Cyrus Ellison
Cyrus Ellison was born in Adams County, August 16, 1816, the son of Robert Ellison, the third son of John Ellison, who emigrated from Ireland in 1785. Robert Ellison was married to Rebecca Lockhart. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. He had a family of ten children, his son Cyrus being the fourth son and the youngest child but one. The children were reared as all children of pioneer families were, and our subject had only such advantages as the schools of that day offered. He was, however, a great reader and student, so far as he could obtain books. His ideas of wisdom were those of the illustrious King Solomon. He believed "that out of wisdom came the issues of life." He began the world for himself at the age of seventeen years as a clerk in West Union, where he remained until the age of twenty-four at a salary of five dollars a month and his board. He saved his money which he invested in Indiana Scrip, which was then known as "wild-cat money." The failure of the banks which issued the scrip depreciated his capital and gave him a severe blow, but his brother. John Ellison, loaned him $1,100 and he invested it in the mercantile business at Manchester, and he managed to make and save a considerable amount of money.
On September 11, 1845, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Stevenson, daughter of Charles Stevenson, one of the prominent pioneers of Adams County, who had emigrated from Countv Donegal, Ireland. He maintained his home in Adams County until 1853 when he removed to Ironton, in Lawrence County, and became associated with the firm of Dempsey, Rogers & Ellison, the latter being John Ellison, his brother. This partnership owned Aetna and Vesuvius Furnaces and he became their general agent until 1857, when he became a partner, the name of the firm being Ellison, Dempsey & Ellison. When the Lawrence Iron Works Company began business in 1852, Mr. Ellison was its manager, and when that company was incorporated in 1862, he became its president, and remained such until he retired from active business.
In 1857, he was one of the stockholders in the Ohio Iron & Coal Company, by which the town of Ironton was laid out. In 1872, he was one of the organizers of the famous Aetna Iron Works, at that time, the largest iron furnaces in the United States. Mr. Ellison was a director in this company, and, at one time, its president. It purchased from the Ellison, Dempsey & Ellison Company, the old Aetna and Vesuvius furnaces and seventeen thousand acres of valuable timber and mineral land in Lawrence County. Mr. Ellison was one of the original stock holders of the Ironton Gas Company, and its president from January 25, 1876, to January 25, 1881. He was also at one time a stockholder in the First National Bank at Ironton, Ohio. With his brother, John Ellison, he was one of the builders of the Iron Railroad which connected the rich mineral fields of Lawrence County with the Ohio River, at Ironton. He was president of this road from 1859 to 1879.
In 1872, ten gentlemen, including Mr. Ellison and his brother John Ellison, met in the former's home and organized the First Congregational Church of Ironton, and built the present handsome structure. This church was dedicated without debt, owing to the liberality of the men who organized it.
Mr. Ellison, from the habit of extensive reading, kept up during his entire life, was a well-read man. He was a most entertaining conversationalist, and always, even in his last days, interested in current events. He was fond of traveling, and until the infirmities of age disabled him, he traveled a great deal.
From the time he came of age until the organization of the Republican party, he was a Whig. While he was never ambitious for, or sought office, he took a great interest in political matters. He was a leader in all enterprises which were for the benefit or development of his city and county, and was prominently indentified with all the iron interests of Lawrence County. His superior executive ability, excellent judgment and natural discernment were the conditions of his success. In all the positions of trust which he occupied, and they were many, he discharged his duties with great ability and to the satisfaction of all those who had business connections with him.
He was a man of fine personal presence, about six feet, two inches tall, and well proportioned. He had fine regular features, light hair and flowing beard, ruddy complexion and deep blue eyes. In his associations with his fellow men, he evinced great natural dignity, and his presence impressed strangers on sight that he was a man of importance, which was strictly true. Socially, he was much liked by all who knew him, of genial manners and a gentleman of the old school.
From his first marriage, there were three daughters, Frances, who died in infancy; Mary Adelaide, who married John Thornton Scott, son of Robert Scott. She has two sons, young men, who distinguished themselves in the late Spanish War. His third daughter, Rosa, is the wife of Charles Brunell McQuigg, son of the late Colonel McQuigg, of Ironton. He was an officer in the Ironton Regiment, 8th O. V. I., during the Spanish War.
Cyrus Ellison's first wife died in 1864, and 1870, he was married to Miss Josephine Glidden, who survived him.
Mr. Ellison was, at one time, the possessor of great wealth, but owing to the shrinkage of iron, his investments were lost, and at the time of his death, only his life insurance was left of all he had accumulated. He died on the sixteenth of February, 1897, at the ripe age of eighty years. He left behind him the memory of a life full of wonderful energy, a long vista of useful, happy years, and his bright and cheerful old age was crowned with his good work fully completed. His last years were cheered by the presence and companionship of his greatful and devoted daughters. He was interred at Woodlawn, near Ironton, but his memory will remain green, sweet and precious in the hearts of all those who knew him and who resepcted and loved him for his virtues.
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