McBirnie/McBurney Bear Roots
Person Page 19

           

• Birth*: 16 May 1890, Rose Bud, Kentucky Township, White Co., AR
• Occupation: farmer
• Census: 15 April 1910, Kentucky Township, White Co., AR¹
• Marriage*: 5 December 1915, Rose Bud, White Co., AR, Bride=Alta Erlene Foreman²
• Military: 5 June 1917, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
  Serial Number: 1488
  Registraion No: 1
  Name: Robert O Ellis
  2832 handwritten after name
  Age: 27
  Home Address: Rose Bud Route 19? Arkansas
  Birth Date: 16 May 1890
  Natural Born Citizen
  Birthplace: Rose Bud, Arkansas, United States of America
  Present trade: Farmer (1 hand written after this)
  Has a wife dependent on him for support
  Married
  Race: Caucasian
  no military service
  Registrar's report:
  Tall
  Slender
  Eyes: Blue
  Hair: Brown
  Not bald
  Does not appear to be disabled
  Precinct 8
  White County
  Arkansas
  June 5 1917
  Roll: 1530656
• Census: 1 January 1920, Kentucky Township, White Co., AR, wife=Alta Erlene Foreman³
• Residence*: between 1923 and 1961, Clovis, Curry Co., NM
• Employment: say 1924, fireman for the Santa Fe Railroad, Clovis, Curry Co., NM⁴
• Census*: 1 April 1930, Clovis, Curry Co., NM, wife=Alta Erlene Foreman, daughter=Willie Mae "Billie" Ellis⁴
• Employment: say 1938, electrical engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad, Clovis, Curry Co., NM
• Retirement*: 1955, Clovis, Curry Co., NM
• Residence: 1961, Phoenix, Maricopa Co., AZ
• Residence: between 1963 and 1975, Hutchinson, Reno Co., KS
• Death*: 8 January 1975, Hutchinson, Reno Co., KS^5,6
• Burial*: 13 January 1975, Lawn Haven Memorial Garden cemetery, Clovis, Curry Co., NM⁷
• Biography*:
       The following information about Robert Oldham Ellis is from Willie-Mae Ellis McBirnie:
  
       Robert Oldham Ellis was 6 feet 3 1/2 inches tall. He always wore a hat which made him appear even taller. He weighed approximately 200 lbs. He was the youngest of three children. He attended school through the third grade but was very tall for his age and refused to go back. He started working for Dr. Andrew Bow Hassell at that time. He would take care of the horse and buggy and collect whatever the patients paid the Doctor. He then took everything to his Uncle's (Booth Ellis) General Merchantile Store in Beebe, Arkansas and sold what he had for cash and supplies that Dr. Hassel needed.
  
       Grandpa's brother, Sam, joined the military by 1909 but Mom thought Grandpa was too tall for military service. In 1910, Grandpa was noted working as a hired hand on a farm.
  
       According to Mom, at some point before he was married, Grandpa and the two Maddox boys went west to work in the coal mines of Colorado and Sunnyside, Utah. The money was very good, but a single egg sold for $1.00.
  
       Grandpa stayed briefly on the William Edward Foreman farm where he worked as a farm hand. He met Alta Foreman there and eventually married her. Alta Foreman was a Baptist.
  
       Grandpa apparently "got religion" in the summer of 1914. Rev. Henry A. Stroup, a Methodist minister, held a camp meeting in Rose Bud for 30 days. In 1915, Grandpa was one of the founding members of the Rose Bud United Methodist Church. Rev. Stroup encouraged Grandpa to go to Hendrix College but Grandpa decided against it.
  
       Grandpa had saved enough money to buy some river bottom land just outside of Rose Bud, Arkansas. His goal was to get three good crops out of the farm and then he would sell it and move elsewhere.
  
       Grandpa and Grandma had three children while on this farm. Unfortunately, the third year was a wet year and there was flooding. The flood water contaminated the well water and he came down with typhoid fever. Dr. A. Hassell was up in years but he still came to help. Dr. Hassell tied him to the bed to keep him from hurting himself in his delirious state and the Doctor constantly bathed him with cool water to bring his temperature down. Dr. Hassell sat by his bedside day and night for two weeks until he got better and then the Doctor picked up his bag and told him to get out of the river bed and go to a higher and dryer place or he was going to die.
  
       In November of 1923, R. O. Ellis sold the farm and moved his family to Clovis, New Mexico. He briefly went into partnership with his father-in-law, William Edward Foreman in the used furniture business. After three months, he pulled out of the business and took a job at the Santa Fe Railroad as a fireman in the power plant. He would blow the whistle at 12:00 and at 3:00. The whistle could be heard all over Clovis and people would set their clocks by it. He wouldn't take the First or Day shift in the power plant because that person had to make a written report every day and he didn't feel comfortable doing it.
  
       Then he started taking correspondence courses in Electrical Engineering. Willie Mae Ellis did the math in the beginning but when the problems became too difficult for her, he sent the problems to Edison who was in the Navy. R. O. Ellis got A's in almost every course.
  
       He stayed with the Railroad and retired in 1955 as an Electrical Engineer in the power plant. After he retired, he sold his home in Clovis (1962?) and moved briefly to Phoenix, Arizona. After a year, he moved to Hutchinson, Kansas where Bruce Ellis was living.
  
       He had a cataract operation. He suffered from Diabetes and had varicose veins. He died in a Mennonite rest home in Kansas of a heart attack. He was buried in Clovis, New Mexico.
  
       According to Mom, he was a 32nd degree Mason. Also, he was usually the first person picked for a coroner's jury, and he served on many such juries in Clovis. Mom also said: "Dad could out figure most any one, but it was in his head. He couldn't write it down. He would grocery shop and come up to the cashier with the exact change in his hand. If the cashier said otherwise, Dad would ask that it be added up again. He was always right."

• Marriage*: 5 December 1915, Rose Bud, White Co., AR, Bride=Alta Erlene Foreman²

1. Willie Mae "Billie" Ellis+ b. 15 Sep 1920, d. 20 Apr 1998

Citations:

1. [S501] 1910 U.S. Census, 1910 U.S. Census Kentucky Township, White Co., Arkansas Enumeration Dist. 168 page? 10 A (Series: T624 Roll: 67 Part: 3 Page: 157A 0951 written in) dwelling visited 188 family visited 188 Somers, Jim? G. head...
   Ellis, Robert O. male white age 19 single hired man born in Arkansas father born in Mississippi mother born in Arkansas speaks English kind of work: laborer industry: general farm working on own not out of work on April 15, 1910 unemployed 0 months during 1909 able to read able to write did not attend school during the year.
2. [S388] White County Arkansas Marriage Records, The following is from the front of the front of the marriage record:
   
   Marriage License
   State of Arkansas
   County of
   White
   To Any Person Authorized By Law
   To Solemnize Marriage Greeting:
   You are hereby commanded to solemnize the rite and publish the banns of
   Marriage between Mr. R. O. Ellis
   of Rosebud in the County of White and
   State of Arkansas aged 25 years
   and Miss Alta E. Foreman
   of Rosebud in the County of White and
   State of Arkansas aged 20 years
   according to law and do you officially sign and return this license,
   to the parties herein named.
   Witness my hand and official seal this
   2 day of Dec. 1915
   W. B. Bell
   County Clerk
   Louis T. Bell
   D.C.
   Certificate of Marriage
   State of Arkansas
   County of White. I E. T. Herring, a gospel Minister
   do hereby certify, that on the fifth day of December 1915
   I did duly and according to law as commanded on the foregoing License, solemnize
   the rite and publish the banns of, Matrimony between the parties therein named.
   Witness my hand, this fifth day of December 1915
   My Credentials are recorded in the Recorder's Office
   Faulkner County, Ark. Book 31 Page ___ E. T. Herring,
   Quitman,
   Arkansas
   
   The following is from the back of the front of the marriage record:
   
   Certificate of Record
   State of Arkansas
   County of White I, W H Bell
   Clerk of the County Court of said County certify that the above
   license for and Certificate of the Marriage of Mr. R O Ellis
   and Miss Alta E Foreman was filed in my office on the
   10 day of Dec. 1915 and the same is duly recorded on page
   594 of Book T of Marriage Records.
   Witness my hand and the seal of said Court this 10th
   day of December 1915
   W H Bell
   Clerk
   By _________
   D.C.
3. [S502] 1920 U.S. Census, Kentucky Township, White Co., Arkansas Supervisor's Dist. No. 2 Enumeration Dist. No. 172 sheet 6A (219 stamped 5050 and 2356 written in) (Roll: T625 85, Page: 6A ED: 172, Image: 0439)
   farm dwelling visited 99 family visited 99 Ellis, Robert O. head renting male white age 29 married able to read able to write born in Arkansas father born in Arkansas mother born in Tennessee able to speak English farmer general farm emloyer;
   Ellis, Alta female white age 24 married able to read able to write born in Arkansas parents born in Arkansas able to speak English no occupation;
   Ellis, Carl E. male white age 1 year ? months single born in Arkansas parents born in Arkansas no occupation;
   Ellis, Bruce male white age 7 months single born in Arkansas parents born in Arkansas no occupation.
4. [S503] 1930 U.S. Census.
5. [S507] Obituary, The following obituaries appeared in Kansas and New Mexico newspapers:
   
   The Wichita Eagle and Beacon (Kansas), Saturday 11 Jan 1975:
        HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Services for Robert O. Ellis, 84, retired electrical engineer for the Sante [sic] Fe Railway, will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home, Clovis, N.M. He died Wednesday. Survivors include two sons, Bruce, Mount Hope, Kan. and retired Lt. Commander Carl E., Abtsdorf, Austria, and two daughters, Mrs. Willa [sic] Mae McBirnie, Phoenix, and Mrs. Virginia Jones, Denver. Johnson & Sons Funeral Home has charge locally.
   
   Probably from a local Hutchinson, Kansas paper:
   Robert Olden Ellis
        Robert Olden Ellis, 84, died Wednesday evening at Friendship Manor, South Hutchinson, after a long illness. Born May 16, 1890, at Rosebud, Ark., he married Alta Erlene Foreman, Dec. 5, 1915, at Rosebud. She died Feb. 22, 1974. He was an electrical engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad for 30 years, retiring in 1955. He lived in Clovis, N.M., from 1924 to 1962.
        He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Clovis; Masonic Blue Lodge, Clovis; Scottish Rite Bodies and the Consistory of Santa Fe, N.M.
        Survivors include sons: Bruce, Mt. Hope; Lt. Cmdr. Carl Edson, Abtsdorf, Austria; daughters, Mrs. Willa [sic] Mae McBirnie, Phoenix, Ariz., Mrs. Virginia Jones, Denver, Colo., and eight grandchildren.
        Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Steed Todd Funeral Home, Clovis; Rev. Walter Hunt. Burial will be in the Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Johnson and Sons Chapel, Hutchinson.
   
   Clovis News-Journal (New Mexico), 12 Jan 1975, p. 2:
   Deaths
   Robert O. Ellis
        Funeral services for Robert O. Ellis who died Jan. 8, following a prolonged illness, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Steed Memorial Chapel with the Reverend Walter Hunt of the First Baptist Church of Clovis officiating.
        Mr. Ellis was born May 16, 1890 in Rosebud, Ark. He moved to Clovis in 1924 then moved to Hutchinson, Kansas in 1963 where he remained until his death.
        Mr. Ellis worked for 36 years, until his retirement in 1955, as an electrical engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad. He was a member of the First Baptist Church or Clovis, the Scottish Crosistory[?] of Santa Fe and was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of Clovis Masonic Lodge number 40 A.F.A.M.
        Mr. Ellis was preceded to death by his wife, Alta, Feb. 22, 1974. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Willie Mae McBirnie, Phoenix, Ariz. and Mrs. Virginia Jones of Denver, Colo.; two sons, Bruce, Mount Hope, Kansas and Carl Edson, Adtsdors [Abtsdorf], Austria; and eight grandchildren.
        Burial will be at Lawn Haven Memorial Garden cemetery where masonic graveside services will be conducted. Arrangements are being handled by Steed-Todd Funeral Home.
   
   The following is from the Clovis News-Journal (New Mexico), probably 12 Jan 1975:
   
   MASONIC LODGE
   Clovis Masonic Lodge No. 40 A.F. & A.M.
   
   Masonic Hall 3100 Thornton
   Emergent [sic] Communication
   Memorial Services for our Departed Brother R. O. Ellis
   10:30 A.M. Monday
   Steed-Todd Chapel
   Roy C. Hutchison, W.M.
   Swede Johnson, Secretary
   All Masons Urged to Attend!
6. [S509] Death Certificate, Kansas State Department of Health
   Division of Vital Statistics
   Certificate of Death
   DECEASED: Robert Olden [sic] Ellis
   Sex: Male
   Date of Death: January 8, 1975
   Race: White
   Age Last Birthday: 84
   Date of Birth: May 16, 1890
   County of Death: Reno
   City of Death: South Hutchinson
   Inside City Limits: Yes
   Hospital or Other Institution: Mennonite Friendship Manor Nursing Home
   State of Birth: Arkansas
   Citizen of What Country: U.S.A.
   Married, etc.: Widowed
   Social Security Number: 709-18-5570
   Usual Occupation (even if retired): Electrical Engineer - RR
   Kind of Business: Santa Fe Railroad
   Residence: Kansas, Reno, Hutchinson 67501
   Inside City Limits: No
   Street and Number: R.R. No. 3
   PARENTS
   Father: Elias Wellborn Ellis
   Mother: Elizabeth Lively
   CAUSE OF DEATH
   Immediate Cause: Ventricular fibrillation
   Approximate Interval Between Onset and Death: at death
   Due to or as a Consequence of: Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
   Approximate Interval Between Onset and Death: 10 years
   Due to or as a Consequence of: Diabetes Mellitus
   Approximate Interval Between Onset and Death: 10 years
   PHYSICIAN
   Attended Deceased from: Aug. 1973 to Jan. 8, 1975
   Last Saw Him: Nov. 1975 [sic] Did view body after death
   Death Occurred: 6:15 p.m.
   Certifier Name: Elwyn Taylor
   Date Signed: Jan-10-75
   Mailing Address: 1100 N. Main Hutchinson, Kansas 67501
   BURIAL
   Cemetery: Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens - Clovis, New Mexico
   Date: January 13, '75
   Funeral Home: Johnson & Sons, 134 E. Sherman, Hutchinson, Kansas 67501.
7. [S507] Obituary.

           

Compilers:
Tom McBirnie and Cathy (McBirnie) Griffin

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Site updated on 24 Feb 2007 at 9:35:49 PM from MCBIRNIE; 111 people