“Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County,” published:  
Chicago;  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.

MARK ELLISON,  a merchant of Garland and a farmer of Precinct No. 2, Dallas county, 
Texas, dates his birth in Kentucky in 1844.  He was the third born in the family of John 
W. and Elizabeth (Johnson) Ellison, natives of Kentucky.  His ancestors were Scotch-
Irish, and came to this country and settled in Kentucky at an early day.  John W. Ellison 
was a blacksmith.  He came to Texas in 1848, resided in Dallas county one year, and in 
1849 moved to Tarrant county, settling near where Birdville is now located, and 
following his trade there until 1857.  He took up a section of land, improving the same, 
and lived on it.  A portion of the family still make their home on the old farm.  The father 
was a prominent man in his day.  For some years he was Justice of the Peace of Tarrant 
county.  He was a devoted Christian man – a member of the Christian Church – and could 
repeat from memory the whole of the New Testament.  He and his wife were the parents 
of five children, namely:  Frank, who resides on the old homestead;  Zarilda, who was the 
wife of Thomas James, is deceased;  Mark, whose name heads this sketch;  Mary, wife of 
H.S. Holman, Tarrant county;  John W., who died while the family were en route to this 
State.  In 1868 Mrs. Ellison married A. Bledsaw, a prominent and highly-esteemed 
citizen of this county, known as “Honest A.”  He served as Judge of this county during 
and after the war, and was subsequently elected to the office of Comptroller of the State 
of Texas.  His death occurred in 1884.  The mother now lives on the homestead place in 
Tarrant county, with her son-in-law, H. Holman.  She has been a member of the Christian 
Church for many years.

Mark Ellison received his education in the common schools of Tarrant county, and at the 
early age of sixteen entered the Southern army as a member of Company A, Ninth Texas 
Cavalry.  In the earlier part of the war he was in a number of engagements east of the 
Mississippi river, and later was transferred to the forces that operated west of the 
Mississippi.  Twice he was wounded; first at Corinth, in the arm, and in a skirmish in 
Louisiana was shot through the left shoulder.  He never was captured nor sent to hospital.

After the war he returned to his home in Tarrant county and immediately engaged in 
farming.  The following year, 1867, he moved to Dallas county and settled on a headright 
that had been secured by his father-in-law, H.C. Marsh, and farmed on it until 1889.  He 
then moved his family to Garland and he engaged in the mercantile business, still 
however, having his farming operations carried on.  In his agricultural pursuits he has 
been very successful.  For twenty years his crib has never been empty of corn.  He has 
refused $45 an acre for his farming land, and besides this also owns seventy-five acres of 
timber land.  He began the mercantile business with a stock worth $2,300.  Since opening 
up his business has averaged from $25,000 to $30,000, and at this time he carries a stock 
worth some $11,000 or $12,000.  He has the only strictly dry-good house in the town and 
does a larger business than any other establishment here.

Mr. Ellison was married January 1, 1866, to Miss Martha A. Marsh, daughter of H.C. and 
Mary (Raymond) Marsh, natives of Harrison county, Kentucky.  Their union had been 
blessed with four children, viz.:  Hardy, a farmer of Tarrant county;  Zeluma, wife of O.P 
Thomas; and John W. and Harrison M., at home.  They also have one daughter deceased, 
Elizabeth.

Mr. Ellison is a member of the A., F. & A.M., James A. Smith Lodge, No. 395; is also a 
member of Dallas Chapter, No. 52, and has filled all the chairs in the order.  He and his 
wife have been members of the Christian Church for a number of years. 

Submitted by L.Pingel