Saint John City

Senator

M.P.

M.L.A.

ELLIS, John Valentine (HON) (1835 – 1913)

Born, February 14th, 1835, at Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Of Irish ancestry.  Son of Michael Ellis, and his wife, Margaret Walsh, both natives of Ireland.

Educated at the Halifax Public Schools.

Located at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and engaged in the printing and newspaper business.  In 1854, he moved to Montreal, P.Q., where he remained for three years.  He them moved to St. John, N.B., where, in 1862, he became Editor and Proprietor of the St. John Globe.  Was also Postmaster for the City of St. John.  Was an active member in several fraternal, benevolent, and social organizations.  Prominent member of the A.F. & A.M., holding its higher offices.

Married, ________, 1864, to Miss Mary Caroline Babbitt, daughter of Samuel Babbitt, Esq.  By this marriage there was a family of five sons and two daughters. (Fredericton, N.B.)

Unsuccessfully contested the constituency of St. John County for the House of Commons, at the G.E. of February, 1874.

First elected to the House of Assembly of N.B., as one of the members for Saint John City, at the G.E. of June 1882, and sat that legislature.  Re-elected at the G.E. of April 26th, 1886, and sat one session, resigning his seat in order to contest St. John City for the House of Commons.

First elected to the House of Commons, as member for the constituency of St. John City, at the G.E. of February 22nd, 1887, and sat that Parliament until its dissolution in 1891.  At the G.E. of March 5th, 1891, he was defeated, but was again elected to the House of Commons at the G.E. of June 22nd, 1896, and sat that Parliament until its dissolution in 1900.

On September 3rd, 1900, he was called to the Senate of Canada, and continued a member of that House until his decease.

He died, July 10th, 1913, at his residence, St. John, N.B., aged seventy-eight years.  Buried in Greenwood Cemetery, St. John, N.B.  survived by his widow, five sons, and two daughters.

Mrs. Ellis died January 22nd, 1922, aged eighty-two years.

In Politics:  a Liberal                                        In Religion: Church of England

[NOTE:  For criticizing a judgement rendered by Judge Tuck in the Queens County Election Case, he was sentenced to one month imprisonment, and to pay a fine of $200.  His friends throughout Canada raised a fund of $2000, and paid his fine and court expenses.]

FAMILY:

  1. Son: Frank D. – St. John, N.B.  Editor & Journalist
  2. Son: William Leonard – (M.D. – McGill, 1895) (1871- Jan 13, 1949) St. John, N.B.
  3. Son: George D. – (b. 1874 – d. Apr. 2nd, 1944) St. John, N.B.  Georgia Cole.
  4. Son: John Valentine, Jr. – Editor & journalist, Yakima, Washington, U.S.A.
  5. Son: Joseph Nealon – (b. July 25, 1875 – d. Sep. 1942)  Vancouver, B.C.
  6. Dau: Margaret – Mar.  (1st) ___ Lawrence; (2nd) _____ Calhoun
  7. Dau: Anne – Mar. E.R. Taylor, Esq., West St. John, N.B. – clothier