William D. Ellis

His father was Dr. William D. Ellis, a physician and planter. Judge Ellis grew up near Allendale, Barnwell Co., SC, on the family plantation. He attended military school in Aiken, SC. He joined the Eleventh SC Reg of Infantry, commanded by his uncle, Col. D. H. Ellis, in 1862. He later became a lieutenant of Company B, which was attached to Gen. Johnson Haygoods brigade. He became a prisoner of war in Feb, 1865 and was held until the end of the conflict, in June of the same year. He returned to Aiken to teach school and to study law. He came to Georgia about 1870, and spent two years working for the newspaper as a reporter and editor. When he returned to law, he was appointed to the office of solicitor of the City Court of Atlanta, and had partnerships with several prominent local attorneys. He was appointed to the bench of the Superior Courts of Atlanta Circuit in July, 1907. William D Ellis was the judge who ordered the Fulton County Grand Jury to investigate the murder of Mary Phagan. (Info excerpted from A Standard History of Georgia and Georgians, Volume 6, By Lucian Lamar Knight) and submitted by Find A Graver Linda Ferree His father was Dr. William D. Ellis, a physician and planter. Judge Ellis grew up near Allendale, Barnwell Co., SC, on the family plantation. He attended military school in Aiken, SC. He joined the Eleventh SC Reg of Infantry, commanded by his uncle, Col. D. H. Ellis, in 1862. He later became a lieutenant of Company B, which was attached to Gen. Johnson Haygoods brigade. He became a prisoner of war in Feb, 1865 and was held until the end of the conflict, in June of the same year. He returned to Aiken to teach school and to study law. He came to Georgia about 1870, and spent two years working for the newspaper as a reporter and editor. When he returned to law, he was appointed to the office of solicitor of the City Court of Atlanta, and had partnerships with several prominent local attorneys. He was appointed to the bench of the Superior Courts of Atlanta Circuit in July, 1907. William D Ellis was the judge who ordered the Fulton County Grand Jury to investigate the murder of Mary Phagan. (Info excerpted from A Standard History of Georgia and Georgians, Volume 6, By Lucian Lamar Knight) and submitted by Find A Graver Linda Ferree Read More