Ellis Collecton Photographs

Although the photos presented are from William L. A. Ellis' personal paper, very few of the photos are accompanied with documentation, so it is unclear which photos are if fact, Ellis, although one or several of the adult male figures in these photographs may likely be him. We suspect some of the photos are of William and Martha Ellis, however, they appear only to have added identifying marks to photos of cousins of whom they probably saw infrequently and wanted to remember who they were.

Most of these photographs are made of tin and a few have names scratched on the back. None of the photos identify either Ellis or his wife, Martha J. Polhill Ellis. We provide this information here, although the scratched names on the back of the tin photos we were unable to successfully scan.

We discovered another photo among Ellis’ things. It could be of Ellis, though there is nothing written on the photo identifying who it is. It’s a photograph by Carl C. Giers, a noted Tennessee photographer during the mid-1800’s. Several references to his work on the internet including items in the Smithsonian. Similar photos document the negative number, as this one does (#31235), so if this index still exists somewhere, it may be possible to verify identify of the subject in the photograph.


Photo of unidentified male by noted Tennessee photographer Carl C. Griers, negative number 31235.	Back of the above photo by Tennessee photographer Carl C. Griers, negative number 31235.
Scratched on the back of this photo is "Cousin Jimmie Jelks". There are four letters scratched below Jelks that appear to be the letters "Hawk****"; After these four letters, there is significant wear, suggesting that there could be remaining letters that are now missing (Hawkinsville perhaps). His is found as J. O. Jelks, Company G, 8th GA Volunteer Infantry Pulaski Co, GA ("PULASKI VOLUNTEERS") James Oliver Jelks, Jr., was born July 4, 1839, the second son of James Oliver Jelks, whose ancestors came to this country from Wales, and of Mary Polhill, of Burke County, Georgia. Mr. Jelks, Jr., was a pioneer merchant of Hawkinsville. He erected the first building used exclusively for storekeeping, and established the general mercantile business of J. 0. Jelks and Brother in 1865, one of the first business firms to be organized there after the War Between the States, in which he enlisted in Company G, Eighth Georgia Regiment. This firm was located at the corner of Commerce and Jackson Streets, in the building which still stands there. In 1863 James 0. Jelks married Elizabeth Charlotte Philips. To them were born five children. In 1876, after the death of his first wife, Mr. Jelks married Mollie Way. To them were born two daughters. He died in 1895. Those who knew him always loved him, for he was a man of high ideals and gave his best to his home and his community. (from HISTORY OF PULASKI COUNTY GEORGIA compiled by The Hawkinsville Chapter Daughters of The American Revolution)	Scratched on the back of this photo is "Cousin Tommie Polhill"; Then "Polhill" appears to be scratched in again (although it's unclear). At the bottom of the photo appears four letters. These letters may be " Ogla -", perhaps referring to the Polhill's of Oglethorpe, GA.
Scratched on the back of this photo is "Cousin Connie, Wife of Dr. Edwin Jelk(Cousin Eddie)". There are notations on the pink and white paper sleeve identifying "Mary V. Ellis". Other notations on the same sleeve indicate "Pafia's Sister", and also "For Polhill (Mama's cousin)". It's unclear whether the penciling on the sleeve has any relevance to the photograph inside as it was discovered.