PROMINENT EDUCATOR DEAD
J.T. Ellis passed away in his home in Carbondale Saturday afternoon

Jake Ellis is dead. He has fallen a little before noon on the day of his usefulness. The end came at his home in Carbondale at 4:10 -0’clock Saturday afternoon from Typhoid Fever. After an illness of little more than two weeks. His death came as a great shock through out Mt.Vernon, Jefferson County and all of Southern Ill.

Jacob Taylor Ellis was born in March 1864 and was therefore a little more than forty two at the time of his death. He was a son of Rev. John and “Aunt Bettie” Ellis and half brother to Robert N. Hinman of this city. When Mr. Ellis was about eight years old his mother died. Capt. John R. Moss his Uncle took him in and he remained a member of that Family until he reached maturity. Capt. Moss took a great interest in Mr. Ellis treating him as one of his own sons and fanning the flame of aspiration that early began to grow in Mr. Ellis.

Jake Ellis began his education at the country school at Shiloh. When he was about 18 years old he began teaching. In 1881 he entered the Southern Illinois Normal at Carbondale and taught alternately until he graduated in 1884. He was principal of schools at Galatia, principal of the Mt. Vernon High School, of Centralia High School, superintendent of schools four years at Greenville, then Superintendent of public schools in Mt. Vernon two years, and for the last six or seven years on the staff at Normal, Carbondale. He enrolled as a student in the University of Chicago, taking work in the Universities summer sessions until 1904 when he graduated from this institution with the degree of bachelor of arts. The writer was in close touch with Mr. Ellise’s educational and intellectual life. Often he has talked over with me the further pursuit of his education and had he lived there is no doubting he would have accomplished more achievements in the educational field.

Several years ago Mr. Ellis was married to Miss Beulah Nolan of Sandoval, whom he met as a student at Normal Carbondale. Their married life has been of the most congenial kind. Mrs. Ellis has continued her own education with her husband and has been a sweet and strong inspiration to him in the intellectual life he loved and lived.

Mr. Ellis was a religious man, for many years he had been a member of the Methodist church, and at the time of his death was a teacher at the Methodist Sunday school at Carbondale, a member of the church choir and otherwise actively engaged in church activities. He is a member of Mt. Vernon, Camp Modern Woodsman.

Funeral services were held this afternoon with interment in Oakwood

Source: Unknown
Date: 1906
Submitted by Nancy E. Davis