William B. Ellison was born in Parrottsville, Cocke county, this state, September 17, 1876, his parents being John F. and Laura Elizabeth Ellison, who came of Scotch-Irish and Dutch ancestry, respectively. The paternal ancestors of W. B. Ellison spelled their name “Allison,” which was changed to “Ellison” by accident when his father, as a mere youth, enlisted in the Federal army during the Civil war. In fact, genealogists state that the two names have often been interchangeably mixed, the name being spelled Ellison, and Allison, when referring to the same individual. They attribute this error to the fact that names are frequently spelled phonetically, or according to the taste, knowledge, or lack of knowledge, of the writer. This family is of very old date (six hundred years) in the parish of Avondale, county of Lanark, Scotland, and is an offshoot of the famous clan of MacAlister. The latter claim to be representatives of the ancient lords of the Isles. Says one genealogist: “The Allisons (Ellisons) have won homes and reputations not only in Scotland, but in England, Ireland, Australia, South America, Canada, and nearly every state in the great American commonwealth–the United States. A fascination, deep and abiding, clings to the ancient home of the family at Loupe, Argyleshire, and at Cairndiff, Avondale, Lanarkshire, Scotland. * * * The name is found frequently in the catalogues of both European and American universities. Lawyers, physicians, ministers of the gospel, senators, and other men high in the civil or military service of the state are among those of this stock.”
The father of W. B. Ellison was a native of North Carolina but lived in Tennessee from early manhood until his death. He was a Union soldler, having served with the Eighth Tennessee Infantry during the Civil war. His wife was born and died in Tennessee.
Spending his youthful days in his native village, William B. Ellison there attended the public schools until graduated from the high school and subsequently he entered the Chattanooga University, from which he won his Bachelor of Arts degree. His LL. B. degree was conferred upon him by the George Washington Law School at Washington, D. C., and he has been admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and in the state of Tennessee.
Mr. Ellison was in the government service for several years in the national capital and in the west and in October, 1916, he took up his abode in Johnson City, where he entered upon the practice of law. Later he was appointed a special assistant United States attorney. In June, 1918, he was elected a member of the board of aldermen and later in the same year he was chosen county attorney of Washington county. In June, 1919, he was chosen the first mayor of the city under the commission form of government for a term of four years and during his administration Johnson City has made the greatest strides forward in her history. About fourteen miles of streets have been paved, or are under contract to be paved at the present time. The school plant has been doubled in capacity and equipment and the school grounds have been doubled in size and greatly beautified. Special attention has been paid to sanitation and Johnson City has become famous for her attractive streets and homes. During his administration the fire department has been doubled in size, in personnel and equipment, the force being now well uniformed and thoroughly drilled. During the year 1922 a modern bungalow type fire station was built and during the administration of Mayor Ellison the police department has been reorganized and the city has now the largest, best disciplined and best uniformed police force it ever had, and it is generally admitted that the city is in better shape morally than ever before. Special efforts have been made to rid the city of the drug evil and bootlegging. The channels of streams traversing the city have been recently deepened and widened, thereby greatly improving the drainage system of the city. The two telephone systems of ancient design have been consolidated into one that is to be modern in every particular. Street lighting has been improved fifty per cent and plans are now under way for the building of white ways on all principal business streets. The addition of an aerial hook and ladder truck to the fire department will soon be made, together with the construction of an incinerating plant, an electric fire alarm system and the extension of the trunk line sewer of the city. The mayor also plans the purchase of a large tract of land for a general athletie field for the city. He has taken not only a deep interest in matters affecting his own city, but he has been active in promoting the common interests of Tennessee through mutual understanding among the cities and towns of the state and by the enactment of uniform and general legislation. He is first vice president of the Tennessee Municipal League and has helped make that organization a potent instrumentality in shaping policies and laws for municipal development. He drafted and secured the enactment in 1921 of an amendment to a general act of the legislature which enables the people of any municipality of the state to vote on a bond issue for anything such municipality is authorized by its charter to do, thereby making unnecessary the passage of private enabling acts for such bond issues.
Mr. Ellison was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Easterly of Greeneville, Tennessee, who passed away in March, 1918. They were parents of four children, a son and three daughters: Edwin Easterly, born November 10, 1902; Ruth Elizabeth, born September 16, 1905; Embree Louise, born May 16, 1907; and Mildred Vestine, born February 4, 1909. On the 20th of December, 1922, Mayor Ellison was united in marriage to Miss Marguerite Loving Pamplin, daughter of Mrs. N. B. Pamplin of Johnson City. For several years Mrs. Ellison has been the efficient and much loved principal of the West Side school. She was born at Lovingston, Virginia, and comes of one of the oldest and most cultured families of the Old Dominion. She is noted for her ability as an educator, her charming personality, and her many amiable qualities.
Mr. Ellison holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, the Junior Order of American Mechanies, the Johnson City Country Club and to the Chamber of Commerce. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party, which finds in him a stalwart champion and earnest worker. He was a candidate for the republican nomination for congress in 1922. On June 20, 1923, Mr. Ellison was elected mayor to succeed himself, for another term of four years, winning by a plurality of one hundred and eighty votes. His administration of municipal affairs is spoken of in most commendable terms, and Johnson City is indeed fortunate in that it will continue to have at its head a man who is so thoroughly interested in and devoted to the welfare and progress of the municipality and who is capable of expressing his high ideals for city improvement in terms of practical achievement.
Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923, Vol. 2 -- transcribed by, Amanda Jowers
