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Note: age almost beyond the conception of the human mind During the Civil war he had an unusual military experience, serving first in the Confederate army under Captain Gipson, of Bussy's command, and taking part in the engagement at Wilson's Creek. Subsequently abandoning allegiance to the Southern cause, we next find him wearing the "blue" and as a scout making himself famous, operating chiefly in Arkasas between Dardanelle and Ft. Smith, his home town. He was a favorite with his commanding officer. Without fear of any kind, he had many personal encounters with the lawless element of the country, and in hunting thieves, prosecuting criminals, and helping execute robbers he engendered the ill will of the evildoers to an extent which cost him his life. In 1890, in the month of July, a feud which had been growing thicker and more intense for a long time culimated in a battle between the parties in enmity, and resulted in the death of Captain William J. Ellington and of his oldest son. Both had expected trouble, and both had gone armed to the town mentioned. But before entering the store of his enemy, Captain Ellington had discarded his pistol, for what reason no one knows. He may have expected his adversary to flee, but in this he was mistaken, for the latter opened fire, and the Captain fell in his tracks. The son rushed to the rear of the store, and as he was crouching to get a bead on his father's slayer the latter seized a shotgun and gave him a death wound.Prior to this time, however, Captain Ellington had for many years been actively engaged in farming in Arkansas, and was widely known as a peace-loving and law-abiding citizen, for a number of terms serving as one of the commissioners of Logan county, being appointed to the position by Judge T. C. Humphrey.
Eleven children were born of their union, as follows: M. T., who was killed at the time his father was shot, was then a resident of Muskofee; Mary, wife of J. D. Munn, deceased; Charles A., deceased; John B., the subject of this sketch; C. B., of Magazine, Arkansas; Levina, who married David More, and died in Oklahoma; William L., of Magazine; J. T. of Booneville, Arkansas; and Omer of Wagoner, Oklahoma, in partnership with his brother John B. Two died in infancy.
Note: Although he possessed little learning, he was a man of nerve and iron, with a daring and cour
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