J. J. Ellis

Elko Independent

March 21, 1874

LOST IN A SNOW STORM!

Undersheriff J.J. Ellis missing during the last 21 days

No traces of him yet discovered

On Sunday evening last our town was thrown into a state of the wildest excitement by the arrival of Ness Jansen on snow-shoes, with the mail from Cornucopia, who reported meeting Under Sheriff Ellis homeward bound, as he went out, fifteen days before, at a point two miles this side of “Coryells” – and abandoned station on the Cornucopia road, situated twenty-five miles north of this place – since which nothing has been heard of the missing man.

Elko Independent, March 28, 1874:

On Monday morning a party of eight persons started north to continue the search for J.J. Ellis. Three more men have since gone out, and one of the first part – Mr. Lane – returned on Thursday. Up to that time no traces of the missing man had been discovered.

Elko Independent, April 11, 1874

We are authorized to state that the Masonic Order will defray all necessary expenses incurred in the searching for the body of J.J. Ellis.

Elko Independent, May 9, 1874

RETURNED – The parties sent out by the Masonic Fraternity to search for J.J. Ellis have returned and report that they have been unable to find any traces of him.

Elko Independent, May 16, 1874:

TRACES OF J.J. ELLIS – Lute Dorsey, while hunting stock about two miles west of the Adobe, in the direction of Susie Creek, found, standing against a rock in the canyon, the show-shoes on which Mr. Ellis was traveling when last seen. They were easily recognized from the fact of their having been made rudely from the top of an old table. Mr. Dorsey also found two places, about a quarter of a mile apart, near where the shoes were found, where some person had camped…

P.S. – Last night as we were going to press, a portion of the party came in, having found Mr. Ellis’ body about four hundred yards above where the snow-shoes lay.

Elko Independent, May 23, 1874

…From the fact that the hands and knees were bound up in pieces of blanket and the snow-shoes were distant about four hundred yards from the body, it is evident that his last effort for life was upon those members, and here nature at length gave entirely out, spread his blankets, placed his coat for a pillow, and yielded to inexorable fate almost within sight of human habitation. The body had not been disturbed, as upon it was found $142 in coin and $20 in currency, which tallied with his memorandum book, was also found. His pistol he had placed under his head empty, and no ammunition or matches were discovered.

Plaque Location & Image

Center Wall Column 3 Row D     View The Plaque