Abram Halstead Ellis (May 21, 1847 – September 25, 1902) was a

Justice Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspective ...

of the

Kansas Supreme Court The Kansas Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the state of Kansas. Composed of seven justices, led by Chief Justice Marla Luckert, the court supervises the legal profession, administers the judicial branch, and serves as the st ...

from January 15, 1901, to September 25, 1902. He was the first justice of the Kansas Supreme Court to die while still a sitting member.Franklin George Adams, George Washington Martin, ''Collections of the Kansas State Historical Society'' (1915), p. 121-122.

Early life

Ellis was born May 21, 1847, in Cayuga, New York, to Elmer Eugene and Jane Maria (née Halstead) Ellis. He moved with his parents to

Eaton County, Michigan Eaton County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 109,175. The county seat is Charlotte. The county was organized in 1837 and was named for John Eaton, who was Secretary of War under ...

, when he was still a child and received his education at the schools in

Battle Creek Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which en ...

Civil War service

At age 16, Ellis enlisted in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

in 1864. He served as a private in Company C,

7th Michigan Cavalry The 7th Michigan Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was a part of the famed Michigan Brigade, commanded for a time by Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer. Service The 7t ...

until being discharged with the regiment in 1865.

Law career

Ellis was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1872 and practiced there until 1878, when he moved to Beloit,

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...

. He continued to practice law and was active in Mitchell County politics as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

, serving as a delegate to the 1892 Republican National Convention in

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

, which nominated

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

Benjamin Harrison Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833March 13, 1901) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 23rd president of the United States from 1889 to 1893. He was a member of the Harrison family of Virginia–a grandson of the ninth pr ...

for a second term. When the Kansas Supreme Court was expanded by a state constitutional amendment in 1900, Ellis was appointed a Justice by

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

William E. Stanley.

Personal life

Ellis married Marian Josephine Prindle on May 30, 1872, in Chester, Michigan. Together they had two children: Ward (b. 1882) and Hale (b. 1890).

Death

Ellis died in

Topeka, Kansas Topeka ( ; Kansa language, Kansa: ; iow, Dópikˀe, script=Latn or ) is the Capital (political), capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the County seat, seat of Shawnee County, Kansas, Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the ...

, on September 25, 1902, and is buried Elmwood Cemetery in Beloit.

References

Justices of the Kansas Supreme Court 1847 births 1902 deaths People from Cayuga County, New York People from Battle Creek, Michigan Union Army soldiers People of Michigan in the American Civil War Kansas Republicans People from Beloit, Kansas 19th-century American judges {{Kansas-state-judge-stub