San
Joaquin County
Biographies
GEORGE E. ELLIS
The story of the progress and
success of George E. Ellis as a worthy citizen of Stockton covers a period of
nearly half a century, thirty-seven years of which has been spent with the
Western States Gas & Electric Company and its predecessors. He was born in the city of Dublin, Ireland,
on December 25, 1867 a son of John and Annie (Thompson) Ellis, both natives of
Ireland, of English and Welsh parentage.
His father immigrated to America and continued his journey via the
Isthmus of Panama to California and arrived in Stockton during the year of
1869, expecting to work at his trade of plumber and brass finisher; however, he
could not find employment, so entered the employ of the Southern Pacific
Railroad Company for a time; later he removed to Merced and became road foreman
for the same company; returning to Stockton he entered the employ of the
Stockton Gas & Electric Company, and continued in their service for
forty-six years, the latter years of his life being foreman of
construction. He died in July, 1906 his
widow surviving him.
There were nine children in the
Ellis family, seven of whom are now living, of whom George E. is the
eldest. He came to America with his
mother and two sisters to join his father in the fall of 1875, via the Isthmus
of Panama, and entering the Stockton schools, remained there until he was
seventeen years of age, when he began to work for the old Stockton Gas &
Electric Company, his first work being to look after the gas street lights and
later the electric lights which replaced them.
He gained a thorough knowledge of the business and worked up through the
different departments until he is now service foreman for the company, his
years of experience and intelligent application to business having made him a
valuable employee in his line of work.
Mr. Ellis has been twice married and
of the first union there are two children, Leora and
Leonora; his second marriage united him with Miss Leora
Swenson, a native of Dutch Flat, California, a daughter of Samuel Swenson, a
pioneer merchant of that town, who also ran a pack train to the mines, later
removing to San Francisco, where he was engaged in business, and later still he
moved to Auburn; his wife was Priscilla Fulton, a native of New York; both have
now passed away. Mrs. Ellis was educated
in the schools of San Francisco and Auburn, California. They have two children: George E., Jr., is a graduate of Stockton
high school and now manager of the Johnson Sporting Goods store, and Lucille L.
attending Stockton high school.
Fraternally Mr. Ellis is a member of Morning Star Lodge, F. & A. M.,
Stockton, and Pohono Tribe of Red Men, while Mrs. Ellis is a member of the
Eastern Star and the Order of Pocahontas, in which she is a past officer. Mr. Ellis is an enthusiastic member of the Stockton
Gun Club, in which he has won several medals; in 1913 he won the Pacific Coast
Handicap, receiving a gold medal set with a diamond valued at $250, besides
$200; he also won number other medals as prizes. His son is also a member of the Gun Club and
has won many medals.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1316. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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