Willard S. Ellison was born in Springfield, Ill., Jan. 28, 1857; his father died when he was about five years old, after which his mother moved to the vicinity of Morrison, Ill. he attended the common schools near his home, and afterwards pursued a course in Valparaiso, Ind. he also attended summer schools at Universities, as often as possible. Mr. Ellison taught school at Gridley, Ustick township; Thompson, Carroll county; Miles, Iowa; Gardenplain, Unionville, and Prophetstown; thus twenty eght years of his life were spent in imparting knowledge to others. He was married at Miles, Iowa, July 8, 1886 to Miss Alice Heberling; to them four children were born: Dwight, Ruth, Ada and Donald.

Mr. Ellison was an honored member of the Mystic, Masonic, Eastern Star, and I.O.O.F. fraternities. He united with the Congregational church in this place March 19, 1899, and has been a leader in the cause of Christ ever since. Some of the thoughts that preyed upon his mind during his last hours were: "Keep up the church;" "Keep up the Sunday school;" "Keep up the public school." He also said: "It should be the mission of every one to build up the home, and not to hoard up money." He did not lay down rules for others which he did not practice himself. Prof. Ellison came to Prophetstown eighteen years ago, and succeeded W. J. Johnston as principal and teacher in the High School. In that time he has proven himself to be a most excellent instructor; competent, courteous, and thorough in all his work. What his pupils knew, they were generally able to prove. He used text books, but taught ethics and nammers by example; and has left the imprint of his noble, upright life upon the lives of all those who have been associated with him. Mr. Ellison was loved and respected in the school room, in the church, in the lodge room upon the streets and most of all in his own home. He was a man of high ideals always delighting himself in those things that would improve his own life and make him of use to others. As a citizen, he was one of the best that our town has ever had. He was always found on the side of right, was firm in his convictions, faithful in the discharge of every duty, and was never known to offend by word or deed. He was widely known, and as widely loved and esteemed, this fact was demonstrated at his funeral held in the Congregational church this afternoon; the house was crowded to its utmost and a great many stood outside. It was the largest gathering for an occasion so sad that our town has ever known.

Rev. C. H. Burdick paid a very fitting tribute to the memory of the departed using the thoughts contained in 2 Tim. 4:7,8 as the basis of his address, because of their application to the life of the deceased. Rev. Burdick was assisted by Rev. Doble and Rev. Edgren. The church choir rendered three choice selections. There was an abundance of the most beautiful cut flowers, being largely the tributes of teachers, pupils and friends. A large cortege of sorrowing friends escorted the remains of our honored brother to their last resting place in Riverside Cemetery. We have not words to express our sympathy for the grief stricken wife and children, mother and brother, but affectionately commend them to Him who alone can solace the aching heart. All of the relatives that could come were present to pay their last tribute of love to him whom they all held dear. Co. Sup't B. B. Hendricks and many of the teachers of the county were in attendance at the funeral; and out of respect to the deceased principal the schools in town were not opened, and the business houses closed for a couple of hours this afternoon. The vacancy made by the taking away of Mr. Ellison will long be felt throughout the community.

Among those who attened the funeral on Monday of the late W. S. Ellison, were the following: H. S. Heberling, of Chicago, Miss Charlotte Heberling, of Marion, Ia., J. O. Childs and wife Clarence Childs, M. M. Stowe and wife, Mrs. Elvira Stowe, Mr. Phinney and daughter, Mrs. Groff, County Supt. B. F. Hendricks, and S. A. Maxwell, of Morrison, Clark Perkins and wife of Erie, M. A. Bannister and wife, of Clinton, Ia., members of the Burns, Likes and Presley families, of Fenton, the Lyndon Principal and teachers of nearly all the nearby districts, Mrs. Geo. Talcott and daughter Clara, of Geneseo, Albert Boyer, of Tampico, and Mr. and Mrs. P. E. Ericson, of Sterling.

It was on October 19, after a lingering illness of many months, that the summons came to W. S. Ellison calling him home, taking him from this world to that reward that he has so richly earned. It was eighteen years ago in September that he came to Prophetstown to assume the duties of the Principalship of our schools and for this length of time he has filled the chair to the satisfaction of the great majority of all interested in the welfare of the schools. He has labored in and out of season that the best results might be obtained, never tiring in well doing and always alert to the best interests of all concerned. While he has worked many times at a great disadvantage to bring the school up to the level of the best schools, he never was discouraged to the extent of giving up but only worked the harder to devise ways and means that in the end might predominate. As a result of his labors with the support of the school board in accord with him our schools stand today, the equal of any of its class in the county and we can boast of more students that are successfully climbing the ladder of fame or that are conducting a successful business on their own accounts, than any school in the county that have graduated a like number. This has been done in the face of many difficulties such as the want of funds to build and equip the same. Our teachers have been over worked but in spite of this success has been the result. Not only has Mr. Ellison succeeded in his work as teacher but he has been an exemplary man as well. No student could ever use him as an excuse for wrong doing or laxity of purpose. He was a christian man, and his honesty of purpose no one questioned. He was always actuated by sincere motives and lived an example that called forth the plaudits of mankind.

Mr. Ellison saw the value of hard work in achieving our ends and insisted that the student work out his own destiny that he might the better appreciate the results. It is safe to say that no person in the town could have as illy been spared and his being taken from us will create a loss that will take years to make good, and too it came just in the prime of life, just at a time when he was at his best and was capable of greater results. Always awake to the towns interests his pocket book was ever open to all good purposes and to any interest that was for the towns upbuilding. And so we might go on indefinitely telling the truths pertaining to this life but we will not. His works speak in terms loud enough and so we will desist. Mr. Willard S. Ellison was born at Springfield, Illinois, Jan. 28, 1857 and was the son of Gilbert and Elvira Bannister Ellison. When only five years of age the father died, the mother and son moving to the vicinity of Morrison, Illinois. His early education was obtained in the common schools of county and was finished at Valparaiso, Indiana, and in part courses in the best colleges in the land, in fact his whole life has been one of a student never tiring in posting himself that he might impart to those under him the best that was to be had. Twenty eight years of his life have been spent in the arduous duties of imparting to others his knowledge and so well has he done his work that only words of praise are spoken of him. In 1886 he was united in marriage to Miss Alice Heberling and to them was born four children, two sons and two daughters, Dwight, aged 20, Ruth aged 18, Ada fifteen and Donald five, who with the mother survive him. The deceased lived to see one son, Dwight, graduate under him and one daughter, Ruth, almost finish as she will graduate this year. He also had the satisfaction of living long enough to see his family well started on the good road to man and womanhood which comes in a measure from the good example always set by the father.

He was also prominent in lodge circles being a member of the Mason's Eastern Star, Odd Fellows and the Mystic Workers. In March 1899 he made a public confession united with the Congregational church of Prophetstown of which body he became an active faith member. His last illness was the result of the past years hard work and the crisis was reached about a week ago brought on by a severe cold. Heart trouble was the cause of death and has been of about two years duration. So ambitious was he that he continued his labors in the schoolroom to within a few days of his death. He was conscious to the last and counciled with his family previous to his taking away leaving with them words of comfort as well as guidance for the future. Not only were his thoughts with his nearest and dearest ones but they went out to every one with whom he had been so closely allied for so many years in his school work. The funeral was held in the Congregational church on Monday at two o'clock and was probably attended by the largest concourse of people that ever paid tribute to the dead in Prophetstown. The funeral ceremony was in charge of Rev. C. H. burdick, his pastor who was ably assisted by Reverends Doble and Edgren of the Methodist and Swedish Lutheran churches respectively. Surely Rev. Burdick had a trying time in conducting this service on account of his close fellowship with the deceased and his family and to control his emotional self and speak words of consultation to relatives and friends. Hard indeed but he was equal to the occasion and met his duty squarely.

As showing the degree of respect in another tribute to the departed one was the closing of the business houses of the town in the afternoon and the dispensing of school duties for the day. Not only was this true of our home town but our sister town of Lyndon paid the same respect as did many schools in the country presided over by students who have graduated under him. The Lyndon schools attended the funeral in a body. The floral tributes were profuse and of the loveliest of God's creation. May the example set by this servant of the people ever be fresh in our minds.

The beautiful memorial in Riverside cemetery, "Erected to the memory of Willard S. Ellison by the Prophetstown Public School and Alumni," stands as a testimonial of respect and appreciation that words can not enhance. For this quiet and lasting expression of affection from those he loved and for whom he labored, his family extend the thanks of grateful hearts; and through the medium of our local papers, desire to reach every pupil and friend, who defining his spirit and appreciating his efforts, thus honors and perpetuates his memory. In his name we would convey to each and all the assurance of our deepest gratitude. --------------- Alice Ellison and family