Dr. James Thomas Ellis

&

Daughter, Nancy Emma Ellis

Dr. James T. Ellis and Nancy Emma Ellis

Dr. James Thomas Ellis Biography

Dr. James Thomas Ellis, born 15 Jan 1815, Oglethorpe Co., GA, was the youngest son of William Ellis, Jr. & Martha "Patsy" Echols. William was the Surveyor who surveyed the 34d District of Henry Co., GA in 1821 and was also the first surveyor of Spalding Co., GA.

Dr. Ellis first appears in 1834 at the age of 19 buying lot # 97 in the 3rd dist. of Henry Co., GA. In 1838, he was a Captain in the Florida Indian Wars, and he married Nancy Jane Dunn of Pike County.

We know from account books that he ran a commissary on the family plantation and practiced medicine. He was a prosperous farmer and well respected in the area.  He and his family were involved with several of the Baptist Churches in the area, i.e., First Baptist Griffin, Primitive Baptist, and McIntosh Baptist.

Dr. Ellis served in the state House of Representatives from Spalding Co. in 1868, 1869, and 1870. Some of the laws that he helped bring about were the 15th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution and the relocation of the State Capitol to Atlanta from Milledgeville. Some of the less notable were a dog tax, a leash law for dogs and support for bastardly children as well as a law restricting the interest on loans. Numerous other bills in this time period bear his name.

After his political service, Dr. Ellis returned to Griffin to raise his children and grandchildren and rebuild after the ravages of war.  Some of the early doctors in Griffin were married into this family, i.e., Dr. Nicholas B. Drewry and Dr. James A. Nunnally, and several descendants went into the practice of medicine.  His youngest son, Sam T. Ellis, had studied medicine, and another son, James Rousseau Ellis, studied law. His older three sons – William Agustus, Henry Erastus and Richard Alford – all served in the Civil War, fighting for Georgia. Some of his sons were also involved in the building of the railroad in Griffin.

Dr. James Thomas Ellis died at his home on Ellis Road 21 January 1888 and was buried in the Ellis Family Cemetery at his home place. His wife, Nancy Jane Dunn Ellis, died 5 July 1895 and was buried there also.  Many of his descendants still live in the area and some live on a portion of the old plantation.


Compiled by

Robert Alfred Ellis of Duluth, GA

Great great grandson of Dr. James T. Ellis

9/29/2005


File contributed by Bob Ellis, October 8, 2005

See other Spalding County Ellis Family Pages
The Will of Dr. James T. Ellis
Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate of Jas. T. Ellis deceased
The Bible of Dr. James Thomas Ellis
Newspaper Articles related to Dr. James Thomas Ellis - 1869
Dr. James T. Ellis Deeds

 

 

 

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