William R. Ellis
Encyclopedia
William Russell Ellis was an American educator, attorney and politician in the state of Oregon
. A native of Indiana
, he grew up in Iowa
before moving to Oregon where he worked as a school superintendent and district attorney. A Republican
, he served as U.S. congressman
from Oregon in the new 2nd district
from 1893 to 1899, and again from 1907 to 1911.
, in 1850. In 1855, he moved with his family to Guthrie County, Iowa
, where he attended the public schools, eventually graduating from Iowa State Agricultural College (later Iowa State University) and the University of Iowa College of Law
in 1874. Ellis set up his law practice in Panora, Iowa
, and was elected to one term as mayor of Panora. He moved his practice to Hamburg, Iowa
, where he served as city attorney and then mayor.
, where he became superintendent of schools for Morrow County
, and then district attorney for the seventh judicial district of Oregon from 1886 to 1892. In 1892, Ellis was elected as U.S. Representative for Oregon's 2nd congressional district
. He was the first representative for the district, which was created as a result of the 1890 census
.
Ellis served on the Ways and Means Committee
, and as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Justice and the Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands. He served three terms, and sought a fourth in 1898, but the Republican nominating convention nominated Malcolm A. Moody
instead. Shortly afterwards, Ellis was elected as circuit judge for Oregon's sixth judicial district, during which time he moved from Heppner to Pendleton
.
mired in ongoing legal troubles due to the Oregon land fraud scandal
, Ellis won the Republican nomination for his old Congressional seat, this time in a direct primary, one of the results of the "Oregon System" reforms of the early 20th century. He also won in the general election, and served two more terms before losing the 1910 Republican primary to Walter Lafferty
. He returned to his law practice in Pendleton, eventually moving to Portland
in 1914, where he died on January 18, 1915.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, he grew up in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
before moving to Oregon where he worked as a school superintendent and district attorney. A Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, he served as U.S. congressman
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from Oregon in the new 2nd district
Oregon's 2nd congressional district
Oregon's 2nd congressional district is the largest of Oregon's five districts, and is the seventh largest district in the nation. The district covers roughly two-thirds of the state, east of the Willamette Valley...
from 1893 to 1899, and again from 1907 to 1911.
Early life
Ellis was born in Waveland, IndianaWaveland, Indiana
Waveland is a town in Brown Township, Montgomery County, Indiana, United States. The population was 420 at the 2010 census.-History:Waveland was platted by John Milligan in 1835. The settlement began as a resting place at a good spring between Terre Haute and Lafayette, Indiana. After a trading...
, in 1850. In 1855, he moved with his family to Guthrie County, Iowa
Guthrie County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,954 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,756 housing units, of which 4,544 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, where he attended the public schools, eventually graduating from Iowa State Agricultural College (later Iowa State University) and the University of Iowa College of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the eleven professional graduate schools at the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The law school was ranked as the 27th best law school...
in 1874. Ellis set up his law practice in Panora, Iowa
Panora, Iowa
Panora is a city in Guthrie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,175 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, and was elected to one term as mayor of Panora. He moved his practice to Hamburg, Iowa
Hamburg, Iowa
Hamburg is a city in Fremont County, Iowa, United States, along the Nishnabotna River. The population was 1,240 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, where he served as city attorney and then mayor.
Oregon
In 1884, Ellis moved to Heppner, OregonHeppner, Oregon
The city of Heppner is the county seat of Morrow County, Oregon, United States. It was originally called Standsbury Flat for George W. Standsbury, one of the first white settlers in the area. It was later renamed to honor Henry Heppner, a Jewish pioneer who opened the first general store there in...
, where he became superintendent of schools for Morrow County
Morrow County, Oregon
Morrow County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon, on the south side of the Columbia River. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. The county is named for one of its first white settlers, Jackson L. Morrow, who was a member of the state legislature when the county...
, and then district attorney for the seventh judicial district of Oregon from 1886 to 1892. In 1892, Ellis was elected as U.S. Representative for Oregon's 2nd congressional district
Oregon's 2nd congressional district
Oregon's 2nd congressional district is the largest of Oregon's five districts, and is the seventh largest district in the nation. The district covers roughly two-thirds of the state, east of the Willamette Valley...
. He was the first representative for the district, which was created as a result of the 1890 census
United States Census, 1890
The Eleventh United States Census was taken June 2, 1890. The data was tabulated by machine for the first time. The data reported that the distribution of the population had resulted in the disappearance of the American frontier...
.
Ellis served on the Ways and Means Committee
United States House Committee on Ways and Means
The Committee of Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. Members of the Ways and Means Committee are not allowed to serve on any other House Committees unless they apply for a waiver from their party's congressional leadership...
, and as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Justice and the Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands. He served three terms, and sought a fourth in 1898, but the Republican nominating convention nominated Malcolm A. Moody
Malcolm A. Moody
Malcolm Adelbert Moody was a Republican U.S. congressman from Oregon.-Early life:Moody was born near Brownsville, Oregon in 1854, the eldest child of future Oregon governor Zenas Ferry Moody and his wife, Mary Stevenson Moody. The Moody family moved to Illinois the following year, and then back to...
instead. Shortly afterwards, Ellis was elected as circuit judge for Oregon's sixth judicial district, during which time he moved from Heppner to Pendleton
Pendleton, Oregon
Pendleton is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Pendleton was named in 1868 by the county commissioners for George H. Pendleton, Democratic candidate for Vice-President in the 1864 presidential campaign. The population was 16,612 at the 2010 census...
.
Second tour in Congress
In 1906, with incumbent congressman John N. WilliamsonJohn N. Williamson
John Newton Williamson was an American rancher and politician in the state of Oregon. A native Oregonian, he served in both chambers of the Oregon Legislative Assembly representing central and eastern Oregon in the late 19th century...
mired in ongoing legal troubles due to the Oregon land fraud scandal
Oregon land fraud scandal
The Oregon land fraud scandal of the early 20th century involved U.S. government land grants in the U.S. state of Oregon being illegally obtained with the assistance of public officials. Most of Oregon's U.S. congressional delegation received indictments in the case: U.S. Senator John H....
, Ellis won the Republican nomination for his old Congressional seat, this time in a direct primary, one of the results of the "Oregon System" reforms of the early 20th century. He also won in the general election, and served two more terms before losing the 1910 Republican primary to Walter Lafferty
Walter Lafferty
Abraham Walter Lafferty was a U.S. Representative from the state of Oregon. Lafferty spent the majority of his career both as a legislator and as an attorney attempting to have millions of acres of land previously owned by the Oregon and California Railroad come under Oregon state control, rather...
. He returned to his law practice in Pendleton, eventually moving to Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in 1914, where he died on January 18, 1915.