Charles W. Ellis from Maine, and Frances M. Cartan, from Canada, were married in
  Manchester, Illinois, in 1872, soon moved to Hutchinson, Kansas where he was admitted
  to the Kansas Bar and began the practice of law. They had two children, Fred and 
  Gertrude, born there.
     Charles' love of land motivated him to 'Prove-up' on Federal land in Barber County
  in the mid-70's, to living in a 'soddie' during the summer months required for legal
  title. Before 1880 they had moved to Medicine Lodge, built a two-story brick house
  on this land, added ample barns, an orchard, and a lake. This home, located just west
  of the town-site, became the mecca for social gatherings for years to come. Two more
  daughters, Jessie and Marjorie were born.
     Charles combined farming with a law practice. One of his most interesting cases
  was Carrie Nation's divorce suit. In 1886 he was appointed Judge of the State's 24th
  Judicial District. In addition to Medicine Lodge, he held court in the three bordering
  counties, his sister-in-law, Margaret Cartan, being his court stenographer. In 1896
  he was elected to a term as county clerk. In 1906 Judge Ellis sold his farm and the
  family moved into Medicine Lodge.
     Mrs. Ellis was very active in literary and cultural circles, being one of the 
  founders and the first president of the Monday Afternoon Club, on the first Board of
  the Library, and the Eastern Star. Their four children attended Medicine Lodge schools.
     In 1908 the Judge developed his cattle ranch north of Medicine Lodge as a summer
  home, building a large, spring-fed lake, providing boating, swimming, fishing 
  facilities for the family's freinds. 'Silver Springs' remained their summer home until
  the Fall of 1916 when the Ellises sold the ranch and their town home and moved to
  Santa Ana, California, where their three daughters had preceded them. Here they lived
  until their deaths, Mrs. Ellis in 1933, the Judge in 1937, having lived to celebrate
  healthily his 94th birthday, three weeks before his death. Many citizens referred to
  him as 'Santa Ana's Grand Old Man.'
     Their son, Fred. finished Kansas University law school, practiced law in Ardmore,
  Oklahoma, developed a large Hereford cattle ranch, until his death in 1943. Fred
  married, had three sons and a daughter. Son, Fred Jr. became a petroleum engineer.
  Sons George and Richard graduated from the United States Naval Academy, retiring after
  years of service, George as Captain, Richard as Commander. Daughter Jeannette, 
  graduated from the University of Arizona, marrying a college classmate.
     The Ellis daughters, Gertrude and Jessie, married their Barber County sweethearts,
  Roy Hall and Irwin Landis. Marjorie married Richard Couden, a Santa Ana man, Gertrude
  and Jessie have died. Marjorie is widowed and lives in a retirment home, Quaker Gardens
  in Stanton near Santa Ana.
     Fred Ellis is survivied by eleven grandchildren. Nine of them have graduated from
  college.
     The Herschede Mahogany Grandfather's Clock in the Medicine Lodge Hospital was given
  by the three Ellis daughters in memory of their parents.
  
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 169 
     Submitted by: Marjorie Couden