Dr. Elijah Madison Ellis

April 15, 1906 - Fort Smith Times Biography of Dr. Elijah Madison Ellis Source: History of Louisiana, by Chambers Vol. II, pg. 391 Elijah Madison Ellis, M.D. with a quarter century's work to his credit at Crowley, Doctor Ellis has for many years been the outstanding figure in the medical and surgical profession in Acadia Parish, and along with his professional prestige, has exercised a notable influence in community leadership and progress. Dr. Ellis was born on a farm at Winona, in Montgomery County, Mississippi, December 14, 1867, son of Elijah L. and Mary Elizabeth (Thraelkill) Ellis, his father a native of Virginia and his mother of Mississippi. His father was with a Mississippi regiment in the Confederate army and for many years a prosperous planter in Mississippi. He served as a magistrate and a member of the School board, was a Baptist and belonged to the Masonic Order. He died at the age of eighty-five and his wife at forty-five. Dr. E. M. Ellis grew up on his father's plantation in Mississippi, attending country schools, and from early youth, made his own way, contriving his own opportunities, working definitely towards the goal he had set himself for achievement in the medical profession. For two years he attended the Male and Female Academy at Poplar Creek, Mississippi, and he taught public schools in the country and private schools for three years in Montgomery County. He paid his way through the Memphis Hospital Medical College, graduating M.D. in 1895. After a year of practice in Webster County, Mississippi, and three years at Coffeyville, Mississippi, Mr. Ellis in 1899 located at Crowley, then a comparatively small town. He has been with it in its development as an important commercial center of southern Louisiana, and his professional practice has kept pace with the advancement of the community. Since 1915 Dr. Ellis has limited his work to surgical practice, and as a surgeon he is one of the leaders. He organized and is president and chief of staff of the Crowley Sanitarium. Doctor Ellis was honored for two years as president of the Parish Medical Society, having assisted in organizing that society. He was concillor from 1915 to 1923 of the Louisiana State Medical Society from the Seventh District, and one of the organizers of the Seventh District Medical Society. In 1924 he was vice president of the Louisiana State Medical Association and on April 25 was elected its president. He is a member of the Southern Medical Association and a fellow of the American Medical Association. He has attended many conventions and meetings of the various medical societies, and has frequently read papers on technical subjects. Doctor Ellis was a member of the Volunteer Medical Corps during the World war and one of the local medical examiners. He was president in 1923 of the Crowley Rotary Club. Among other interests he owns and operates near Gueydan a large rice plantation. He is a past master of Crowley Lodge No. 243, Free and Accepted Masons, a member of the Royal Arch Chapter, belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Crowley Louisiana Club and the Methodist Episcopal Church. Doctor Ellis married in February, 1896, at Carrolton, Georgia, Miss Pearl Cheney, who was born and reared in Harrison County, Georgia. She is a daughter of the late Dr. I.I. Cheney, who was a Confederate soldier and for nearly fifty years was engaged in active practice as a physician in Harrison County, Georgia. Dr. and Mrs. Ellis have two living children, Earl Madison, is in partnership with his father in operating the rice farm, and Martha Elizabeth. Earl Madison married Miss Ruby Copes a daughter of Dr. J. C. Copes, the leading dentist of Crowley.