my price, if you do not want the article, let it alone." After this lesson, the same person never tried it a second time. He had a great flow of spirits and a keen sense of humor. The anecdotes floating about Manchester, illustrative of his peculiarities, are legion, but one which will illustrate him well, is given: A customer owed him a note for merchandise long past due and which he had failed lo pay after repeated duns. One day when this person was in the store, Mr. Ellison took him to one side and said to him in his peculiar brusque way, "If you don't settle with me, I swear I will tear that note of yours up. I won't have it." The manner in which this was done so impressed the customer with its awfulness that he actually paid the note at once.
Mr. Ellison was a prominent Mason and took a great interest in the order. In sentiment, he was a Presbyterian, but was not connected with the church. He was always one of its most liberal supporters.
No sketch of Mr. Ellison would be complete without mention of his loyalty to the Union during the Civil War. He never missed an opportunity to show a kindness to a Union soldier going to or returning from the war to their families at home. He watched the struggle with the most intense sympathy for the Union cause and with an unfaltering faith in the result. He had three daughters, Ann Eliza Herron, wife of Rev. R. B. Herron, a Presbyterian minister, but both now deceased ; Mrs. Susan Barr Drennan, wife of Samuel Drennan, Esq., residing in Manchester, and Mrs. Rachael Shiras, wife of Peter Shiras, banker, of Ottawa, Kansas. Mrs. Herron left a son and daughter grown and the latter married. Mrs. Shiras has six children grown up, and some of them married. Mr. Ellison's wife died March 10, 1875, and thereafter he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Drennan. in Manchester. He retired from business in 1880, and from that until his death on the fifteenth of April, 1888, he enjoyed the society of his daughter's family and his old friends, without any cares, till the end came, with peace.
He was a unique character, noted and talked of everywhere in Adams County, but highly respected by everyone for the most excellent qualities in his rugged character. He had the business qualities of his grandfather, Andrew, with the sterling virtues of his mother. All of Anna Barr's children were noted men and women, as a careful perusal of this book will show.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900