Background
He was the son of Robert and Anna Hockett (Moon) Ellis.
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SETH HOCKETT ELLIS
Edit ProfileEducation
He was educated in the common schools of Clinton and Warren counties.
Career
He was always an active worker in the church and Sunday-school. He was a leader in the prohibition movement in the state and nation, and in 1895, was the Prohibition candidate for governor of Ohio. He devoted much time and energy to political and economic reform, working, especially, for the referendum and a more just system of state taxation. In 1900, he was the candidate of the Union Reform party for president of the United States.
He was one of the most prominent forces of his day in the field of agricultural advancement, for he was able to look ahead and see that much progress was to be made. He was an organizer of the first grange in Warren County, of which he was for years master, and was also a charter member of the original state grange. The grange was "the great work" of Seth Ellis's life. He served as state master of the Ohio grange from 1873-1878; 1889-1892; 1897-1900; and he was chaplain of the National Grange for two separate terms, and served also on the national executive committee.
For some years his services were greatly in demand as a lecturer, a capacity in which he travelled all over the state.
In addition, for the 1903 Centennial of Miami Monthly Meeting, he was noted for having been one of the two presiding officers in January 1851.
He was appointed a trustee of Ohio State University, originally the "Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, " just after the change of name. For eight years, and through many discouraging experiences, he worked steadfastly for the interests of agricultural education in the institution. It was very largely through his influence, within the governing board and throughout the state at large, that the college of agriculture became an important part of the University in those early years.
His transfer to the Board of Control of the Experiment Station, at the time of its reorganization under the Hatch Act, was of his own choosing, and, during his long service on that Board, his thoroughly practical knowledge of farm conditions in Ohio and his wide acquaintance with the leading farmers of the state, and with others interested in the state's prosperity, enabled him to be of the greatest service in establishing the station's work on a broad and enduring foundation.
In 1899, as Seth Ellis neared seventy years of age, he and his wife rented out Salem Farm and moved to Waynesville, in Warren County. There they lived for several years until his death in 1903, which resulted from a fall from a cherry tree.
Membership
harter member of the original state grange
served also on the national executive committee
Personality
Mr. Ellis was a man of the utmost sincerity and steadfastness, yet always tactful; one whose character and motives were absolutely free from guile; who took the kindliest interest in the welfare of all those with whom he came in contact, and who had a most remarkable memory for names, faces, and the personal interests of others.
Connections
In August of 1851 he married Rebecca Jane Tressler, the daughter of Jacob Tressler, a farmer, and his wife, Sarah Null. Jacob Tressler had come from Virginia and settled on a farm near Springboro. There he married Sarah Null, also born in Virginia, whose family also lived on a farm in the area of Springboro.
