Lewis Ellsworth 1853

Born July 22, 1805 in Walpole, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.

Died January 15, 1885 in Naperville, DuPage County, Illinois.

Charter Member of Euclid Lodge, he also served as Senior Warden in 1851 and Treasurer in 1848 and 1849, and Junior Steward in 1879.

Married Chloe M. Skinner in December, 1828. They had three children, Eva F., Milton Skinner (PM 1867, 1868), and Lewis Carpenter.

Naperville Village President - 1876.

The following biography is from "History of DuPage County, 1882," by Rufus Blanchard.

Hon. Lewis Ellsworth, agriculturist, P.O. Naperville, is a son of Nathan and Betsey B. (Palmer) Ellsworth. He was born at Walpole, N.H., July 22, 1805, and lived in his native state until his eighteenth year, when he moved to Rutland County, Vt., where he learned the tailors trade. In 1827, he went to Troy, N.Y., and engaged in the merchant tailoring business. In 1836, he sold his business and made a trip West, buying an improved Government claim of some four or five hundred acres, and in 1837, he opened a general store in Naperville. During this year, he also built a frame house on his land, and occupied the same with his family in October. In 1848, he sold his general store business, and in 1850, engaged in the nursery business, which he has conducted until the present time. In December, 1828, he married Miss Chloe M. Skinner, a native of New Lebanon, N.Y. She died October 16, 1876. Of the five children, two are living. In 1839, Mr. Ellsworth was elected the first Probate Judge of DuPage County, and served four years. He is deeply concerned in the subject of agriculture, and from its earliest days in Illinois he has taken a leading part. He was one of the incorporators of the Union Agricultural Society (which was first held in Northern Illinois) and subsequently became its Vice President and President. He was one of the organizers of the county society and also one of the constituent members of the State Agricultural Society organized at Springfield in 1853, and served as its President during the years 1859-1860; also at present a member of the State Board of Agriculture.

Memorial reprinted from "The Naperville Clarion", Wednesday, February 4, 1885.

Whereas, death has invaded our circle, and by the decree of Providence our worthy brother and companion, Lewis Ellsworth, has been removed from the sphere of his earthly usefulness to the celestial lodge above; and,

Whereas, we deem it appropriate that some fitting record be made of our deceased brother; therefore,

Resolved, by Euclid Lodge No. 65, A.F. & A.M., and Euclid Chapter No. 13 Royal Arch Masons - of which he was a member - that as we look back over his four score years of life, nearly three of which he was actively identified with the Masonic fraternity, we recognize in him an unostentatious but conspicuous figure - one who rose superior to prejudices. Above sordid purposes, patriotic to a degree, he was ever ready to subordinate private interests for the public good. His life's aim was the promotion of the highest and best interests of his fellow man and society. Together with these admirable qualities, in his private life he united affection and gentleness in a marked manner. No appeal was ever made to his charity in vain; ever ready to soften the asperities of life, harmonize conflicting interests and opinions, he was a recognized pacificator, a useful and upright citizen, ever discharging the manifold public trusts confided to him with strict fidelity; an affectionate husband and father, his memory will ever be cherished by all who were so fortunate as to know him, but more especially by the Masonic fraternity, of the excellence of whose tenets he was so shining an example, ever living with faith in God, hope in immortality, and charity toward all mankind.

Resolved, that while we are deeply impressed with, and profoundly deplore the loss of our brother and companion, we extend our warmest sympathies to the relatives and friends of our deceased brother in this the hour of their bereavement.

Resolved, that these resolutions be spread upon the records of Euclid Lodge No. 65 and Euclid Chapter No. 13 as a perpetual memorial, and that copies of the same be furnished the Naperville Clarion newspaper for publication, and forwarded to the members of our deceased brother's family.

J. J. Hunt, S. A. Ballou - Committee Chap. No. 13

M. V. Averill, A. V. Knickerbacker - Committee Lodge No. 65

From "History of DuPage County, 1913".

The Bench and Bar of DuPage County number among their members both living and dead, distinguished lights of the legal profession in Illinois, who have always directed their efforts towards maintaining the highest standards of their calling. Judge Lewis Ellsworth, who was the second Probate Judge of DuPage County, was one of those who earlier in the history of this county bore an exalted part in much of the jurisprudence of this locality, and never was called upon in vain for the performance of any of the manly duties pertaining to good citizenship. Judge Ellsworth was born in Walpole, N.H., July 22, 1805, and died in Naperville, Thursday morning, January 15, 1885, aged seventy-nine years.

Living in his native place until eighteen years of age, he then went to Rutland County, Vt., remaining there until 1827, when he went to Troy, N.Y. There he conducted a mercantile establishment, but when in 1836, he was offered the opportunity to dispose of his business, he did so, a little later on visiting Chicago and Naperville. The beautiful prairies near the latter place charmed this lover of nature, that he bought the tract, in June, 1836, upon which in the following year, he erected his substantial house. To this home, he removed his family in October of that same year, and entered upon a long and useful career, both as nurseryman and merchant, and was the founder of the DuPage County Nurseries, which became so well known throughout the Northwest.

Being a man of much more than ordinary ability, Mr. Ellsworth early attracted the attention of his neighbors, and was called upon from time to time to discharge the duties of important official positions, being one of the organizers, and for some time president of the DuPage County Agricultural Society; was one of the incorporators of the Union Agricultural Society, as well as president and later vice-president of it; was one of the constituent members of the State Agricultural Society, and for many years was a member of the State Board; was Collector of Internal Revenue, being appointed by President Lincoln, and many times served on the Board of Supervisors. The Republican Party had in him a staunch supporter, and he was proud of the fact that Abraham Lincoln counted him among his intimate friends.

In December, 1828, Mr. Ellsworth was united in marriage with Chloe M. Skinner, of Lebanon, N.Y. They had the misfortune to lose two children in childhood, and also their daughter Eva, but two sons remained: Milton S. Ellsworth and Hon. Lewis C. Ellsworth. Mrs.Ellsworth died soon after her daughter, October 16, 1876.

The funeral services for Judge Ellsworth were held at St. John's Episcopal Church, Canon Knowles of Chicago, and Rev. M.V. Averill, of Naperville officiating. The beautiful little church was crowded with those who sought to pay a last tribute to the man who had dwelt among them for so long, and who had inspired them with a desire to lead a better and nobler life. A number of the members of the State Board of Agriculture of which he died a member, attended. A touching feature of the ceremony was the following of the casket as honorary pall bearers of several of the pioneers, who with him had helped to build up Naperville, but who were themselves too frail to bear the burden as pall bearers. Many years have passed, over a quarter of a century, since this good and representative man was laid to his last rest, and yet he is not forgotten, for during the time he resided here, he made himself so necessary, gave so much of his personality to his community, that the results of his endeavor live on, and the generation unborn when he passed away, is now enjoying the fruits of the harvest he sowed.