1903-04 Volume 28 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

THE SCROLL. 31unusual success and punctuated with numerous honors.He especially excelled in the classics and gained distinctionas an orator and debater. Four times during his senioryear he was called upon to deliver public addresses. In additionto this honor he was selected by the student body todeliver the annual oration on Washington's birthday, a distinctionaccorded only those whose work in college hadbeen distinguished for general excellence.Dr. Ellis's marriage to Miss Katherine Ann Cox occurredJuly 23, 1867, shortly after his graduation. Mrs. Ellis isthe daughter of Capt. Abram P. and Elizabeth Cox. Capt.Cox gained his title through gallant service in the Unionarmy. At the time of his death, in 1872, he was one of themost prominent lawyers at the Butler county bar.Dr. Ellis began his career as an educator in Septemberafter graduation at Miami University. It has since been aseries of unbroken successes. His first educational workwas as principal of a ward school at Covington, and his subsequentrise has been rapid. Principal of a school in Newport,Ky. ; eight years as superintendent of schools ofHamilton, Ohio, which position he resigned to accept onewith Harper Brothers, at a salary of $3,000 ; seven years assuperintendent of instruction at Sandusky, Ohio, followedby a call to his former position as superintendent of schoolsof Hamilton, at an advanced salary of $3,000 per year, givesome idea of the upward trend of his career in educationalwork.Different educational institutions have honored Dr. Ellisby the conferring of degrees upon him. In 1872 he wasmade Master of Arts by Miami University and the sameyear delivered the diplomas to the graduating membersof the Erodelphian and Miami Union literary societies.Wooster University, in 1879, honored him with the degree ofDoctor of Philosophy and Ohio State University conferred asimilar degree in 1888. Two years later Ohio State Universityadded another honor with the degree of Doctor of Laws,and in 1894, his alma mater complimented him by conferringthe same degree. In 1880 the work of Dr. Ellisattracted the attention of the Victoria Institute, the philosophicsociety of Great Britain. He was made a member ofthis exclusive organization and later became a life member,a distinction that has been accorded few educators in thiscountry. Queen Victoria before her death was a notedpatron of the Victoria Institute.