From: History of Illinois and Her People
by Professor George W. Smith, M. A.; pub. 1927; Vol. VI, p.226

James J. Ellis, M.D.

James J. Ellis, M. D.  With a high standing as a physician and surgeon, Doctor Ellis is well known professionally in several communities of southern Illinois, but for the past twelve years his home has been at West Frankfort.

His father, Hiram Stanford Ellis, came from Tennessee and settled in Hamilton County, Illinois, where he followed farming until his death in 1889.  He married Elizabeth Pulliam, of another Tennessee family that came to Illinois in early times.  She died in 1888.

James J. Ellis was one of five children and was born on the home farm in Hamilton County April 17, 1882.  He grew up in that rural community, attended district schools and afterwards Ewing College.  Doctor Ellis on May 7, 1909, was graduated from the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons and had one year of training as an intern in the St. Louis City Hospital.  For five years he practiced at Walpole in Hamilton County, and in 1914 removed to West Frankfort, where his abilities have been taxed by a large practice in medicine and surgery.  He is a member of the Franklin County, Illinois State and American Medical Associations and is a Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, being a member of the Consistory and Temple at East St. Louis.  He also belongs to the Lions Club.

Doctor Ellis married Helen D. Wilderman, daughter of John Wilderman.  Doctor Ellis has two sons.  James Conrad Ellis graduated in 1926 from Rush Medical College of Chicago, having taken his A. B. degree at the University of Chicago in 1923, and is now serving as an intern in the General Hospital at Los Angeles, California.  The younger son (Lester) Neal, is completing his college education in DePauw university in Indiana.