J. J. Ellis

                                                                 Winfield.
Winfield 1873: J. J. Ellis, 28. No spouse listed.
Winfield 1874: J. J. Ellis, 29; spouse, Katie, 19.
                                               FROM THE NEWSPAPERS.
Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 18, 1873.
New Sign. Ellis & Black, the enterprising successors of T. H. Benning, in the corner store, have ornamented the front of their establishment with a new and neat sign, the workmanship of T. J. Jones.
Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 25, 1873.
If you ask the price of Groceries at Ellis & Black’s, you will have a smile come over your countenance that your children have not seen for years.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 13, 1873.
Hats. The latest spring styles just received at Ellis & Black’s.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 20, 1873.
Fresh supply of dry goods and notions just received at Ellis & Black’s.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 22, 1873.
If you want nice fresh cocoa-nuts go to Ellis & Black’s for them. “We know how it is ourself,” for through the kindness of Mr. Ellis we tried them to our own satisfaction.  Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 28, 1873.
At a meeting held by the children of Winfield on Wednesday of last week in the Methodist Church it was decided to have a picnic in Mr. Andrews’s grove on Friday Sept. 5th. The following committees were appointed.
To obtain the grove: E. Freeland and Cora Andrews.
To invite Brass Band: Callie Blandin and Nettie Quarles.
To attend to the dinner: Mrs. Tousey, Mrs. Wm. Maris, McClellan, Blandin, McMaster, Hill, Mrs. M. L. Palmer, Miss M. Bryant.
To attend to the refreshments: Messrs. Quarles, Hill, Baldwin, Ellis, Kelly, Allison, Torrance, Freeland, and Newlin.
To arrange seats, stand, etc.: J. Swain, Jas. Hill, Dever, Saint, Ray, and Smiley.
To arrange the swing, croquet, etc.: J. D. Cochran, Spencer Bliss, Mrs. Flint, Miss Mary Stewart, Rev. Lowery, and T. A. Rice.
Committee to see that the trees are not injured in any way: A. T. Shenneman, Sheriff Parker, M. L. Robinson.
On invitation: Mrs. E. P. Hickok, O. Lowry, M. Dever, Laura McMillen.
Chief Marshal: E. P. Hickok.
The children of the town and vicinity will meet in the Methodist church on that morning so as to start for the grove at 9 A.M. Outside districts are cordially invited to come and join with us in enjoying the day. Per order of the committee.
Winfield Courier, November 27, 1873.
How to sleep warm these cold nights. Go to Ellis & Black’s and get a pair of those nice warm, soft blankets they are selling so cheap.
Winfield Courier, December 12, 1873.

The Co. Commissioners at their last meeting accepted the Courthouse. And the contractors, Messrs. Stewart & Simpson, take this method to return thanks to their bondsmen, S. C. Smith, Charley Black, R. B. Saffold, Hiram Silver, S. H. Myton, Rice & Ray, J. J. Ellis, J. D. Cochran, M. L. Read, J. C. Blandin, John Lowry, and C. A. Bliss, for the confidence reposed in them when they were entire strangers, and to say that they are honorably discharged from any further obligation on account of the Courthouse.
First mention made of Charles Harter...
Winfield Courier, February 20, 1874.      
We walked into Ellis & Black’s last night, as we often do, to borrow a couple of peanuts, when we saw, what we thought at first, were a couple of ghosts; but on close examination we discovered them to be only J. J. Ellis and Charley Harter, who were so exhausted after the enormous sales of the day that they looked like ghosts.
Winfield Courier, February 27, 1874.
To Patrons of Husbandry. Each member of the order is required to have a “trade” ticket to enable them to purchase on our special terms. Tickets can be procured by calling on me at the store of Ellis & Black, in Winfield. T. A. BLANCHARD, Agent.
Winfield Courier, March 13, 1874.
Mr. J. J. Ellis has a fine residence in process of erection in the north part of town in which himself and his young wife will reside upon their return from St. Louis.
Winfield Courier, March 20, 1874.
Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Ellis rounded up their wedding tour by arriving at home last Wednesday. They will now settle down to business on their own “hook.” Mrs., to the old fashioned button sewing, stocking darning, trousers mending, cooking, washing, ironing (the fire-building question will soon be settled), sweeping, scrubbing, etc., of our grandmother’s days. Mr. to carrying wood and water, making garden, setting the hens, hunting eggs, selling standard prints at ten cents, barking his shins over chairs in the night to hand the soothing syr—Oh! goodness no—the parego—thunderation! We’re too soon—the camphor bottle, and making himself generally useful, as a kind, dutiful and loving husband should. We wish the young couple complete happiness. May the sun of their prosperity never set, until they have rounded off the full period of three score years and ten, and then as “they are lovely and pleasant in their lives so in death may they not be divided.”
Paper was slow in printing details of Ellis wedding...
Winfield Courier, March 27, 1874.
MARRIED. ELLIS - LOWERY. On March 4th, 1874, at the M. E. Parsonage, in this city, by the Rev. J. W. Lowery, assisted by Rev. J. B. Parmelee of the Congregational church, Mr. James J. Ellis to Miss Kate A. Lowery.
The happy couple immediately started on their wedding tour to St. Louis, via Wichita and Kansas City, and will return by way of Ft. Scott and Independence, visiting numerous friends and relatives at different places along the route. We wish them a pleasant journey and a safe return.
Winfield Courier, March 27, 1874.

NOTICE TO GRANGERS. Arrangements have been made with the following retail dealers of Winfield for supplying members of the order with merchandise at special rates. With Ellis & Black for dry goods and groceries; S. H. Myton for hardware, implements, etc.; Max Shoeb for blacksmithing. Sub-granges can procure all needed blanks at the lowest rates at the COURIER office in Winfield.    Members will be furnished with tickets upon application, and for protection against fraud, members are requested to take bills for all goods purchased, or work performed, and file the same as often as convenient with the agent. Sub-granges are requested to send me their orders accompanied with $3.50, for sub-grange seals, that I may bulk the order. T. A. BLANCHARD, Agent.
Winfield Courier, April 10, 1874.
On Wednesday last we dropped into the store of Ellis & Black, and counted 95 persons, all waiting their turns to pur­chase goods from the new stock of spring goods. How is that for Winfield?
Winfield Courier, April 10, 1874.
The following is a list of the marriage licenses issued by the Probate Judge for the month of March.
J. J. Ellis to Kate Lowery.
Winfield Courier, May 8, 1874.
Forty acres of land from the farm of W. W. Andrews and adjoining the town site on the north is being laid off into town lots preparatory to being made a part of the City of Winfield. The addition embraces the residences of M. L. Read, T. A. Wilkinson, E. B. Kager, Dr. Graham, N. C. McCulloch, and J. J. Ellis, and will be one of the prettiest portions of the City.
[DISSOLUTION NOTICE: ELLIS & BLACK.]
Winfield Courier, September 18, 1874.
DISSOLUTION NOTICE. The partnership heretofore existing between J. J. Ellis and Chas. C. Black is this day dissolved by mutual consent. Chas. C. Black retains the business, assumes all firm debts, and is authorized to collect and receipt for all accounts. All persons knowing themselves indebted to the firm, will please call and settle with him immediately.
J. J. ELLIS, CHAS. C. BLACK. Dated Sept. 14th, 1874.
Winfield Courier, September 18, 1874.
The firm of Ellis & Black has dissolved, Chas. Black having purchased the interest of Mr. Ellis. Everybody likes Charley and all will be rejoiced to hear that he will continue the business as usual at the old stand. Mr. Ellis does not leave the store, but will always be found behind the counter ready to accommodate his numerous friends and customers, so that the only apparent change is the firm name, which is now simply “Chas. C. Black.”
Winfield Courier, September 18, 1874.
A Card. The undersigned, having purchased the interest of J. J. Ellis, will continue the business at the old stand of Ellis & Black, and invites the continued patronage of the public.
CHAS. C. BLACK. Winfield, September 14, 1874.
Winfield Courier, October 22, 1874.
A horse belonging to James Wilson, who is now on a visit to Scotland, and left in the care of J. J. Ellis, was thought to be stolen last Saturday night. The horse was found as it had only strayed away.
Winfield Courier, November 26, 1874.

A small conflagration, which might have been more serious but for the energetic efforts of those present, occurred last Saturday evening at the store of C. C. Black. Shortly after the lamps were lighted in the evening, Charley Harter bethought him that the chandelier needed filling, and being at the time in the oil business, having just drawn some for a customer, he took a quart measure and proceeded to replenish the illuminator. While thus engaged the oil in the measure unexpectedly ignited from one of the burners, and Charley, with the blazing can grasped firmly in his fist, glided swiftly toward the door. The air from without upon coming in contact with the flames carried them back into the face of the torch-bearer, and compelled him to deposit his burden upon the floor. His somewhat excited tones brought J. J. Ellis to the rescue with a couple of blankets, which he spread over the blaze, overturning the can, and giving the flames a new impetus.
The excitement now became intense, as the window curtain went up like a flash and the fire started along the counter. Jack Cruden pushed the calico from the counter, and grasped a blanket with which to whip the fire into submission. Tom Braidwood pulled down and dragged out the line upon which was suspended shawls, scarfs, etc., while Ellis leaped the counter and rescued the mosquito bar which hung in front of the shelves. Just at this juncture a new actor appeared upon the scene in the shape of Burt Crapster staggering under the weight of a pail of water in each hand, a skillful application of which put a dampener upon the ardor of the flames, and quiet was soon restored.
The total loss amounted to about twenty-five dollars.
This experience goes to show that while blankets may be just the thing for extinguishing blazing coal oil, water is what is needed for gasoline. It is a well known fact, also, that as a fire extin­guisher, water has but few superiors, and one pail-full at the commencement of a fire is worth a cistern-full when the flames are well underway, and as no precaution has as yet been taken by our citizens, we would suggest that each businessman follow the example of Charley Black by keeping a full barrel of water standing at their doors ready for use in case of an emer­gency.
We hope our citizens will attend to this matter without further delay. Remember the adage, “An ounce of preventative is worth a pound of cure.”
Winfield Courier, February 25, 1875.
J. J. Ellis, well known here as the senior member of the firm of Ellis & Black of this place, but who has been out of business for some time, starts for Kentucky next week with his family, where he will reside in the future.
Winfield Courier, January 6, 1876.
Our “Courier” Patrons.
BLACK, C. C., Merchant, City Councilman, and a “jolly good fellow,” graduated at Hampton College, Rock Island Co., Illinois, and came to Cowley and herded forty “cattle on a thousand hills” during the fall of 1872, engaged in the mercantile business January, 1873, with J. J. Ellis, whom he has since bought out. He now runs his mammoth store, assisted by the clever Charley Harter as chief salesman, and Fred C. Hunt as assistant, singly and alone. It’s useless to wish that trio success.
[Note: The above was the last reference made to J. J. Ellis.]