James Hiram Ellis, who is now serving his third term as probate judge of Cherokee county, was born in Ironton, Ohio, June 25, 1858. Judge Ellis is the son of Benjamin M. and Olive (Carter) Ellis. His father was a native of the State of New York, born March 27, 1836. He died at Columbus, Kan., Dec. 21, 1910. He was a son of Hiram and Elizabeth (Gillett) Ellis. His father, Alexander Benjamin Ellis, was born in Tioga county, New York, and was of Welsh origin. He was a son of Ebenezer Ellis, one of three brothers who came at a very early date in the history of America to this country, one of them finally settling in North Carolina, another in Tennessee, while Alexander B. settled in New York, and from him is descended the branch of the family to which Judge Ellis belongs. Ebenezer Ellis married Elizabeth McCollough, a Scotch lady. The mother of Judge Ellis was of German descent. She was born in Ohio, Dec. 25, 1836, and died in Oklahoma March 27, 1893. She bore her husband the following children: James Hiram, Minnie (Sims), Edith (Hickman), and Fred G., Edith being deceased. The father of the family came to Kansas in 1869, and in the following winter his family joined him at Olathe. The family proceeded to the Indian Territory, but in 1872 settled at Columbus, Cherokee county, removing to Galena in 1872, which was the family home for thirty years. James H. Ellis was but fourteen years of age when his parents came to Columbus, Kan., where his education was concluded in the public schools. He quit school at the age of sixteen years and was thereafter engaged in working on a steam engine until 1877, when he became a common laborer in the lead and zinc mines at Galena. He applied himself with characteristic zeal and energy, meriting the promotion which was given him, until he became mine superintendent. In 1906 he received the Republican nomination for probate judge of Cherokee county, and was successful in the election. He was reëlected to this office in 1908, and again in 1910. At the election in the last named year he was the only candidate for county office on the Republican ticket to be elected. His record as probate judge has been clean and judicious, and with fairness and justice to all he has administered the affairs of the office, so ably filIed. When twenty-one years of age he joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the principIes of which fraternity he has exemplified, together with that of the Golden Rule, and also the principles of the Knights of Pythias, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

In 1887 Judge Ellis married Miss Florence Scott, and their union has been blessed by the birth of three children: Edith Velzoria, Scott Benjamin and James Ralph, the last named being deceased. Judge Ellis comes of a good family; he is a son of a Civil war veteran; he has forged his own way to the front in life, and is deserving of favorable mention among representative men of Kansas.